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A memorial service -- sometimes called a life celebration -- is one of the final things you will do for a loved one. It is an honor to be involved in paying tribute to a person's life. With some thought, a memorial service can and should be as unique as the person being honored and can give great comfort as family and friends gather and participate in the event.    

Sadly, for many of us the subject of death is taboo. We just don’t talk about it -- yet, it happens to us all. At some point, you may have to make funeral arrangements for a loved one. Few people approach this task with prior knowledge and experience which can complicate an already challenging time. In this post, Stardust Memorials shares information about some of your options and choices as you work with a funeral home -- in the hope that it will help you through this uncharted territory. 

A memorial tree can be a meaningful way to remember and honor a loved one. In the outdoors, you can experience the reward of watching something grow that is connected to your beloved friend or relative. A tree can be a symbol of a life and of love -- as well as a physical location that you can visit. Here are more details on how to create a living legacy with a memorial tree. 

Burial vs. Cremation costs - Is a traditional burial more expensive than cremation? The traditional funeral is arranged through a funeral home with visitation, a casket service, and a burial in a cemetery. A traditional funeral with viewing and burial can cost between $7,000 and $10,000. Opting for cremation can reduce the cost of a traditional funeral home service by an average of $1,400. Cremation is less expensive in general because families are not paying for embalming, the casket, the hearse, burial, and the added time from the funeral home staff.

If you are unsure what cremation urns should cost, you are not alone. Urns for ashes are not a regular purchase -- most people don’t know what to expect to pay. There are many factors that can affect the price of an urn: material, size, personalization, destination, etc.. Within this article, we will list a few things to help you narrow down what you can expect to pay for the urn you have chosen for your loved one. 

Families choosing a cremation urn for a loved one may want to consider color in the urn selection process. Color can be a wonderful way to express feelings, give a sense of a loved one's style or personality, and even be chosen to fit in to the family home.

Urn colors can evoke an emotion or a mood. Lighter colors tend to express a feeling of tranquility, while intense, brighter shades can express energy and intensity. Warm colors like red, orange and yellow can result in feelings of comfort or warmth. Cooler colors like blue, green and violet can create feelings of calmness or serenity.

With the rise in cremation rates, cremation jewelry also has become more popular. Memorial jewelry is not a new idea -- in fact, it dates back as far as the 16th century. Throughout history, various design of memorial jewelry have been in fashion -- pins, earrings, rings, lockets, and pendants -- and these jewelry items did not always contain ashes. If the thought of wearing cremated remains doesn’t appeal to you, you can still gain the comfort of wearing a memorial item.

As the rate of cremation rises, more families are faced with the question of what to do with the ashes of a loved one? A traditional burial at least has a clear "resting place." Cremation can cause more questions: Scatter? Bury? Keep at home? Place in a niche? The answer of "what to do with the ashes?" can be as varied and unique as there are people on this Earth. Families can be creative and design one-of-a-kind celebrations and scattering ceremonies -- or quietly keep the cremated remains close at home.