Memorial Service & Bereavement Information Center

Welcome to the Valley of Life Information Center


The Information Center is a resource for information related to planning a funeral, creating an online memorial, finding bereavement or condolence poetry, writing a eulogy and coping with grief and sadness. We encourage you to peruse the article in this area to find basic information on these and many more topics.

Tips for Writing a Funeral Announcement


July 27th, 2010

FlowersThe mourning process of a loved one’s death can be complicated by bureaucratic processes that seem counter-intuitive to the grieving process. This is due to the fact that there are funeral arrangements to be handled, calls to be made, and letters to be written. All of which is exhausting and even further depressing. After all, who wants to sit down and write a composed letter in such an emotional time? However, during the tragic time of losing a loved one for whatever reasons, whether it be natural or untimely, it is important to work through your grief to allow yourself to put together a funeral announcement. The passing of a loved one is never an easy thing to deal with, let alone write about. However, it is vital to put together a funeral announcement in order to let others in the community know about the passing of someone they may have cared about as well.

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How Preplanning Your Funeral Can Save Your Family Money


June 21st, 2010

The Funeral Preplanning GuidePrepaid funerals have gotten a bad rap lately, mostly due to unscrupulous funeral directors and sneaky prepaid plans with hidden costs. And when you think about it, it’s scary to drop money now on something that won’t happen until after you’re gone. It’s a tremendous act of faith.

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How to Take Control of Your End-of-Life Care


April 29th, 2010

Many people have definite ideas about life-prolonging measures such as mechanical ventilators and CPR. Yet as many as 80% of the U.S. population have not yet created living will, or a legal document that outlines what type of end-of life care you wish to receive.

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Prevent Suicide by Knowing the Signs


March 17th, 2010

Suicide is no laughing matter. There is nothing glamorous, dignified or special about a human being taking his or her own life. In the aftermath of such tragedy, families and friends are left to pick up the pieces of their confused and shattered hearts.

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Talking to Family About Funeral Preplanning


December 1st, 2009

Whether you have firm opinions on what type of funeral service you’d like or what medical treatment you want to receive in your final days, it’s important to communicate your desires to your family sooner rather than later. Waiting for the unforeseen to happen means you risk leaving your loved ones to make difficult decisions in the midst of their pain and grief.

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Holidays and Grief: Incorporating Those We Lost into Traditions


November 13th, 2009

Holiday-grief-by Flowery LuzaHolidays are always spent with loved ones: this is the image we are always shown on TV and on advertisements leading up to big events celebrated in November and December. But this is an image that is hard to see and think about when coping with loss or grief over the holidays. The grief can begin to be healed in many cases however when the loved one is honored during this time.

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Bereavement At Any Age


October 14th, 2009

Grief comes in many shades and colors. On average, each of the 2.5 million deaths every year in the United States directly affects four people, each of whom has a unique way of dealing with bereavement based on gender, culture, personality, and age.

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How To Select a Cemetery


September 15th, 2009

Losing a loved one is difficult. Consequently, it’s even more difficult to handle all the memorial preparations and other details that follow. Being thoroughly prepared is essential to alleviating much of the burden when someone passes away, and it’s imperative to feel comfortable and knowledgeable regarding any funeral planning you may do. Given recent events, practical advice on selecting a cemetery may be more necessary than you think.

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How To Write a Eulogy for a Child


July 21st, 2009

Nothing is more heartbreaking than the death of a child, no matter what age they were at the time of their departure. Writing a eulogy for a young person can be a hard task, especially if one was close to this individual. Preparing what to say in advance can make the job of writing and delivering a eulogy a little easier when one’s mind is clouded with grief and anxiety.

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Grieving the Death of a Parent


June 1st, 2009

Somber-Grief-SceneThe loss of a parent can be like losing your life’s foundation. What do you do when the person you have known since the day you were born is suddenly no longer in your life? Coping with the loss of a parent can be difficult no matter how old you are and how well you got along.  There are helpful ways to deal with this loss no matter your age.

Acceptance

When grieving the loss of a parent, remember it is okay to feel. It is normal to feel sad, angry, lonely, helpless, cheated, etc. Take the time to adapt to this change rather than try to control it: this is called acceptance. Try to continue with your daily routine as much as possible, taking each day one at a time. Having an attitude of acceptance after the death of a parent will help make the situation seem less stressful.

Take Care of Yourself

When the unthinkable happens, it can consume and take-over your life. Along with keeping your routine as normal as possible, do not forget to take care of yourself.

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