Cremation Blog

As individuals in Pennsylvania plan for retirement and future healthcare needs, protecting assets while ensuring financial security is a priority. While Medicare provides essential health coverage for seniors, it does not cover long-term care expenses such as nursing home stays beyond a limited period. Many turn to irrevocable trusts and pre-need funeral planning as strategic financial tools to safeguard assets and plan for future care costs. But what are the Medicare irrevocable trust rules in Pennsylvania? Here’s what you need to know.

Veteran cremation costs vary depending on the provider, location, and specific services selected. However, veterans often have access to discounts, benefits, and financial aid that can help reduce the overall expense. Below is a breakdown of the typical costs, available benefits, and resources that can help veterans and their families manage cremation expenses.

Whether you are pre-planning a funeral service or are in immediate need of assistance, it’s critical that you understand your options for cremation in order to make an informed decision.

We’ll walk through the main types of cremation services available in Pennsylvania.

The loss of a parent can be a profoundly emotional and challenging experience. During this time of grief, it can be overwhelming to manage the practical steps required to settle their affairs. This “what to do when a parent dies checklist” is designed to guide you through the essential steps to take after losing a parent, providing clarity and organization when you need it most.

Please understand that you aren’t alone if you don’t know what to say at a funeral. Even the most eloquent speakers may struggle to find the right words to speak to a bereaved person at their loved one’s funeral service. In fact, some people avoid funerals because they don’t want to talk with grieving family members.

However, if you have lost a loved one, you know how important it is to feel supported and loved following a death in the family. You may not remember what anyone said at your loved one’s funeral. However, you remember that they were there.

So, if at all possible, attend funerals. You don’t have to give a funeral speech or eulogy; say a few kind words to each family member. Here are a few words to offer your deepest condolences to family members at a funeral.

Many laws and regulations must be followed when death occurs. For example, every crematory or funeral home in Pennsylvania and New Jersey has a cremation authorization process, which typically includes the official identification of the body, a certified copy of the death certificate, and an authorization document. The authorization ensures that cremation is the desired form of final disposition and that all parties understand and consent to the process.

Here’s what you need to understand about completing the Authorization to Cremate form from the Philadelphia Cremation Society.

What is cremation insurance? Cremation insurance, also known as final expense insurance or burial insurance, is a type of life insurance policy designed to cover the costs associated with cremation and other end-of-life expenses.

Are you interested in being an organ donor? Organ donation is the process of giving an organ or a part of an organ to another person who needs a transplant. Organ donations can save lives and improve the quality of life for recipients suffering from organ failure or severe illness. However, even though there are more than 100,000 people in the U.S. on the national transplantation waiting list, some people are still hesitant to donate organs. 

Here’s how organ donation and transplantation work—from the perspective of a donor and the donor’s family.