Homesteaders Blog

How to Recognize Loved Ones During Non-Memorial Holidays

As someone in the funeral business, you already know the value of celebrating the more widely known memorial holidays, such as Memorial Day or Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), with your client families and community members. There are many simple ways you can draw in your local community during these times. However, you may often be overlooking the value and importance of providing the chance to remember loved ones on non-memorial specific holidays and milestones throughout the year.

Many of your client families are experiencing holiday “firsts” without their loved ones and are looking for support and guidance on how to establish new meaningful traditions for themselves and their families. Here’s a list of commonly celebrated holidays and ideas for how to provide opportunities for your families to remember and recognize the lives of their loved ones throughout the year.

How Text-Based Aftercare Can Transform Your Aftercare Services

When was the last time you didn’t read a text message? According to an Adobe Campaign Management Report, text messages have a 98 percent open rate, and 90 percent are read within three seconds, making texting one of the most efficient ways to communicate with consumers. And with the vast majority of people in the United States and Canada owning smartphones, texting is also the most effective and personal way to contact families after their loved one’s death. Discover how our text-based aftercare can help you provide better customer service and support to families immediately following their loved one’s service and transform your aftercare program.

How Funeral Professionals Can Support Families That Have Lost a Child

Losing a child is one of the most painful experiences a family can endure. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the death or the age at which it occurs, the overwhelming grief the surviving family members experience is something funeral professionals are uniquely qualified to handle. And as difficult as it is to witness a family’s sorrow, funeral professionals understand that expert care and compassionate service are exactly what these heartbroken families need to honor their loved ones and begin to heal.

In honor of Bereaved Parents Awareness Month, recognized every year in July, discover the invaluable ways funeral providers can help grieving parents and family members during the most difficult days of their lives.

How to Start a Funeral Home Aftercare Program

A family’s experience with your funeral home doesn’t end immediately after the funeral, and neither does their potential need for grief support. Your firm can serve an important role in this capacity, providing aftercare that offers much-need resources during difficult times and helps extend relationships within the community you serve.

What You Can Do to Help A Community in Mourning

On June 24, 2009, Ed Thomas was in the weight room at Aplington-Parkersburg High School, coaching the school’s football team through their summer weight training program. A little before 8 a.m., a former player entered the school and opened fire, shooting and killing his former coach before fleeing the scene.

7 Ways to Celebrate Father’s Day without Dad

Each year as we approach Father’s Day, it’s important to remember the fathers and grandfathers who have passed away. Whether it was recent or several years ago, client families can still be grieving in their own, unique ways. 

Remembering a Loved One on Valentine’s Day

After the glitz and glamour of the major winter holidays, many people forget about the mid-February day dedicated to love and romance. While many resources focus on remembering and honoring loved ones during those major holidays, Valentine’s Day can be just as emotional for families.

Simple Aftercare Ideas for Funeral Homes That Make a Difference

Aftercare is a critically important part of any successful funeral home business. A thoughtful aftercare program can equip you to care for your community in new and different ways, build your brand and help you remain top of mind when families need a funeral provider.

Why It's Important to Say Goodbye to Loved Ones

In my lifetime, I have experienced the deaths of two people very close to me. The first was my father and the second was my daughter. In both experiences, I did not have a chance to say goodbye – something no one should have to go through. 

5 Pet Memorial Ideas: Tips for Your Client Families

Pets are more than just animals. They are furry members of the family and quickly become your best friends. You find yourself talking to them as if they are human. You build a bond with them. It can be difficult to say goodbye to pets and can be like losing a family member. The grieving process applies to any type of death, pets included. Pet memorialization is a good way to have some closure.