Since our funeral food pages are popular, we thought our readers might enjoy a pithy little feature highlighting our recipes and funeral food customs. Having crossed paths with an article or two about the traditions behind potatoes at funerals, that seemed like a good place to start.  Hailing from the South, I already knew that funeral comfort food is quite a thing, and a tasty thing at that. I’ve been to plenty of funerals where the golden cheesy deliciousness of potato casseroles was on full display, but I had no idea that this otherwise normal food was so iconic.

So, if you’ve ever enjoyed a heaping spoonful of funeral potatoes, read on to learn more about these special creations. If you’ve never had the chance to try them, you might be tempted to try one of the many recipes out there.

10 Fascinating Facts About Funeral Potatoes

Do you have a go-to funeral or sympathy dish? Give us the recipe in the comments to this article and maybe we’ll add it to our cookbook. For more on funeral food, take a look at our funeral reception planning pages.

Don’t like slideshows? Here’s the full list.

1. 5 million and counting.
   Do a Google search for funeral potatoes. I dare you. I got 7,580,000 results. Who’s number 1? Ree Drummond (aka The Pioneer Woman) at Food Network. This recipe doesn’t have a fancy name. It’s called, you guessed it, Funeral Potatoes. According to the description, this version is “extra comforting with lots of cheese and even potato chips.”
2. What’s in a name?
   You might be surprised to hear that Funeral Potatoes got their name because people bring them to funerals. Okay, so you’re not surprised. In any case, according to Southern Living Magazine, “It’s a widespread tradition to serve them at gatherings held after funerals, hence the name.”
3. We’ll never really know.
   No one really knows when or where the tradition behind cheesy potatoes comes from, and you do find them at funerals and potlucks from sea to shining sea. But Utah, particularly the Church of Latter-Day Saints, has a particularly strong claim as the originator due to references in early Relief Society cookbooks.
4. Put a pin in it.
   Funeral Potatoes are so ingrained in the culture of Utah that during the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, a trading pin depicting the dish was available.
5. Convenience you didn’t know you needed.
   In the rush, rush, rush of modern life, tossing a bag of hash browns with sour cream can be just too much work. Enter Augason Farms of Utah. Carried by stalwarts such as Walmart, Augason produces a frozen premade pouch version of the classic dish. Add water and throw it in the oven. You can still go all out if you want to. The Augason Farms website advises that you can “Make it your own by garnishing with cornflakes, breadcrumbs, bacon, jalapenos, and more.”
6. This treat belongs to everyone.
   Although the Mormons have a strong claim to funeral potatoes, you will find versions of the dish in just about every region of the country. Of course, they’re not always called Funeral Potatoes (see hash brown casserole, cheesy hash browns, cheesy potatoes, party potatoes). Take Cracker Barrel’s hash brown casserole, for example. Yep, that’s pretty much a version of funeral potatoes without the potato chips.
7. Truly something for every taste.
   There is no shortage of variations for funeral potatoes. Some are pretty unique. Feeling spicey? Go with a Dorito topping. More traditional? Corn flakes. Other popular choices: Ritz crackers, potato chips, saltine crackers, seasoned traditional or panko bread crumbs. Even the website LDS Living features an article highlighting ten different recipes for the classic.
8. And the award goes to…
   In a 2017 article, Food & Wine Magazine hailed the Mormon version of funeral potatoes as “One of the Greatest American Triumphs.”
9. Be prepared.
   The ingredient list for traditional funeral potatoes is pretty simple—frozen hash browns, sour cream, canned cream of chicken soup, butter, and cornflakes—so there’s absolutely no reason you can’t keep the pantry/freezer stocked. You’ll be ready at a moment’s notice to whip up a batch. Hint: Funeral potatoes are not just for funerals.
10. We like them too.
    Even Funeralwise has a favorite recipe for funeral potatoes. Of course, we have recipes for other popular sympathy foods, too.

The post The Magic of Funeral Potatoes – 10 Fascinating Facts appeared first on Funeralwise.

The post Claim Survey Bonuses – US appeared first on Funeralwise.

>>Transporting Human Remains

Transporting Ashes by Air

You should ALWAYS check with your airline to verify specific policies for transporting cremated remains. The carrier’s policies on transporting ashes vary, and they can change from time to time.

Generally, you can transport ashes as cargo or carry them on the plane with you. Some carriers require advance notice to accept remains as cargo, and documentation, such as the death certificate, is required.

Whether you are traveling domestically or abroad, you may need export paperwork from your embassy. You must check ahead of time, particularly if you are transporting ashes overseas. Your funeral home or crematory can provide you with paperwork, such as an Affidavit of Non-contraband, that may be required. Keep all of your documentation with the container of cremated remains.

The Container or Urn

In 2004, the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) implemented special procedures for transporting cremated remains. The TSA has precise requirements for the type of containers to transport ashes.  TSA agents are not permitted to open urns and containers to verify they contain cremated remains. That means the container must be capable of being X-rayed. Below is an extract from the TSA blog (click here to go to the original document) which addresses the topic:

If carrying on the crematory remains, they are subject to screening and must pass through the X-ray machine. If the X-ray Operator cannot clear the remains, TSA may apply other, non-intrusive means of resolving the alarm. Under no circumstances will an officer open the container, even if the passenger requests this be done. If the officer cannot determine that the container does not contain a prohibited item, the remains will not be permitted, and you could be denied boarding.

If you plan to use a permanent urn for the remains once you reach your final destination, check with your funeral home to see if they can provide you with a temporary urn for air travel. There are also special permanent urns for transporting ashes that meet TSA requirements so they can pass through security.

Transporting Ashes by Shipping

Shipping domestically

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is the only agency authorized to ship cremated remains in the US. FedEx, UPS, and DHL do not ship cremated remains. Fortunately, the USPS has well-established guidelines for exactly what you need to do. Instructions are available on the USPS website (click here), or you can download their publication #139, How to Pack and Ship Cremated Remains, for detailed information.

1. Cremated remains (both human and animal) must be shipped by Priority Mail Express® or Priory Mail Express International®.
2. You may use a box of your choice, but you must apply Postal Service Label 139 to all six sides of the box. Label 139 is available through the Postal Store or a postal retail store. Also, a Priority Mail Express Cremated Remains box is available at no charge.
3. USPS requires that your package have padding and both an inner and outer container. The inner container must be sift-proof. The outer container must also be sift-proof. Use ample padding, so there is no movement between the inner and outer container.
4. The sender’s name and address and the addressee’s name and address should be included inside the box if the outer shipping label becomes damaged in transit.
5. The USPS recommends using the official Postal Service Cremated Remains Kit for packaging your remains. The kit is available through the Postal Store on usps.com.

International shipping

The USPS will also ship cremated internationally unless the country you are shipping to prohibits cremated remains. Priority Mail Express International® must be available for the country to which you want to ship. Verify this with the Post Office or by consulting the International Mailing Manual. In addition to packing your remains as you would for domestic mailing, you must complete the proper customs declaration form.

SHOP THE FUNERALWISE SELECTION OF URNS

The post Transporting Ashes appeared first on Funeralwise.

In preparing for the burial of the deceased, the family or other Muslim community members will clean and shroud the deceased’s body. The only time this is not performed is if the dead was a martyr. In that case, the deceased will be buried in the clothing in which he died.

The body is respectfully washed with clean, scented water, and then the body is wrapped in a kaftan, or clean, white burial shroud. This is done before the funeral prayer.

This sacred prayer is an essential part of the funeral tradition because if a person is buried without it, the entire Muslim community will incur a sin for neglecting this important obligation.

While the prayer may be said in the mosque, it is more customarily practiced outside the mosque. It is also acceptable to pray the Janazah prayer in a graveyard, but it is not permitted to utter other prayers there. The prayer can be said at some distance from the graves or in an area specifically dedicated to prayer. The prayer may also be said over the deceased’s grave if the person was buried before the prayer was performed.

The spoken words of the prayer incorporate a quiet reading of Al-Fatiha, then praying for Mohammed and reciting two supplications. The prayer is conducted when an Imam is present and facing toward the Qiblah.

Rewards for Prayer

Offering the funeral prayer comes with a reward for the person who says the prayer and the deceased. It is said that the person who says the prayer gains “one Qeerat of reward,” and the person who says the prayer and stays by the body until its burial will receive “two Qeerats of reward.”

Special Circumstances

Sometimes special circumstances surrounding the death of a Muslim make it impossible for another Muslim to pray the Janazah prayer over the body. In this particular case, performing the prayer elsewhere is sometimes considered acceptable.

Finality of Death

When someone dies, Muslims believe that everything is left behind. There are only three things that persist after death: charity given during a lifetime will continue to help others, people will continue to benefit from the knowledge, and a righteous child can still pray for the deceased.

The post Islamic Funeral Prayer & the Finality of Death appeared first on Funeralwise.

The post Wise Planning Workshop Bonuses appeared first on Funeralwise.

The post Funeral Customs appeared first on Funeralwise.

The all-new Digital Dying offers a fresh take on the trends and issues that are shaping the funeral industry.

If you haven’t looked at our blog, Digital Dying, in awhile you are in for a treat. It’s got an all-new look and a fresh focus. We’ll still bring you our unique perspective on funeral customs past and present, but we’ll also be taking a more vibrant look forward by profiling topics relating to Funerals of the Future and the people that are shaping the direction of the industry. 

Going forward, Digital Dying will dive deeper into topics relating to how the funeral industry is changing, what consumers want when it comes to celebrating end of life, and how attitudes toward death and dying are changing.

Funeralwise continues to find new ways to help people make the difficult decisions that come with end of life. Our goal is to help you prepare for the inevitable, celebrate life, and remember those who have gone before us.

>>Visit Digital Dying

MAKING THE RIGHT FUNERAL ATTIRE CHOICES

Since most of us don’t attend funerals often (thank goodness), it can be difficult to decide exactly what to wear. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. Our What to Wear to a Funeral page has lots of good information for you to use or share with someone who might need advice on how to dress for a funeral or memorial service.

We’ve also got a brand new article in our forums that takes a little different approach to the topic with tips on what NOT to wear to a funeral.

>> Learn More

FUNERALWISE FORUMS HAS ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS

Our Forums page is our best kept secret. It’s packed with planning tips, how-tos, and information on funeral trends. The most under-rated section on the forums is our Q&A. Ask us just about any question (funeral-related please!) and our team will do their best to get you an answer that is practical and right on target.

To submit a question to our experts, just click on the “Ask a Question” button anywhere in our website or use the question bar on the Forums home page.

>> Check Out the Forums

FUNERAL COSTS: TAKE A LOOK AT THE BIG TICKET ITEMS

One of the biggest challenges many of us face when it comes to funerals is the cost. There’s just no way around it, having a funeral is expensive. The good news is, there are ways you can save money.

Whether you want to have a traditional burial or a cremation, you can shave a healthy amount off the drive out cost by taking a hard look at the big-ticket items. Our Funeral Costs page has all the information you need to understand how you can cut costs without compromising on the type of funeral you want.

>> Learn More About Costs

WE WANT TO BUY YOU A CUP OF COFFEE

We get lots of great comments from the people who use our site, our publications, and our funeral planner. We welcome the input and want to know even more about what you think, what you need, and how we can improve.

Within the next few weeks we’ll be inviting you to take our feedback survey. The survey will take less than 5 minutes to complete (we promise). To make it worth your while, we’ll even send you a Starbucks gift card.

Your opinion is extremely important to us. We hope that when the time comes you’ll tell us what you think. Thanks!

Have you tried our online planner yet? Why not take a few minutes to do that today. Remember… the best time to plan a funeral is before you need to.

>> Try the Planner

Funeralwise.com is the place to go on the web for everything you need to know about funerals. Whether you are planning a funeral or attending one, we can provide you with straight-forward answers to your questions and step-by-step instructions to guide you on your way.

The post Have You Seen the All-New Digital Dying? appeared first on Funeralwise.

Using A Funeral Celebrant: A Growing Movement That’s Catching Hold

If you aren’t familiar with the concept of using a professional celebrant to preside at funerals and memorial services, then you aren’t alone. The idea of using a secular professional trained to lead funeral ceremonies isn’t new, but it is a relatively recent phenomenon in North America.

The profession of funeral celebrant developed in Australia in the 1970s when the government identified the need for specialists trained to officiate at wedding ceremonies. With success conducting weddings, the celebrants began applying their skills to funerals as well. The concept quickly spread throughout Australia and the UK. During the late 1990s, the movement began to take hold in North America.

The use of funeral celebrants in this country is still in its early stages, but there is already a vibrant and growing population of professional funeral celebrants in the United States. We think the use of funeral celebrants is a trend that will continue to take hold.

To help the Funeralwise community learn more about using celebrants, we have added new content to our site and now feature celebrants in our Preferred Provider Directory. If you are a Funeral Celebrant and would like to be added to our directory, click here.

>>Read Funeral Celebrants: Creating Personalized Ceremonies
>>Download our Guide to Using a Funeral Celebrant

WHEN SOMEONE LOSES A PET

If you’ve ever lost a treasured family pet then you know how hard it is. You may also know how difficult it can be to know what to say to someone who is struggling with the grief of saying goodbye to a pet. To help, we’ve complied a list of things you can say to show your support and understanding. View the list or click on the link below.

We understand how intense pet loss grief can be, so we’ve developed a number of resources to address the topic. To learn more about dealing with the loss of a pet and see our tips for dealing with the grief, visit our section on Coping with the Loss of a Pet.

>>SAY THIS, NOT THAT

TRAVEL PROTECTION PLANS

You’ve probably haven’t thought much about what will happen if you die while you are away from home. Unfortunately, this may be something you should consider since we Americans do love to travel.

Dying away from home can be an expensive proposition. Depending on where you are, you will need the services of two funeral directors and a carrier to get your remains from where to you passed away to your home town.

Luckily, there are now plans that can protect you should this happen. Click on the button below to learn more.

>>LEARN MORE ABOUT TRAVEL PROTECTION

PLANNING VS PREPAYING

Do you assume that funeral planning means you have to pay up front? Of course, there’s nothing wrong with paying in advance but you don’t have to. Even if you don’t want to pay for your funeral expenses up front, you can still pre-plan because the best time to plan your funeral is BEFORE you need it. Check out our article on preplanning without prepaying.

Our online funeral planner allows you to record your wishes in as much or as little detail as you want without spending a penny. See how you can do your planning for free with our Wise Planning System. Or read more about preplanning by clicking the button below. Already have a Funeralwise plan? Login here.

>>LEARN MORE

DIGITAL DYING

Have you visited our Digital Dying blog recently? It’s got an all new look and a fresh focus.

Digital Dying presents our unique perspective on funeral customs past and present, We also take a vibrant look forward by covering topics relating to Funerals of the Future, news relating to funerals and funeral customs,and the people that are shaping the industry.

Funeralwise continues to find new ways to help people make the difficult decisions that come with end-of-life. Our goal is to help you prepare for the inevitable, celebrate life, and remember those who have gone before us.

VISIT DIGITAL DYING

We’re Now on Trustpilot

We have partnered with the independent online review service, Trustpilot, to collect reviews. If you’ve reviewed us, thank you. To see more reviews, click on the stars below. If you haven’t gotten an invitation and you’d like to share your opinion, email us at support@funeralwise.com and we’ll send you an invitation. You can also offer a review through the Trustpilot.com website.

Have you tried our online planner yet? Why not take a few minutes to do that today. Remember… the best time to plan a funeral is BEFORE you need it.

Try the Planner

Funeralwise.com is the place to go on the web for everything you need to know about funerals. Whether you are planning a funeral or attending one, we will provide you with straight-forward answers to your questions and step-by-step instructions to guide you on your way.

The post Using A Funeral Celebrant: A Growing Movement appeared first on Funeralwise.

As November comes to a close, we’d like to express our heartfelt thanks to the members of the Funeralwise community for their support and continuing interest. We wish you all the best for the upcoming holiday season and send our heartfelt best wishes for the coming new year. 

SYMPATHY GIFTS

When someone experiences a loss we often turn to gift giving to let them know we are thinking about them, and we understand their grief. The trouble is, it’s not always easy to choose the right gift. To help, we’ve compiled a list of our top 10 favorite sympathy gifts. These are selected because they are each a unique and thoughtful way to offer our sentiments.

We hope you don’t need the list right now, but in case you do, take a look to see what you think.

>> 10 Unique & Thoughtful Sympathy Gifts

TRAVEL PROTECTION PLAN

If you are one of the millions of people that head south for the winter, you should consider purchasing an affordable Travel Protection Plan.

Travel plans cover the costs of getting you home should the unthinkable happen. While it’s hard to imagine needing such a plan, it can make good financial sense. Take a few minutes to learn more about why purchasing a travel plan is a smart move if you are a frequent traveler or you spend winter away from home.

>>Heading South for the Winter?

HANDLING GRIEF OVER THE HOLIDAYS

For most people, the holiday season is a time of family, friends, and joy. For those who are grieving, however, the traditions and celebrations that we usually look forward to can be stark reminders of someone who is no longer with us. The grief can be more intense, and the pain sharper. Even if you thought you had turned a corner on grief, you might be taken by surprise when sadness bubbles up at unexpected times.

To help you navigate the difficulties of grief over the holidays, we’ve compiled a list of six things you can do to help yourself or others to not just make it through the season, but perhaps get stronger. To view the list, click on the button below.

>>Learn More About Handling Grief Over the Holidays

TRENDS: FUNERAL CELEBRANTS

It’s not easy to plan a funeral that is personal and reflects the life of the deceased. That’s where funeral celebrants come in. Celebrants are professionals who are trained in designing custom funerals.

A professional celebrant will work with you to create a ceremony that takes into account the personality of the person being honored as well as the customs and traditions that were important to them.

Visit our site to learn more about funeral celebrants and how you might work with one.

>>Learn More About Using a Funeral Celebrant

HAVING A FUNERAL FOR A PET

Losing a beloved pet can cause intense grief. Not surprising since our pets are part of the family. Holding a memorial ceremony to commemorate the life and memories you shared can help build a bridge to help pass through the grief.

A pet funeral does not have to be elaborate or formal. In fact, you can design the ceremony any way you like. We can help with ideas for the types of things you can include in a meaningful ceremony.

For information on how to hold a pet funeral, see our Pet Loss pages.

>>Learn More About Having a Funeral For Your Pet

SEE WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT US

If you haven’t gotten an invitation and you’d like to share your opinion, email us at support@funeralwise.com. To see more reviews, click on the stars below.

DON’T HAVE A PLAN YET? Why not take a few minutes to get started today. (Click Here)

ALREADY HAVE A PLAN? Take a few minutes to make sure it’s up-to-date. (Click Here)

Funeralwise.com is the place to go on the web for everything you need to know about funerals. Whether you are planning a funeral or attending one, we will provide you with straight-forward answers to your questions and step-by-step instructions to guide you on your way.

The post We are Thankful for You appeared first on Funeralwise.

From the way we work to the way we socialize, COVID-19 has had a profound effect on all of us. For those who have lost a loved one during these difficult times, the results have been particularly heartbreaking. That’s because it’s not just routine activities that have changed, but how we grieve. 

At least for the time being, we are forced to wait to celebrate the life of a loved one lost. That means grief may be delayed or deferred and that’s not easy. Our traditions and customs normally lead us to pay tribute right away so that we can start to navigate the difficult road ahead.

Our latest post in the Funeralwise Forums, Goodbye For Now, looks at ways to honor a loved one now while waiting until social distancing requirements are relaxed to have a larger celebration of life. We hope the tips and advice are helpful.

For those who are currently grieving, we have resources on our website that may help. If you feel overwhelmed, we encourage you to reach out for help.

CREATING A CEREMONY

Designing a farewell ceremony or a celebration is often the last chance we have to honor our loved one. The process can be a challenge, but it can also be extremely rewarding.

Our website is rich with information to help you plan your ceremony. If you prefer to get help with your planning, we have information on how to work with a funeral celebrant to design a meaningful and personal farewell event.

>>Go To Celebrations of Life

FW FAVORITES: GIFTS

Finding a sympathy gift that expresses how you feel and has lasting meaning can be hard.

Our article, 10 Unique and Thoughtful Sympathy Gifts, can help you get started on your search for the perfect sympathy gift. Many of the items on the list don’t cost a dime. If you are purchasing something, our Memorial Store carries a wide variety of keepsakes and treasures.

>>Read 10 Unique Gifts

THE COST OF FUNERAL PREPLANNING: MYTH VERSUS REALITY

MYTH: Funeral Preplanning is expensive!
REALITY: Funeral Preplanning doesn’t have to cost you a dime.

When you preplan your funeral you create a guide for your loved ones to use to carry out your final wishes. These plans come in all shapes and sizes–from a few notes on a piece of paper to detailed instructions on everything from the music that’s played to the flowers that are displayed. Creating a plan does not mean that you have to pay for specific products and services.

While it’s always good to make sure you have funds set aside to cover end-of-life costs, those funds don’t have to be attached to your funeral plan. That means that you have total flexibility to determine how you want your funeral handled and how you want to pay for it.

To help you understand the ins and outs of funeral preplanning we have created a new page on our website that explores the topic of planning a funeral in advance versus prepaying. We invite you to visit the page and learn more about to get peace of mind by thinking about your funeral now.

>>Learn More About Preplanning

THE WISE PLANNING SYSTEM: COMPLETE PLAN SPECIAL OFFER

During these difficult times, we want to help. That’s why we’ve been offering our top of the line planner, the Wise Plan Complete, at no charge. If you are already using the Complete Plan, thank you! We would love to hear what you think.

If you have the Wise Plan Essentials version and would like to upgrade, send us a note and we’ll upgrade you right away.

We realize that creating an online funeral plan is not for everyone, but if you have been considering taking that step, now is a great time to do it. Once you save the Quick Plan you’ll be automatically upgraded to our top-of-the-line version (a $49.95 value).

Our hope is that making our best planner available at no cost will help you give people the peace of mind that being prepared brings.

>>CREATE A PLAN

SEE WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT US

If you haven’t gotten an invitation and you’d like to share your opinion, email us at support@funeralwise.com. To see more reviews, click on the stars below.

DON’T HAVE A PLAN YET? Why not take a few minutes to get started today. (Click Here)

ALREADY HAVE A PLAN? Take a few minutes to make sure it’s up-to-date. (Click Here)

Funeralwise.com is the place to go on the web for everything you need to know about funerals. Whether you are planning a funeral or attending one, we will provide you with straight-forward answers to your questions and step-by-step instructions to guide you on your way.

The post Funerals in the Time of Covid appeared first on Funeralwise.