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John A. Gentleman Mortuaries & Crematory Logo

Christmas

November 23, 2019

Not everyone anticipates the approaching Christmas holiday with enthusiasm. Let’s face it, Christmas comes around the same time every year and it’s just bound to hit everyone at a low point at least once in a lifetime. So, if this is not been your best year and you are not really looking forward to Christmas, here are a few tips to help you cope.

Be sure you have a plan – Before the holidays are upon you take time to make a plan. Think about who you want to see during the holidays and plan to spend time with them. Think about what events you really want to attend. Whether it is your granddaughter’s school play or the church breakfast, put those on your calendar. Also think about things you don’t want to do and politely decline those invitations. If you want to put up a tree but are dreading doing it alone, invite a few of those people you want to see and have a potluck tree trimming party. Have a plan and stick to the plan.

Don’t take on things that cause stress – This is the year to cut back. Do what you want to do and let go of the idea that you must do everything that you always did. Less can be more. Be kind to yourself.

Put exercise at the top of your list – Time is a precious commodity this time of year.  It’s easy to put the things you do for yourself at the bottom of the list. If you are struggling with the holiday season, don’t shortchange your exercise program. When you are doing your planning, put your exercise on your calendar and keep it there.

Get out in the light – Days are short this time of year. The lack of exposure to light can make people feel sad. Get out during the daylight hours and take a long walk.

Remember the real purpose of the holiday – We have Christmas to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. He taught us to be our best kindest selves. It’s not about 20 different kinds of cookies, or a huge pile of presents. Nope, it’s about love. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. You’ve got to love yourself. Be kind to yourself. Lower your expectations for just this one tough year.

Honoring Military Service

February 26, 2020
Taps. There is nothing like the sound of those patriotic notes. It grabs your heart, it makes you cry. It honors the service and risk a man or woman took for our safety and the safety of our country. Public law provides military burial benefits for all who served and were honorably discharged from any of the five branches of the U.S. Military. Your funeral director or advance funeral planner can explain all of the benefits you or your family members are eligible to receive. They will also access those benefits related to the funeral or burial on your behalf. Your funeral director can help you weave the remembrance of your loved one’s military service into the fabric of their full life experience. Most who have served in any of the branches of our military, whether it be for a few years or as a career, will tell you the experience had a profound impact on their life.  Even when the service period was brief and at a tender age and followed by many years of some other vocation, that service should be honored. The funeral professionals at your local funeral home have the resources and know how to help you get the remembrance just right. In addition to the playing of taps and flag ceremony provided by public law, there are caskets, vaults, and urns that highlight each branch of the armed services to be considered. Photos and music can also be a part of the funeral gathering or ceremony and can add so much to the remembrance. How much or how little your family wishes to focus on the military service of a loved one is a matter of personal choice. With the assistance of your funeral director, a military service can be planned that finds the perfect balance for your family. www.johnagentleman.com

What to expect when you expect to be cremated

February 26, 2020
Cremation has been around for thousands of years. It is required by some faiths and forbidden by others. Governments, charged with protection of the public health and esthetic of the community, have laws governing both cremation and burial practices. One way to view burial and cremation is to look at each as a means to the same end. Dust to dust. Cremation is quick, and burial is slow. Either one is a legal and acceptable means to the end. Most people understand what burial is about, but questions remain about cremation.

Cremation or burial … is that the question?

February 26, 2020
When a family member dies or when a person is planning their own funeral in advance, one of the first questions that will be asked is, “Do you want burial or cremation?”. The burial or cremation question is a starting point for a number of choices that must be made. It’s a place to start. But it is absolutely not the entire story.

Cheap cremation

February 26, 2020
How cheap is cheap cremation? How do they do it so cheap? How is cheap cremation different from the cremation services provided by your local funeral home?

Finding YOUR Joy

January 3, 2020
Even months after the funeral it’s not uncommon to feel just not exactly right. We all lose our way from time to time. Things happen and we can’t find our JOY. It’s not really so much gone, as it is misplaced. Life feels dull and the days seem to drag. No matter what the circumstances, if you look for it, you can find your own personal JOY again. However, you will have to work a bit to find it and reconnect.

Who should record my funeral wishes?

January 3, 2020
There is a woman who once thought that she’d like to have a hologram made of her wearing an Obi-Wan Kenobi robe for her funeral. Her four sons grew up during the Star Wars era and similar to Obi-Wan, she would love to pass along the wisdom she acquired over her lifetime to those she loves. And yes, she would also like to have the last word! So who should this woman see to discuss and share her wishes? Should she talk to an attorney? Her financial planner? Or a funeral director?

We all love in very different ways: Preserving the family relationship while planning a funeral

January 3, 2020
You are with someone with whom you share some history. Maybe it’s a brother, sister, or a childhood friend. You are talking about an event from the “old days” and you suddenly realize you all remember the event a little differently. Most of us have had this experience. Our relationships work in a similar fashion. The way we love, like the way we remember, is unique to each of us.

Moving after a spouse dies?

January 3, 2020
One of the realities of losing a spouse or a parent is the impact that event has on living arrangements. Are we living in the “right” place? Is the house too big? Is it too far away from family? Will my surviving parent be safe where they live? Should I move to be closer to mom or should mom move closer to me?

Why plan your funeral in advance?

November 23, 2019
The story below illustrates the benefits of preplanning your funeral. Also known as an “advance funeral plan”, “preneed”, or a “preplanned funeral”, it is one of the few things in life where you can pay today’s prices for a product and service you may not need for many years down the road, thus saving you money.

The 4th of July … Birthday of Our Great Nation

November 23, 2019
It’s a time to celebrate. Summer is in full swing. We get out the barbeque and cook our hot dogs and hamburgers. We fly the flag, go to a parade and end the day with fireworks. Happy Birthday America!
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