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What You Can Do to Help A Community in Mourning

August 9, 2018 by Danielle Burmeister
Aftercare

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.

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7 Ways to Celebrate Father’s Day without Dad

June 14, 2018 by Homesteaders Life Company
Aftercare

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

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Remembering a Loved One on Valentine’s Day

February 8, 2018 by Homesteaders Life Company
Aftercare

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.

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Simple Aftercare Ideas for Funeral Homes That Make a Difference

September 14, 2017 by Homesteaders Life Company
Aftercare

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.

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Why It's Important to Say Goodbye to Loved Ones

August 17, 2017 by Joan Schoborg
Featured, Aftercare

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. 

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5 Pet Memorial Ideas: Tips for Your Client Families

July 12, 2016 by Homesteaders Life Company
Aftercare

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.

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Enhance Your Funeral Home’s Aftercare with These Grief Resources for Children

June 21, 2016 by Homesteaders Life Company
Aftercare

Children deal with death and grief in different ways. Some may become angry and aggressive, some may ask questions and some may continue on as if nothing happened. Regardless of how a child deals with grief, it is important to understand how to properly handle the child’s reaction to the loss of a loved one.

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What Does Memorial Day Mean to You?

May 30, 2016 by Dean Lambert
Aftercare

The older you get, the faster time goes by. It seems impossible a year has passed since I visited the Iowa Veterans Cemetery on Memorial Day and participated in the various commemorative events with my Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) chapter. As the child of a United States Air Force officer who is a decorated Vietnam War Veteran and military consultant after retirement from the service, the brother of a U.S. Navy Seal Team member and the father of a Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps who served in Afghanistan, I have a deep reverence for the Armed Forces and the meaning of Memorial Day.

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How to Help Families Who Are Grieving on Mother’s Day

April 21, 2016 by Danielle Burmeister
Aftercare

Mother’s Day can be hard for anyone who has lost a mother or mother figure in their life, especially if this year is the first Mother’s Day without her. It’s important to remember that grief is different for everyone, so what works for one family may not be beneficial for another. 

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Why Funeral Homes Need to Offer Pet Loss Grief Support

April 7, 2016 by Danielle Burmeister
Aftercare

According to sociologist Gerald Mollenhorst, the vast majority of adult relationships are temporary. In fact, 70% of friendships do not last longer than seven years. Consider that many household pets – dogs and cats, specifically – often live a dozen or more years. Wouldn’t it make sense that those relationships, some of the longest many adults have outside their immediate families, are significant enough to merit a considerable amount of grief and necessitate a corresponding amount of funeral home support?

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