Monthly Archives: July 2021

After Losing a Spouse

When you get married, you’re signing on for a partner for life. But sadly, death often gets in the way of this plan making the death of a spouse traumatic and stressful. That’s From dealing with the emotional fallout to planning a cremation service in Clarksville, TN, the stress of losing your spouse can have a severe impact on your emotional and physical health.

That’s where these tips come in. They can help you deal with the loss of a spouse in a healthy and healing-driving manner:

Avoid Major Decisions – Grief can cloud judgement or lead you to rash decisions. Try to avoid making major decisions after losing a spouse as you might not be thinking clearly after the loss. Put off decisions regarding moving or quitting a job till later, as any decision you make will be clouded by the loss of your spouse and might not be the best choice in the long run.
Take Care of Yourself – Grief can have both physical and psychological symptoms. You may feel exhausted or in pain after losing a spouse or may find it difficult to think clearly or process your emotions. Many people try to numb themselves to deal with the pain of loss by turning to drugs or alcohol. This is unhealthy in the long run. Instead, take care of yourself by eating right, exercising, sleeping, and talking to a therapist if you so choose.
Acknowledge the Loss – It’s easy to allow yourself to get lost in the planning and details of a death, like planning a cremation service, and not allow yourself to feel your emotions. However, it’s important to take time to acknowledge the loss and let yourself begin to process it. Letting yourself mourn and deal with the fact that your life has changed is the healthiest way to proceed.
Make a Plan for Personal Belongings – Take as much time as you need before taking this step but do make a plan for your spouse’s personal belongings at some point in your grieving process. It’s important to move on in the way that’s right for you, so do whatever feels right to you, whether it’s putting the items into storage, donating them to a charity, selling them, or leaving them where they are.
Memorialize – Remembering and memorializing a lost loved one, and especially a spouse, can go a long way towards healing as it allows you to reflect on the good memories, love and happiness in a healthy way. You can make a memorial with a cremation urn, photographs, or custom art.

Dealing with the death of a spouse will never be easy, but these tips may help ease your process in small ways. Sykes Funeral Home & Crematory offers a range of services and is here to help if you would like to learn more about dealing with a loss or your options for Clarksville, TN cremation services. We are here to help you however we can in your time of loss.

Who Will Arrange Your Military Funeral Home Service?

According to tradition it is the next of kin that makes arrangements for military services at funeral homes in Clarksville, TN. However, sometimes people wish to designate other people besides their next of kin to oversee their funeral planning after they’re gone, and that’s OK.

Everyone has a right to choose their final wishes for once they’re gone, and these choices include who gets to plan and make important decisions. But how do you designate other people besides the next of kin?

According to state law, all instructions for last wishes must meet certain requirements in order for them to considered legal and binding. These requirements include:

Signature of the decedent
Acknowledgement of the decedent signature, meaning getting the document notarized
Signature of the agent or successor agreeing to act as the decedent’s agent after death

Whether you want to designate a close friend, an estate executor, or even one of your children, it is possible to choose who arranges your funeral service. Any modifications to a document must be in writing and also notarized in to make them valid.

While these requirements seem like a lot, its actually easier than you think to meet them as many states have specific forms for people to leave final instructions and to designate someone other than their next of kind to make final arrangements. However, it’s important to remember that these forms do not trump or replace a Power of Attorney or a legal will, as they are only there to provide end of life instructions. Again, any and all written instructions, from a Power of Attorney to an end-of-life form, must be signed by both parties before the death.

There are a few other important next of kin topics. Start with these tips, and follow up with an attorney for more information and guidance:

Non-Traditional Relationships – Nontraditional relationships, like common law marriages, same sex relationships, or even families with lots of children often require additional steps and paperwork. Do research if you think this applies to your situation to make sure you’re covered.
Consult a Lawyer – It’s always a good idea to consult an attorney before making any official plans as they can best advise you on how to proceed.
Do Your Own Research – Understanding how your state handles end of life arrangements and associated legal matters is very important. Do some research of your own to make sure you understand.
Make and Distribute Copies – Don’t just fill out the forms and forget about them. Make and give out copies to important people like those named in the document or caregivers.
Be Specific – Be specific in your end-of-life instructions. Include information such as the type of disposition you want as clearly as possible.

Sykes Funeral Home & Crematory is here to help if you want more information on Clarksville, TN funeral homes or military services. After all, you have every right to designate whomever you want to arrange your funeral service but be sure to do it correctly to make sure your wishes are followed.

Tips for Talking to Children About Death

Its particularly difficult to know how a child will handle a death and a cremation service in Clarksville, TN. Many parents and guardians struggle with what to say and how to speak to children about death – especially since losing a loved one is never easy, and everyone handles these losses in different ways including children.

You have to keep in mind that every child is different and will deal with grief in a different way. Be prepared that just because one kid was more open to communicate another kid may not be the same, and keep these tips in mind:

Talk About the Future – The child will most likely have questions about how this loss will affect the future. Be reassuring but honest about changes, like how holidays will be a bit different but still fun.
Be Honest – Kids are smarter than they seem, especially when it comes to emotions. Be honest with the child about how you’re feeling and let him know that he can express his feelings honesty, too.
Be Prepared for a Variety of Reactions – Every kid reacts differently to loss and death, so be prepared for a variety of reactions. This is especially true if this is the first time the child will have lost someone close to him. Let the child deal with the loss in his own way and be prepared to support him however he needs.
Focus on Understanding – Focus the conversation on what death and loss means to make sure the child understands what has happened. Let him know what death is so that he is not left confused or with questions.
Prepare for the Funeral or Service – Be sure to spend time discussing what the funeral or service will be like. Your child might have questions about the burial or cremation, so be prepared to answer them. You should also discuss funeral etiquette and the exact plan for the day of the service.
Grieve Together – Don’t be afraid to express your emotions in front of the child. Crying together is a good way to move forward and heal.

You can also help your child manage and understand his grief through various activities. There are lots of activities to try, from one to get him talking about his feelings or one to have him create something to keep memories of the deceased. For example, you can try creating a memory box.

Help the child make a special box in which he can keep keepsakes that remind him of the deceased. For younger children you can build the box and help them decorate it, while older children might be able to build the box themselves. You can also try a feeling matching game in which the child connects his feelings with positive actions in order to help him work through what he’s feeling.

Sykes Funeral Home & Crematory is here to help if you want to learn more about dealing with loss or Clarksville, TN cremation services. Please stop by and visit us or give us a call for more information on what we can do for you in your time of loss.

Caskets Vs. Coffins for Veteran’s Services

What is a coffin? What is a casket? Are there any differences between the two? If you’re asking these questions, you’re not alone. If you’ve watched a movie or a TV show, you’ve probably heard the term “coffin.” But what about “caskets”? Many people researching veteran’s services and funeral homes in Clarksville, TN want to know the differences, if any, between caskets and coffins.

The main differences begin in the details. Both coffins and caskets are burial containers used to hold remains of a deceased person for a funeral, wake, visitation and final disposition. In the United States most people use the more modern casket, but the choice between the two is ultimately the family’s or the deceased’s depending on final wishes and plans. Coffins also do not have hinged lids. Instead, they have removable lids that must be fully lifted. Unlike caskets, coffins have six sides and are wider on the top than on the bottom.

This tapered design was chosen to match the shape of the body as shoulders are wider than feet. The vast majority of coffins are made out of wood and are also finished with cloth interior linings, but they do not have exterior handles for carrying. In fact, any additional decoration or handles are not considered part of the coffin but are instead called “coffin furniture.” Traditionally coffin furniture is used to display the deceased’s wealth or status. The other big difference between caskets and coffins is price.

Caskets are generally more expensive as they have more decoration and use more elaborate materials. Coffins, on the other hand, require less material as the tapered shape uses less wood and thus lowers the overall price. A casket is a special box made to hold the remains of a deceased person. These boxes are made in rectangular shapes with four sides and hinged lids. Caskets also usually have handles that make them easier to life and move and can be used for both cremations and burials depending on the material. Caskets can be made from a variety of materials, but the two most common are wood and metal.

The average metal casket is made from stainless steel and the average wood from mahogany or oak. Most caskets are finished with soft interior linings to give the deceased a comfortable place to rest. It is important to note that it may be hard to find a coffin manufacturer as they are not in style and not as popular.  At the end of the day, the differences between caskets and coffins don’t matter even though they are very similar.

Sykes Funeral Home & Crematory is a Clarksville, TN funeral home that specializes in veteran’s services. We can offer you additional information on caskets, coffins, and other funeral services to help you plan a service that will honor and remember your lost veteran. Call today to learn more about what we can do for you in your time of loss. We are proud to be able to help you in any way we can.

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