Blog | Allen-Hall Mortuary – Logan, UT

Finding the Right Urn: A Heartfelt Guide to Honouring Your Loved One

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:48:34 GMT

The journey of saying goodbye to a loved one is filled with emotions, and choosing the right urn to celebrate their life is a significant part of that journey. We understand the weight of this decision, and are here to help you navigate through this process, whether you’re honouring a loved one or planning for yourself.

Here are some important aspects to consider to make a choice that truly resonates:

Size and Style

When selecting an urn, consider its purpose and placement. Smaller keepsake urns are ideal for distributing ashes among family members, allowing each person to keep a portion close. Larger urns suit traditional burials or permanent placement in a columbarium. Explore diverse designs, shapes, and styles available to find one that echoes your loved one's personality and aligns with your aesthetic preferences. From classic designs to modern and personalized options, the urn should beautifully encapsulate their spirit.

Personal Touch

Many urns offer the opportunity for customization, allowing you to engrave heartfelt messages, poignant quotes, or incorporate designs that embody the individual's passions. Adding a personal touch goes beyond mere decoration; it honors their unique life story, creating a lasting legacy that resonates with family and friends. Personalized urns serve as a heartfelt tribute, ensuring that memories endure through generations.

Expressing Your Wishes

Planning for oneself involves expressing personal preferences. The chosen urn should reflect your values, sentiments, and desired legacy. Expressing these wishes ensures that the urn not only honors your life but also brings solace to your loved ones. We understand the significance of these preferences and is dedicated to helping individuals express their unique essence through their choice.

Budget Considerations

While considering urns, it's essential to explore various price points. Quality and craftsmanship are significant factors, but it's equally crucial to find an urn that fits your budget without compromising its significance. Kearney's provides a wide range of urn options, ensuring that every family can find an urn that beautifully commemorates their loved one without financial strain.

Choosing the right urn is a deeply personal decision. At Kearney Funeral Services, we’re committed to helping families during this process by offering a wide selection of urns and a compassionate team ready to guide you through this important decision.

Honouring the memory of your loved one with a thoughtful choice is a beautiful way to celebrate a life well-lived. At Kearney, we’re here to support you at every step. We believe in the importance of making informed decisions, especially during challenging times. For more guidance on choosing the perfect urn or to explore our range of options, feel free to reach out to us or visit our website.

Remember, the right urn is more than just a container; it’s a treasured homage to a beautiful life.

Crafting Compassionate Obituaries: A Guide to Meaningful Tributes

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:48:33 GMT

Losing a cherished family member or friend is an emotional journey, and composing an obituary can be both a touching and daunting endeavour. More than just a formal announcement, an obituary is a profound tribute that captures a lifetime of memories, commemorates achievements, and offers solace to those who mourn. This guide will provide you with empathetic insights into creating an obituary that captures the essence of your loved one and brings comfort to readers looking to honor their memory.

Honoring Authenticity

Writing an obituary with authenticity means embracing the unique journey our loved ones took in life. It means sharing candid stories that reflects their character and personality, passions, achievements and the challenges they overcame. By being honest in our words, we create an obituary that truly resonates with sincerity.

To truly honor our loved ones, we can paint a vivid picture of their lives by incorporating personal details that reflect their character and passions. Whether it's their love for gardening, dedication to community service, or adventurous spirit, these details help others connect with what made them special. Tailoring the obituary to our loved one's values, beliefs, and cultural background captures the essence of their identity. This personalized approach ensures that their unique character is honoured and celebrated in a meaningful way.

Compassion should be the thread that runs through our obituary. We can share stories that exemplify their kindness and empathy, showcasing the positive impact they had on others. In doing so, our tribute becomes a source of inspiration, encouraging others to cultivate compassion in their own lives. Choosing our words thoughtfully allows our emotions to flow authentically onto the page. Craft sentences that convey the depth of our feelings and the profound impact our loved one had on those around them.

Our obituary can also serve as a practical guide for those navigating grief. Providing information about memorial services, ways to express condolences, and opportunities for support fosters a sense of unity. It creates a platform for individuals to come together in shared remembrance.

Crafting a Lasting Legacy

As we bring the obituary to a close, let us celebrate the legacy our loved one leaves behind. Reflecting on their lasting influence and the positive mark they made on the world, we remind others of the richness of a life well-lived. We encourage everyone to embrace each moment.

Writing an obituary is a collaborative endeavor that requires the insights and contributions of those who knew our loved one best. Reaching out to friends, family, or professionals can provide valuable perspectives, ensuring that the tribute captures the true essence of their journey. Incorporating the memories of those who held a special place in our loved one's heart is important and by encouraging friends and family to share their cherished recollections we enriched the obituary, creating a collective space for healing and reflection.

In the spirit of preserving memories, consider creating a lasting tribute, you can develop a memorial website or place where people can share further stories and experiences and offer a kind work to the other mourners, also placing an obituary in a local newspaper ensures that our loved one's legacy continues to inspire and offer comfort in the years ahead. As we embark on this meaningful endeavor of crafting an obituary, may these compassionate guidelines serve as a source of support. They will help us create a tribute that not only honors our loved one's legacy, but also brings solace and healing to those who read it.

Travelling With Cremated Remains

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:48:32 GMT

Losing a loved one is always hard and having to fly close or far with a loved one’s cremated remains can be an extra challenge that can be very stressful. To answer some common questions like – can you bring cremated remains on a plane? Or what documentation do I need to bring? What kind of container can the cremated remains be in? for all these questions we have put together some important points to have in mind before travelling.

When travelling by air with your loved ones cremated remains, please be sure to bring them in your carry-on with you, it would be easier and safer than in a checked bag, because of the risks associated with checked baggage, as these are subjected to rapid and sometimes rough movement along the way to and from the aircraft with the risk that your luggage could be lost or damaged along the trip and not every airline allows cremated remains to be carried in checked luggage, so it’s important to check with your airline carrier before going to the airport.

To take your Loved one’s cremated remains on your carry-on please consider the following:

Cremated remains must travel through the X-ray machine just like all other baggage, so if the machine or a security screener can’t see what’s in the urn, they won’t let it on the plane. Having this in mind give yourself extra time to get through security, the extra time means that, if the security screener does not allow the urn to pass through the security checkpoint, you can look into alternative ways to transport the cremated remains.
Select an approved urn that can pass through an X-ray machine as a recommended travelling urn, these are the ones made of wood, biodegradable materials (like paper), or plastic. Ask a funeral home for a simple cardboard box to carry the cremains in temporarily, or you can purchase an inexpensive plastic secured box. Have in mind that doesn’t matter what container you choose for your loved one’s cremated remains, make sure to place a label with all the information about your loved one and contact information in case it gets misplaced.
Security screening officers will never open a cremation urn out of respect for the deceased, even if you ask them to do so. By keeping the urn closed, you significantly reduce the chances of spillage or a similar accident when flying with cremated remains. If you’re worried about your urn breaking, make sure the cremated remains are in a bag inside the urn to prevent any spills.
While the documentation provided by the funeral home is not enough to allow the urn to bypass the X-ray machine and the required security checks for the urn to be permitted on the plane, it could come in handy when flying with cremated remains if there are any questions from security or airline employees. There may also be local laws requiring this documentation at your destination. Examples of documentation that you may want to carry include the Death Certificate and Certificate of Cremation.
Make sure to ask your Funeral Director if they have experience with the rules and documentation that you need to have for the specific destination you are going to so that upon arrival you don’t find yourself in a difficult situation. You should consider also calling the embassy of the country you are travelling to understand the specific legal requirements for transporting cremated human remains. You may need to fill out special forms or get additional authorization, so leave yourself at least two weeks for the paperwork and approvals.

Upon your arrival at security be minded that your loved one’s cremated remains are subject to security screening so with a few simple steps you would go through it swiftly:

Advise the screening officers you have cremated remains travelling with you
Place the urn in the bin provided by the screening officers
Once the urn goes through the X-ray it will be pulled for a quick swab test
Once the test is complete the screening officers will return it to you

If you have any other concerns or questions about the process, please feel free to contact us for further information at any of our Kearney locations, or visit the CATSA (Canadian Air Transport Security Authority) website.

Embalming Your Loved One

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:48:31 GMT

This blog post is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. We’re going to try to answer some questions about embalming and why the decision would be made to undertake this procedure. Or not….

Let’s start by stating that the cells in a human body begin to decompose immediately after death. The decisions the family and loved ones make about what comes next will determine whether or not they choose to have the decedent embalmed.

If the choice is to have the body cremated with no viewing, embalming is not necessary.

If, however, the decision is to have a viewing, it is recommended that the body is embalmed. This procedure stops the decay of the body for the period of time that is often necessary to allow family and friends to gather. It helps restore the appearance of the body and can help to remove evidence of accidents or disease, resulting in an acceptable physical appearance of the decedent.

Embalming is the replacement of the fluids in the body with a solution that preserves and disinfects and allows for the features of the decedent to be set in a natural way. Besides disinfecting and slowing the decomposition process, embalming contains pigments that enhance the appearance of the deceased, such as returning colour to the face and hands.

The choice to embalm is a personal one and should be discussed with your Funeral Director to determine what your decision will be. If your loved one has undergone an autopsy or experienced a traumatic accident, some form of repair, including embalming, is often highly recommended if there is to be a viewing. It can be exceedingly difficult for family and loved ones to view the decedent in these circumstances. Your Funeral Director will discuss their condition with you and help you to decide the best course of action that takes into consideration the peace of mind for everyone involved.

Embalming may also necessary depending on the amount of time that will pass between the death and the burial or cremation. Another consideration is what will be required if, for example, your loved one is to be placed in a crypt. The cemetery you choose may require embalming if this is your plan for disposition.

The preservation effects of embalming can last from a few days to about a week. Modern preservation methods also include refrigeration to ensure that your loved one’s remains are preserved until burial or cremation.

Any questions you have about whether or not a body should be embalmed can be answered by Kearney’s knowledgeable, professional Funeral Directors. It is an often contentious subject with families and we can help everyone understand so that an informed decision can be made.

Fingerprints and DNA Collection

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:48:29 GMT

Did you know that, in the first 24 hours after a person dies, there are about 70 questions to be answered and decisions to be made. When making arrangements, you will have to decide whether your loved one is to be buried or cremated. Will you want to have a funeral, memorial service or celebration of life? Or perhaps you will decide that no service will be necessary. Will you want your loved one to be embalmed? Will there be a viewing? If you decide on cremation, what kind of urn will you select for the cremated remains? If your loved one is to be buried, which casket will you choose?

In the middle of all of this decision-making, you will be asked if you wish to have your loved one’s fingerprints preserved and if you wish to vv a sample of his or her DNA. These may be procedures that you previously had not considered. You may ask “why would we want to do either of these things?”.

You will be advised that you will have to make your decision in a timely manner as neither of these options is available after burial or cremation.

If you authorize Kearney’s to collect digitally scanned fingerprints from your loved one, these can subsequently be used for the production of personalized jewelry or keepsakes. Kearney’s works with a company called Eternity’s Touch, which stores the fingerprints in their main archive for ten years before moving them to a long-term archive.

If you decide to proceed with DNA preservation, Kearney’s will send a sample from your loved one to a company called SecuriGene for processing. Their lab will extract, purify and preserve the DNA sample, seal it and return it to you for safekeeping along with full reports certifying the quantity and purity of the banked DNA. The information contained in this sample could be used by your family in future for health care purposes or for ancestry tracing.

Having collected fingerprints, you will have many options to use them in creating beautiful, memorial keepsakes. You may decide to use them to create a uniquely personal connection to your loved one by having them digitally transferred to a piece of white or yellow gold jewelry that will become a comforting memorial of your loved one. Eternity’s Touch has many more options for you to chose from to allow you to experience the closeness of your loved on every day.

A decision to collect DNA gives you several options. Medical professionals are increasingly relying on genetic testing to determine different cancer types and hereditary disease risks – these tests have the potential to help other members of the family. DNA samples can also be used in researching genealogical history through websites like ancestry.ca.

Decisions about collecting fingerprints and DNA are just two of many choices families are asked to consider when a loved one dies. It is important to keep in mind that, once burial or cremation have taken place, there is no longer the option to choose either of these procedures.

For more information on both fingerprint and DNA collection, please check out these websites: www.eternitystouch.com and www.SecureGene.com.

Memorial Stationary and Keepsakes

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:48:28 GMT

So many decisions to make when someone you love dies..... after the initial arrangements are completed – cremation or burial, service or no service, embalming or no embalming, visitation or no visitation – you may wish to consider whether you want your loved one to be remembered through the creation of memorial stationery or keepsakes.

There are many options to choose from if you decide to purchase funeral stationery.

Prayer or Memorial Cards can be used as a memento of the funeral. These are nice for your guests to have as a remembrance of the individual who has died. They normally display a photo of the person who died along with the details of their birth and death, as well as information about the service, such as the date and place. These cards can become a treasured item to keep in memory of the individual who has died.

Order of Service stationery can also be a helpful for your guests to have. This contains the details of the funeral ceremony, including any readings and hymns. This can make it easier for your guests to follow along with the service.

A Personalized Guest Book is appreciated by families who can look back after the service to be reminded of those who attended the service. At a large gathering, family members may not be able to see or speak individually to everyone who has attended. This option also gives your guests an opportunity to leave a caring message for the family.

Personalized Banner together with some of your loved one’s cherished personal effects that can make personalized stage for celebrating their life so those who attended the service or Celebration of Life can have a remembrance of your loved one.

Slide Show Video a way to make a photo story or video of your loved ones’ life and special moments that can be showcase on a big screen on the day of the service or just a keepsake for you to tresure and watch to remember those special moments.

Thank You Cards are a lovely way of showing your gratitude to those who have offered condolences to your family – those who have sent flowers or made donations in memory of your loved one, for example.

All of the above options can be designed with a common theme that represents the personality of your loved one. Our talented graphic artist at Kearney’s will be happy to work with you to create these works of remembrance for your family and friends.

Kearney’s can also offer your family more unique ways to remember your loved one in the form of memorial jewelry or other keepsakes that display the fingerprint or contain some of the cremated remains of the individual who has died. This could be an engraved picture frame, a pendant necklace or earrings in a wide range of designs or a glass paperweight. Our caring and knowledgeable staff at Kearney’s will be happy to guide you through all of the available options from our friends at Eternity’s Touch.

Framed Canvas Portrait 8x10 photo Canvas portrait, professionally created by Collection-Souvenir, using technology that renders the photo to an oil painting placed on a beautiful frame, for you to have a beautiful picture of your loved one.

Ink and Digital Fingerprints a currently popular memorialization, is through ink and digital fingerprints of a loved one, in fact, some families request that, as well as other commemoration projects such as footprints cast in cement for garden steppingstones, to printing on pendant jewelry.

Keepsake Memorial Jewelry one way to keep a loved one close to the heart is through beautiful keepsake jewelry, such as ones offered by Eternity’s Touch who can store a piece of your loved one (in the form of their cremated remains) into a special pendant, locket, ring, or another piece to wear so you have them with you wherever you go.

Customized Urns are a way of keeping the physical remains of a loved one who has passed, close to family. But they can also express a statement through personalization. By customizing an urn, families can continue to preserve and commemorate their loved one for years to come by selecting the material including marble, metal and even reclaimed wood sourced locally in B.C., as provided by Kearney partner, BAM Woodworks on Salt Spring Island.

Virtual Memorialization Event the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way many events are conducted, including funeral ceremonies that had limited capacity, creating new options for sharing these moments in virtual ways. So, if you wish to include everyone who played an integral role in your loved one’s life, who can’t attend or are overseas, you can opt for an online memorialization.

Online Memorialization can be done through storytelling in the form of words and images posted online where access to the information is widespread over various forms of social media. Kearney Funeral Services can work with you to provide the right wording and platform to honour your loved one memory. And visitors to the online obituary section can leave their messages of condolence. That way, friends, co-workers, and others who were important to your loved one can attend in a virtual room where you can all talk about your favourite memories.

Customers can select from a range of biodegradable materials, such as urns handcrafted from recycled paper, beach sand, and even Himalayan rock salt. That way, families who wish to scatter their loved one’s ashes, or place their remains out in a place of significance to them, can do so with minimal impact to the environment.

Memorial stationery and keepsakes can provide peace and comfort for the family and friends long after a loved one has died. These tangible reminders, each unique to your loved one, can bring solace in times of loss and grief.

Updating your Will

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:48:27 GMT

When and Why should you do it?

At Kearney’s, we are avid proponents of planning ahead – from thinking about your future health care needs to your wishes for your funeral – we encourage you to make pre-emptive decisions and either put them in writing or communicate verbally to your family what you want to happen in the future.

We are well aware that a favourite pastime of adults young and old is procrastination. We know what we need to do but we keep putting it off to some undetermined future date, thinking we have lots of time to take care of business.

Then, you might realize that not having a will could cause problems for your family and loved ones if you die. Administering your estate could be complicated, take a long time and be more expensive than if you had a will.

So, at some point, creating a will is on your list of things to do. Especially if you have a family, you will want to let your family and loved ones know what you want to happen after you die – from financial matters to caring for your minor children. Having a will can prevent confusion and help to minimize disputes in your family.

Then you create your will and put into writing who you wish to be your Executor or Executrix, who you want to care for your minor children and how you want your assets to be disposed of. You can do this on your own or with a notary or lawyer.

And then things change in your life. You realize that all or some of the things you intended to happen after your death are no longer what you want.

There are many circumstances in which you will want to make changes to your will. In any event, you should review your document at least every five years. Here are just some of life’s events that should nudge you towards amending your existing will:

Your marital status changes – you get engaged or married or you become separated or divorced.
Your spouse dies.
You have children.
You change your mind about who you wish to be your beneficiary(ies). Your relationships with the people in your life may change over time and you will want this reflected in your will.
You may wish to also review who the designated beneficiaries are with respect to your life insurance, RRSPs and TFSAs if you own these products.
The person you originally appointed to execute your will has died or no longer wishes to take on this task or you change your mind about who you wish to do this.
You have moved out of the country or out of the province – for example, each Canadian province has different laws about estate succession.
You experience a change in your financial situation.

Procrastination has been characterized as “the irrational delay of tasks despite potentially negative consequences”. We often put off tasks that we perceive as difficult or unpleasant or stressful. We encourage you to take the important step now to review your will. There’s no time like the present to ensure that it reflects your current life situation.

Advance Planning for Health Care

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:48:26 GMT

At Kearney’s, we are great proponents of planning ahead for what you would want to happen when you die – that way you will have a say in whether you are buried or cremated and in what kind of service your loved ones will have for you.

We believe it is equally important for you to plan for the kind of health care you would want to receive if the time ever comes that you couldn’t speak for yourself.

The complexity of end-of-life care can be overwhelming for those who may need to make decisions on behalf of a loved one who is no longer capable to make them for him or herself. You can help them by indicating clearly, while you are able to do so, how you want your care and treatment carried out.

You can do this by communicating your wishes in writing or verbally to those who will make these decisions for you – family, friends and health care providers. It is important to remember that you will always be asked first as long as you are able to make your own decisions – as long as you can understand and communicate with your care providers. But there may come a time, due to illness or injury, that you will be incapable of expressing your wishes.

To try to detail what you would want in specific medical situations could result in the creation of complicated or even confusing instructions. For this reason, it is a good idea for you to chose a trusted individual who will make decisions for you that are in your best interests and in keeping with your beliefs and values about care at the end of life.

If you don’t designate a specific individual to speak for you by way of a Representation Agreement, there is a legal order in British Columbia legislation in which individuals will be approached to make health care decisions for you, starting with your spouse, your children, your parent, your sibling and the list goes on. The first step will be deciding who your advocate will be.

The next step is that all-important communication with your advocate. You can do this in writing or verbally. Having these kinds of conversations can be very difficult, but it is essential that you express your wishes while you are able to do so. This will make it much easier for your spokesperson to make your decisions with the confidence of knowing that it would be what you would decide if you could communicate.

You will probably not be able to cover every possibility of what could happen to you in future. For this reason, choosing a trusted advocate will ensure that he or she will make decisions based on your beliefs and values and with your best interests in mind.

You might want to think about whether you would want your care providers to attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation if you were to experience a cardiac arrest. Depending on your specific circumstances, you may wish to forgo this procedure. We know that it doesn’t always work and can sometimes cause irreparable physical harm.

What about organ donation? If you wish to be considered as a donor, you must be registered with BC Transplant.

What would you want to happen if you were in a situation where your medical treatment was more of a burden to you than a benefit? Your treatment options can be made based on your subjective response to them. This might be in the case of chemo therapy for cancer or for kidney dialysis. It is perfectly acceptable for you to decide to forgo or discontinue these treatments. If you were unable to express your wishes about these and other things, your advocate can do so for you.

There are many other situations where decisions may be needed about your care, such as palliative care, dementia care, pastoral care and more.

We encourage you to do your planning in advance, whether or not you put your wishes in writing. Talk to your family, loved ones and physicians about the care and treatment you expect to receive when needed. The greater the number of people who are aware of what your choices are, the better the possibility that your wishes will be followed.

To help you plan, you may wish to go to www2.gov.bc.ca and download the Advance Care Planning Guide.

Expected Death at Home

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:48:25 GMT

When an individual is at the end of life and a natural expected death is anticipated, he or she has a right to make decisions that fit with their values, beliefs and wishes. If you know that death is imminent, a good idea is to have a plan and to let your family, other loved ones and care givers know exactly what your wishes are. You have the right to have your wishes respected.

You may not wish to die in the hospital. You have the right to choose to die in your home if that is what you want. Creating a clear plan will help your family know what they have to do when you die.

There are many things that need to be considered if your choice is to die in your home. You have the right to have medical care and support provided for you, keeping in mind that circumstances may change unexpectedly. Ideally, it is best to establish a relationship with home nursing services and/or home hospice services as soon as you know you will need them.

You will also want to consider signing a “No Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation” form. This is something to consider if you have decided, in discussion with your physician, that attempting resuscitation would be medically futile. Signing such an order indicates to first responders that they should not initiate any resuscitation attempts.

Keep in mind that you can always change your mind and revise any part of your plan at any time. Your situation may change over time and you may want to reconsider your choices.

A form titled “Notification of Expected Death” is completed if you have decided to die at home. A copy of this form is provided to the Funeral Home of your choice. They will have the authorization in place so that your family can contact them directly once your death has occurred so that they can bring you into their care. Your family does not need to notify the Coroner when an expected death from natural causes occurs. They also do not have to call the police.

When an expected death at home occurs, there is no legal requirement for death to be pronounced but families may decide to have a doctor or nurse come to your home to do so.

The time to initiate a discussion about home death is when you are faced with a life=threatening/terminal illness where death is anticipated. This will require open communication with you, your family and your care providers.

For more detailed information, please go to www@.gov.bc.ca and look for Expected/Planned Home Deaths. The Province of British Columbia has developed a “Joint Protocol for Expected/Planned Home Deaths in British Columbia”. This document contains very informative content that will guide you in arranging for care and planning a death at home.

How much does will and estate planning cost?

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:48:25 GMT

I Need a Will - Should I Do It Myself?

The team at Kearney Funeral Services knows that Estate planning and making a Will are crucial steps in planning for the future of our loved ones. However, for some people, the desire to minimize the costs associated with estate planning can wrongly drive them either to not create a Will or use do-it-yourself services such as online Wills.

While the minimal cost of a DIY Will may seem appealing, there are many pitfalls. Often the pitfalls of DIY Wills include how they do not account for all possible scenarios when gifting to beneficiaries, are missing important provisions to allow an executor to properly administer the estate, and may even be based on inapplicable laws. Obtaining professional assistance will avoid these missteps that could cost the future of your loved ones. Unlike a “fill in the blank” DIY Will, our approach within our Wills & Estates Team at CBM Lawyers is to tailor your Will to meet your specific requirements and ensure no step is missed in the process.

I Think my Will is Simple - Do I Need a Lawyer?

Even when an estate plan seems ‘simple’, the requirements for a valid Will are specific and complex. As well, what many people do not realize is that your Will may not control where all of your assets will go upon death. Obtaining accurate information and sound advice is vital to preparing a valid Will.

The common cases that affect how your assets are distributed and should have professional attention are:

minor children
dependent adult children
a blended family
a business
foreign property
gifts of property
charitable gifts

If a Will provides for unequal distribution or a disinheritance, obtaining legal assistance and taking the additional steps needed to support your Will and estate plan are crucial. In those circumstances, the risk of litigation - your loved ones going to court to debate your assets - is much higher when a Will is prepared without legal advice. Additionally, the cost of litigation, paid for out of the estate, will be greater than the cost of obtaining legal advice when preparing your Will.

Hiring a Lawyer - Is it Worth It?

Many view the cost of preparing a Will as simply an expense; however, it is really an investment in ensuring your assets will be dealt with as per your wishes. We pay every year for insurance on our property, our health care and our lives to protect our assets and our loved ones. We prepare a Will only a few select times during our lifetime. Therefore, shouldn’t we take the same care and invest in protecting our assets and our loved ones?

If you do not have a plan in place, the time and money you invest now to make sure your affairs are in order will provide peace of mind knowing your loved ones are taken care of in the future.

What About Planning for Unexpected Incapacity

Unexpected events can happen and in case you lose your capacity as a result, you may also wish to consider preparing a Power of Attorney and a Representation Agreement . These are separate legal documents which allow you to name who you give legal authority to, so they can manage your financial matters and health care matters respectively, if you become incapable.

At CBM Lawyers, we understand that planning for your loved ones’ future is personal. Our goal is to inform and guide you, and prepare the legal documents you need to ensure your plan is in place, giving you peace of mind. Contact us today to get in touch with our team.

Create a Unique Memorialization to Keep Your Loved One's Legacy Alive

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:48:21 GMT

A funeral service or celebration of life doesn’t have to be the final chapter to honour the passing of your loved one.

For those who want to have a more enduring way of paying tribute, they can choose from a varied list of personal memorializations.

And, Kearney Funeral Services can help with keeping a person’s memory alive beyond their death.

Memorialization is an essential part of the grieving process as some families and individuals choose to preserve and externalize the memories and impact their loved one made during their lifetime.

And today, the options are almost as endless as your imagination, ranging from a small keepsake to a large-scale, online memorialization event.

Whatever the scope, it can be the most personal and meaningful expression.

So, what are some ways you can pay tribute to someone’s memory after their funeral? Here are a few ideas:

Customized Urns

Urns are a way of keeping the physical remains of a person who has passed, close to their family. But they can also express a statement through personalization.

By customizing an urn, families can continue to preserve and commemorate their loved one for years to come by selecting the material including marble, metal and even reclaimed wood sourced locally in B.C., as provided by Kearney partner, BAM Woodworks on Salt Spring Island.

Your choice of design can also represent the essence of the individual’s personality and existence.

Virtual Memorialization Event

The current COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way many events are conducted, including funeral ceremonies that are limited to smaller gatherings.

But if you wish to expand that circle to include everyone who played an integral role in your loved one’s life you can opt for an online memorialization.

That way, friends, co-workers, and others who were important to your loved one can attend in a virtual room where you can all talk about your favourite memories.

Ink and digital fingerprints

At Kearney Funeral Services a currently popular memorialization option is through ink and digital fingerprints of their loved ones.

In fact, 80 per cent of clients have requested that, as well as other commemoration projects such as footprints cast in cement for garden stepping stones, to printing on pendant jewelry.

Keepsake Memorial Jewelry

One way to keep a loved one close to the heart is through beautiful keepsake jewelry.

Memorial jewelry — such as ones offered by Eternity’s Touch — can store a piece of your loved one (in the form of their cremated remains) into a special pendant, locket, ring, or another piece to wear so you have them with you wherever you go.

Online Memorial

Memorialization can also be done through storytelling.

It can be done in words and photos online where access to the information is widespread over various forms of social media.

Kearney Funeral Services can work with you to provide just the right wording to honour their memory.

And visitors to the online obituary section can leave their messages of condolence.

Whatever extended commemoration you choose, Kearney Funeral Services can expertly address your immediate needs through the challenges of grieving in a socially-distanced time.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Kearney remains committed to providing the highest level of care and compassion, as well as ensuring the highest commitment to the health and safety of their clients and their team.

Families can call and book an in-person appointment with a funeral director at one of their locations, or seek assistance from Kearney’s team remotely.

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Things to Keep in Mind for Memorials and Funerals During COVID-19

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:48:18 GMT

The COVID-19 pandemic has swept through society, disrupting pretty much every aspect of our lives - the way we work, learn, socialize and grieve the loss of our loved ones.

That last aspect—grieving—is one Ryan Crean, funeral director with Kearney Funeral Services, deals with on a continuing basis as he, and his staff, work closely with families to provide a fitting way to celebrate and commemorate a life.

To help with the process, Kearney Funeral Services has assembled a number of aspects to keep in mind when planning a memorial and funeral during pandemic times.

Don't delay, do something right away

“We are seeing a lot of families putting off having funerals and memorial services,” Crean says. “And it’s important to realize that’s not a good thing to do.

“They need to do something at the time, then, perhaps, schedule a more formal service later because their grieving process won’t actually start until they have taken time to properly memorialize their loved one.”

Delaying a service can also make it increasingly complicated to later reach out to family and friends.

“Some dislike the idea of not being able to have all the people they’d like attend due to social gathering restrictions,” Crean explains. “So, they think of putting things off. And generally, when you do that, you run the risk of never having a service as it can become less of a priority.”

A memorial does not have to consist of a large funeral, rather it can be any ritual or process that will help families and loved ones grieve and find solace.

Have a proper memorialization

While public health advisories have affected how people gather during the pandemic, the manner which memorials are staged has adapted.

“Naturally, we are seeing smaller gatherings now. And that has made us leverage technology, which has become more important as we want to safely include as many people as possible in a service through Internet-streamed, remote viewing,” Crean says.

Under current guidelines, no more than 50 people are permitted at a service. And all attending must be pre-registered. Plus, social distancing must be maintained.

Using a reputable firm that not only understands the guidelines, but also adheres to them closely is vital to ensure the health and safety of all guests and staff at each ceremony.

Involve the community

“One of the most important aspects of a memorial and funeral is reaching out to the community,” Crean says. “So, making the arrangements to ensure those people are included is important. And that’s where our live streaming service also comes in.

“We’ve offered it for quite a while, but it has become much more popular given the situation the pandemic has placed us in.”

Overall, Crean says we all need to understand that different than normal times will require us to undertake different ways of grieving.

Celebrating the Life of Loved Ones During a Pandemic

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:48:17 GMT

With COVID-19, the traditions central to our human experience have looked much different. With guidelines limiting group gatherings in place throughout our communities, it has been difficult to gather with our family and friends for moments where being together is important — such as grieving the loss of loved ones.

When it comes to holding funeral and memorial services during a pandemic, there are several ways to conduct a proper memorialization ceremony with consideration and care for everyone involved.

Be Open to the Grieving Process

In times of grief, it’s crucial to not prolong the mourning process, as doing so can be detrimental to one’s well being in an already stressful and disconnected time.

Experiencing and processing that pain, coming together with others to celebrate your loved one’s life, and then adjusting to a new reality after loss are all essential stages of grief that mourners must go through.

Even if grieving is not what we expected it to be, it’s important to continue moving forward in the process. At the end of the day, don’t delay — start grieving now.

Integrate Technology Into the Ceremony

With thanks to technology, families can host socially-distanced ceremonies by holding a virtual celebration of life or funeral ceremony through streaming.

An online funeral or memorial service can also help involve people who would otherwise not be able to attend in person — including those who are quarantined, sick, at high risk, or from another city. By live streaming, they can take part with their community and loved ones in saying goodbye.

Host the Memorial Service in Open Spaces

For those who wish to host a small, intimate ceremony, plan to host the service in a large open space — preferably outdoors with lots of fresh air and room for distancing.

If held indoors, continue to focus on large spaces with open doors and windows for air circulation.

Invite the Community to Remember Together

In the virtual space, attendees can also contribute to virtual memorial books and share videos, eulogies, readings, photos and prayers.

The acknowledgement of bereavement as a community event is key to beginning grieving, as family and friends are able to be there for each other with support and love, as well as share memories of their deceased loved one. This connection can provide comfort and healing in a time of pain.

Funeral providers, such as the directors at Kearney Funeral Services, can guide families through the challenges of grieving in a socially-distanced time.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kearney continues to be committed to their mission of caring for those dealing with the loss of a loved one with the highest level of care and compassion, as well as the highest commitment to ensuring the health and safety of their clients and their team.

Families can call and book an in-person appointment with a funeral director at one of their locations, or seek assistance from Kearney’s team remotely. They are here to help anyone suffering from loss.

A Trusted Essential Service

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:48:16 GMT

Since last Spring, our Kearney’s team has demonstrated a unique ability to adapt to the necessary changes in the way we operate. As an essential service, we have continued to serve families who experienced the loss of a loved one by being flexible in the way we structured our arrangements and services. The health and safety of our staff and the families we serve are paramount.

Kearney’s has served the Catholic community in the Lower Mainland for more than 112 years. Thomas Kearney established our business in 1908. In time, his daughter Ellen Kearney Crean took over from him, followed by her sons and now, her grandson Ryan Crean is responsible for the operation of four Kearney locations in Vancouver, New Westminster, Burnaby and Cloverdale.

In these uncertain times, it is more important than ever that we turn to those we trust to ensure that our loved ones are cared for with compassion and understanding. At Kearney’s, we understand that it is comforting to those who mourn to witness the age-old traditions of a Catholic Funeral. We know what is involved in planning a Catholic Funeral and Burial (or cremation, if that is your preference), We will be happy to help coordinate your wishes with your Parish Priest.

Throughout the process of planning for a loved one’s Funeral, Kearney’s staff adheres to the highest level of safety protocols that have been established by BC’s Public Health Officer and others responsible for ensuring the health and safety of British Columbians. We are diligent in following the guidelines that have been established for those coming in to our facilities to make arrangements and for those attending Funerals. We follow all requirements in our facilities for social distancing and sanitizing.

If you need our services, please call one of our offices to speak with one of our knowledgeable, professional Funeral Directors. You can attend one of our offices to make Funeral arrangements or we can accommodate your wishes to do this planning by phone or email.

Kearney’s mission is to serve the Catholic community in the Lower Mainland and, in recent times, it has become our mandate to do this in the safest manner possible.

5 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Funeral Provider

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:48:15 GMT

Details regarding service offerings and prices are important factors when weighing your options. Some considerations that may be important to determine include:

Do they own the facility where my loved one will be kept?

What services can they provide, and can they accommodate any changes in our wishes or needs?

Is this a reputable provider with a history of providing exceptional service to the community?

If it is important to you, are they locally owned and operated in your community?

Will they be there for me and my family when we need them?

To guide you in the decision-making process, Kearney Funeral Services has provided a list of the core questions that should be addressed when selecting a funeral provider that is right for you and your family.

How will I get good value through your funeral services?

Cost can be a sensitive subject when dealing with such an important event. It is important to understand that there are a wide range of costs across all possible funeral providers. Some providers keep costs low by operating out of a personal residence and contracting services to other providers, while others offer additional added services as part of their professional fees above and beyond what seem to be the same services.

Once you have established what you are looking for, do not be afraid to talk about costs. Reputable funeral providers will be open about discussing cost, and the services they can provide. They will work within your budget to ensure you receive exceptional value and care from the time you make first contact, to any requirements anytime in the future.

What kinds of services can you provide?

Ask the funeral provider to give you an overview of the various services and products they offer, from traditional casket viewings or celebration of life ceremonies, to any specific requests. Reputable providers will work with you to cater to your needs.

If you require full service offerings — including everything from obituary notices, the use of a chapel and a visitation room, a cemetery burial service followed by a reception, and officiant and catering services — you should take the time to find the provider that can fulfill all of your funeral wishes.

Can you accommodate my family's personal beliefs into the funeral service?

To honour loved ones in a unique and personal way, you can and should be encouraged to customize the memorial or funeral service to make it a meaningful and healing experience for family, friends, and the community as a whole.

The funeral should be an opportunity to honour your family’s set of religious, cultural or unique values and requirements. From Catholic funeral masses to green burials, the right funeral provider should take care of the planning and executing all aspects of the ceremony so you can focus on the remembrance and celebration.

Are you and your staff readily available for support?

Funeral directors and team members that exhibit a willingness to offer support to their clients during every step of the funeral process, from pre-planning to post-arrangement and beyond, are providers you can count on.

Funeral providers that you can trust should be open to providing information, resources, and overall support to you throughout the entire grieving process. This support should be available 24 hours a day, when you and your family require it.

May I make an appointment to visit the funeral home?

Oftentimes, you need to experience something with your full senses before you know whether it is the right fit or not. A funeral provider is no different.

Make the time to visit the funeral home in person beforehand so you can get acquainted with the location, facility, and staff. Then, you can assess whether or not the whole package aligns with your funeral preferences.

This is also the time when you can meet with the funeral director and staff on their premises and decide if their levels of care, knowledge, experience, and professionalism matches what you are looking for in funeral providers.

5 Things to Consider When Selecting a Funeral Service Provider

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:48:15 GMT

It is important to understand that there can be big differences between funeral providers. Here are five aspects to consider when choosing a funeral service provider.

1. Most funeral home service providers do their utmost to fulfill their clients’ needs and wishes. But find one that takes the time to really listen and understand your expectations.

“We take time to listen carefully to what people want and what they are looking for,” explains Ryan Crean, funeral director with Kearney Funeral Services and part of the fourth generation in his family to run the business. “And once we have that, we can make meaningful recommendations tailored to their wishes.”

2. Cremation services can have a wide variety of options to match your needs.

“With cremation, I don’t think a lot of people realize we can provide a whole range of services,” Crean says. “We can do private family visitation, followed by cremation. You can have a full funeral service with cremation to follow.

“If you’d prefer, there’s a memorial service only, a family internment, or a scattering of cremated remains.

“People can even have their remains launched into space now, interred at a cemetery, or made into diamonds. As long as it’s legal a good funeral provider will help you plan a disposition that is meaningful to you and your family

3. Whatever your religious denomination or personal beliefs, an experienced funeral home will be able to tailor your service to meet your faith requirements.

“Our expertise in handling all types of services can give a family a starting point to move forward from, for example, if it involves a set, religious ritual they may not be familiar with,” Crean explains. “We can help lead them through that process.”

4. Can celebrating a life be worldwide shared?

During the COVID-19 pandemic the restrictions and public gatherings size limitations, created the necessity to find new ways to share and get together for this important life events and technology opened new perspective on how we can do this celebrations. Kearney Funeral Services can offer remote, live-streamed viewing of a service and recording.

“We believe one of the most important aspects of a funeral is community participation and support. We’ve offered live streaming for some time, and today, it is just more prevalent,” Crean says. “We provide a remote link inside and outside of our building.”

5. Trust, communication, and transparency, in terms of laying out costs and fulfilling your wishes, are vital traits for a reputable funeral service provider.

“This makes a difficult situation much easier—you can go into the process of making arrangements with confidence, just as you would with a financial advisor or lawyer,” Crean says.

To learn more about Kearney Funeral Services and how one of their four locations across the region can help you, contact us today.

5 Reasons Why You Should Have a Will

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:48:14 GMT

Taking the time to meet with a lawyer and establish a Will is the best way to ensure the proper division of your assets after you pass away. Despite what many people think, creating a Will is a surprisingly fast and streamlined process. Taking the time to meet with a lawyer can protect your family from having to deal with the messy process of Probate and the conflict that can arise as a result of not having a Will. The team at CBM Lawyers has been handling estate matters for clients with dedication, commitment, integrity, and discretion since 1977. We understand that creating a Will can be a stressful experience however, we strongly encourage everyone to do so.

These are our top 5 reasons that everyone should have a Will:

1. Divide up your assets

Having a Will ensures that your assets are properly divided amongst your living relatives and loved ones. Whether this includes property, a business, or family heirloom - Wills ensure that your belongings are fairly distributed and given to the rightful heirs. Without a Will, the process is messy and can result in ongoing legal proceedings and conflict. Creating a Will ensures that when you do pass away, your loved ones can proceed with your desired distribution of belongings.

2. Protect your children

If you have young children in your care, a Will ensures that they will live with a guardian of your choosing in light of a tragic situation. If you do not have a Will, you risk having a court-appointed guardian which may not be in the best interest of your child. Having a Will protects those who are vulnerable and rely on the care of a responsible adult.

3. Avoid a lengthy probate

Most estates must go through Probate at some point. However, having a Will can ensure that the process is much smoother. Without a Will, this process can be painfully long and exhausting. Having a Will streamlines the division of assets and ensures that your loved ones are not stuck trying to navigate through the legalities of a long Probate.

4. You can make changes

Creating a Will now does not restrict you from making changes down the road - including adding and removing people. As long as you are capable and competent, you are able to modify your choices late on. The ability to edit and develop a Will makes the initial creation of the Will a less stressful ordeal. Sudden gains or losses can be accounted for, as well as any relationships that may change over time.

5. Tomorrow is never guaranteed

One unfortunate truth is that life is unpredictable. Whether young or old, having a Will protects you from the unforeseen and unpredictable happenings of life. Procrastinating your plan for a Will can negatively affect those that you care about in the unfortunate situation of sudden death. Creating a Will ahead of time is the best way to prepare for the unforeseen and protect both your assets and loved ones.

This article is written by Janice Papp. Janice is a CBM Associate, who specializes in Wills, Estates, and Trusts. For more information on Wills, Estates, and Trusts - please visit CBM Lawyers LLP . CBM has been handling estate matters for clients with dedication, commitment, integrity and discretion since 1977. For more information regarding funeral services and preparation, please visit the Kearney Funeral Services and Cremations page .