Honoring a Loved One through Funeral Personalization

Honoring a Loved One through Funeral Personalization

In this episode of the Good Grief podcast, Amber Miller sits with host Pete Waggoner to discuss the topic of funeral personalization and how it can help people grieve. They explore why personalizing a funeral—from the flowers and decorations to the food after church service—can help the bereaved be reminded of their connection to their […]

Funeral Preplanning Expectations With Amber Miller

Funeral Preplanning Expectations With Amber Miller

O’Connell Funeral Homes’ Amber Miller and host Pete Waggoner welcome the new year by discussing preplanning expectations in this episode of Good Grief. Amber shares her first-hand funeral experience with families whose deceased loved ones made it easier to prepare by taking the time to plan ahead of time. The two go into detail about […]

Funeral Do’s and Don’ts: Funeral Etiquette 101

funeral etiquette 101 blog

In this ‘scintillating’ episode of the Good Grief podcast, Mike O’Connell and Amber Miller of O’Connell Funeral Homes join Pete Waggoner to discuss funeral etiquette. They get into the nitty-gritty of the do’s and don’ts of attending a funeral–from the proper attire, to the conversation topics that may be off-limits or offending to the grieving […]

How Cemeteries Make Resting in Peace Possible

cemeteries

In this episode of The Good Grief podcast, Mike O’Connell and Amber Miller get into cemeteries’ important role in providing a final resting place for people’s loved ones. They discuss the process of creating these final resting places, from deciding on the type of burial to personalizing the space to create a meaningful and lasting […]

Healing Through Tattoos: How Getting Body Art Can Help With Grief

Losing a friend or a loved one is one of the hardest things a person can go through. The process of grieving can be long and difficult, and it can be hard to find ways to cope. And while finding closure and moving on are necessary, none of us would ever want to forget the […]

Your Digital Legacy: Passwords Need A Plan

It’s natural for people to instinctually shy away from afterlife planning. If they do give it a go, the focus tends to be wills, estate plans, and end-of-life directives. That’s a good start, but according to Legacy Concierge, a personal information storage company, the average person under the age of 70 has more than 160 […]

What will your legacy be?

What will your legacy be? Most of the time, legacies are thought of positively. The CEO that left her family millions or the grandfather that donated his farmland to a park. Sadly, legacies can be far from positive. What about that neighbor who was always yelling with a scowl on his face? They didn’t set […]

Trees donated to Willow River Cemetery

Their memories live on! Kaila Fouks, the beloved daughter of Gary and Nancy Fouks of Hudson, died tragically in 2015 as a result of an auto accident. Kaila’s free spirit, infectious smile, and sweet nature touched the lives of those around her. She loved the outdoors and was active with animals and nature. Her grave is […]

Farewell Flag Ceremony offered by O’Connells

Farewell flag ceremonyThe O’Connell Family Funeral Homes, which includes our onsite Countryside Crematory, continues their veteran and United States flag honor with their Farewell Flag Act of Reverence. A meaningful and unique way to honor those who servedFamilies of veterans are seeking meaningful and unique ways to create a lasting memorial tribute to their loved one. […]

We are not very religious and just want to be cremated. What do we do now?

Funerals and cremation. Funerals and cremation have changed tremendously in the past 10 years. Most of the changes have come as a result of families not wanting the “traditional ritualistic” funeral. Families want to make their loved ones funeral personal. The O’Connell Family Funeral Home staff has played an integral role in this evolution and […]

Buy from your local flower shop.

Buy from your local flower shop. When it comes to getting flowers for your loved ones, it seems like ordering online will save you a few bucks. But in the end, you will be more satisfied with flowers purchased from a local flower shop. Time and time again, we see boxes of flowers left outside […]

Have The Talk Of A Lifetime

An individual’s story – memories made, principles and lessons learned – is a gift that should be shared with family and friends. O’Connell Family Funeral Homes, in conjunction with the Funeral and Memorial Information Council (FAMIC) has launched Have the Talk of a Lifetime, an awareness and education initiative to help families have important conversations […]