Author Archives: Michael Bernardo

Tips for Putting a Loved One’s Cremated Remains on Display
Is your family going to bring your loved one’s cremated remains back home following their cremation services in Longboat Key, FL and then put them out on display? If so, you’re going to want to go about doing this in the right way. From placing the remains into a proper urn to finding the best place to put the urn, you should take the right steps while displaying a loved one’s remains. Here are some useful tips that will help you get the job done.
Start by selecting the perfect urn for your loved one’s remains.
Prior to bringing a loved one’s remains home with you at the conclusion of their Longboat Key, FL cremation, you should look for the right urn to house them. You should ideally shop around for an urn that will show off your loved one’s personality in some way while also fitting into the general interior design of your home. You should have a funeral home walk you through as many options as they can so that you can locate the urn that’s going to work best for your loved one’s remains.
Search for the right spot in your home for your loved one’s remains.
After you have an urn picked out for your loved one’s remains, the next thing you should do is decide where you’re going to position the urn in your home. You should try to put it somewhere off the beaten path so that kids, pets, etc. don’t accidentally bump into it. Many families have chosen to store their loved one’s remains on fireplace mantels or in hutches, but you can put them wherever you want. You should consider a few different options before settling on one above all the rest.
Choose photographs, mementos, etc. to put around your loved one’s remains.
You should put out more than just your loved one’s remains as part of their display. You should also surround the remains with things like photographs of your loved one, mementos that remind you of your loved one, and more. While you shouldn’t necessarily clutter up the display, you should use these types of items to really bring it to life. It’ll make the display that you create even better than it would be otherwise.
Do your best to keep the display for your loved one’s remains clean.
Once you’ve created a great display for your loved one’s remains in your home, the only thing that will be left to do is to keep it clean. This might be easier said than done. There is going to be dirt, dust, and debris landing on your loved one’s urn and the things surrounding it all the time. You’ll need to get yourself into the habit of dusting them off every week or so in order to keep the display that you’ve set up looking amazing.
Before you can begin planning out a display for a loved one’s remains in your home, you’ll need to have a Longboat Key, FL funeral home carry out the cremation process for you. Maloney Funeral Home LLC is always up for this challenge. Give us a call to arrange to have your loved one cremated through our funeral home.

What Should You Say to Grieving Families at Funeral Homes?
Do you always worry about what you’re going to say to grieving families at funeral homes in Longboat Key, FL? It’s not uncommon at all for people to feel this way. It can be a real struggle trying to find the right words to say to a family that is going through the beginning of the grieving process. There are, however, some simple things that you can say to them to bring them some much-needed relief. Check out what to say to grieving families at funeral homes below.
“I am really sorry for your loss”
If you want to keep things extra simple when you come face-to-face with a grieving family, there is absolutely nothing wrong with saying this. It’s quick and to the point, but it’s very effective, especially when you don’t know what else to say to the family. You should shake their hands, tell them just how sorry you are about their loved one’s loss, and then keep it moving along so that others can pay their respects.
“I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers”
Grieving families need to get all the love and support that they can get following the loss of a loved one. It’s why you shouldn’t be shy about showering them with love and support during their loved one’s Longboat Key, FL funeral services. You should let them know that you’re thinking about them and that you’re saying prayers for them. This will make them feel loved and supported and will go a long way towards helping them to heal.
“I appreciated your loved one so much”
Most grieving families really enjoy hearing about how their loved ones left an impact on others. If a person made an impact on your life, you should let their family know how. You should also speak briefly about how much you cared for them. It will help to reinforce the positive feelings that a grieving family has about their loved one. You might even want to go as far as to share a short story about the deceased so that their family members know what kind of impact they were having on the world.
“I would be more than happy to help you in any way that I can”
Grieving families have a lot of things on their proverbial plates. In between trying to take care of themselves and trying to make funeral arrangements, they often feel overwhelmed. You should offer to help them in any way that you can. Whether that means helping to clean up at the end of funeral services or running to their house to pick something up, you should let them know that you’re committed to lending a helping hand to them if they need it. It’s one more way in which you can show your support to them.
If you’re part of a grieving family that needs help making Longboat Key, FL funeral arrangements for a loved one, Maloney Funeral Home LLC would love to assist you. We can help you plan out funeral services for your loved one from start to finish. Reach out to us today to get started.

Common Concerns Many People Have About Cremation Services
People are choosing cremation services in Lakewood Ranch, FL over burial services these days at a surprising rate. While almost everyone used to ask to be buried rather than cremated, the cremation rate has now soared up over the 50 percent mark in recent years. This might be making you rethink your stance on cremation services. But it might also be bringing up some concerns that you have about going with them. Check out some of the common concerns that people often have about cremation services here so that you can decide if they’re right for you.
Wondering what their family will think about their decision to be cremated
When a person is first thinking about being cremated as opposed to buried, they’ll often be concerned about what their family is going to think. Since the idea of people choosing a Lakewood Ranch, FL cremation over a burial is still fairly new, they’re not sure how their family is going to respond. We can’t speak for all families, but most have started to come around to the idea. It’s why you shouldn’t worry too much about what yours is going to say.
Thinking about where their religion stands on cremation
Outside of wondering what their family is going to say about their decision to be cremated, many people also wonder where their religion will stand on it. This is a valid concern to have since lots of religions used to be against people going with cremation services. But in this day and age, almost all of the major religions are now on board with people selecting cremation services. It should be simple enough for you to find out where your religion falls by doing a quick Google search or speaking with a religious leader like a priest or pastor.
Contemplating if they’ll be able to have a funeral when they’re cremated
There are so many people who are under the impression that their families won’t be able to hold a funeral for them if they ask to be cremated. But this couldn’t be any further from the truth! Regardless of whether you’re buried or cremated, your family can (and should!) hold a funeral for you. Most funeral homes will go out of their way to encourage families to stage funerals for their family members, even if they’re going to be cremated.
Worrying about which funeral home will be able to handle their cremation services
The simple fact is that most funeral homes offer cremation services these days because they have to. They can’t afford not to offer them since they’re more popular than ever before. But that doesn’t mean you should just trust any old funeral home to handle your cremation services or the cremation services of a loved one. You should instead search for a funeral home that has a wealth of experience carrying out cremation services. It’ll lead to a better all-around experience for everyone involved.
Do you still have concerns about choosing cremation services at a Lakewood Ranch, FL funeral home? Maloney Funeral Home LLC can ease your troubled mind when you turn to us for help. Contact us now for more information on conducting a cremation through our funeral home.

Challenges Families Often Face While Working With Funeral Homes
As long as you work with one of the best funeral homes in Lakewood Ranch, FL, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about facing too many challenges. They should be able to reduce the stress that you feel while putting together funeral arrangements for a loved one. But there are inevitably going to be a few challenges that you’ll face regardless of which funeral home you work with. Find out all about some of the challenges that families often face while working with funeral homes below.
Figuring out a budget
One of the first things that your family should do when you’re on the cusp of making Lakewood Ranch, FL funeral arrangements for a loved one is come up with a budget for their funeral services. You should figure out which family members will be contributing to the services and then decide how much everyone is going to be on the hook for. This will make it easier for you to calculate a budget and, more importantly, it’ll make it easier for everyone to stick to it.
Deciding between a burial and a cremation
For years, families didn’t really have to put much thought into the burial vs. cremation debate. Almost all families chose to bury their loved ones rather than cremating them. But these days, there has been a lot more debate as more and more families have chosen to go with cremation services. It might make it challenging for your family to decide which option to go with. You should attempt to make a decision on holding a burial or cremation for your loved one even before showing up at a funeral home.
Choosing a casket or urn
When you and your family are trying to pick out a casket or urn for a loved one, it’s so easy to get overwhelmed. As you’re going to discover, there are just so many options out there for you and your family to pick from. You should try to figure out what type of casket or urn you like and then narrow down your options from there. It should make your search for a casket or urn somewhat more bearable for everyone involved.
Staying on the same page with one another
You and your family are going to be under a lot of pressure when making funeral arrangements for a loved one. You’re also going to be dealing with a ton of grief. These two things can lead to family members blowing up at one another over the simplest things. It’s not going to be easy to do it, but you and your family should try to find a way to stay on the same page. It could end up being your biggest challenge of all.
If you and your family want to steer clear of these challenges when planning Lakewood Ranch, FL funeral services for a loved one, you should rely on Maloney Funeral Home LLC to lend a helping hand. We’ll make sure that planning funeral services isn’t challenging at all for you and your family. Call us today to begin the funeral planning process.

Mistakes Families Often Make When Planning Cremation Services
When you and your family are going through the process of planning cremation services in Sarasota, FL, you’re going to be under a lot of pressure. It’s going to make it very easy for you to make mistakes throughout the process. You should familiarize yourself with some of these mistakes ahead of time so that you’re able to avoid them. Check out a few of the common mistakes that families have been known to make while planning cremation services below.
Choosing a funeral home that doesn’t have a lot of experience with cremations
At this point, most Sarasota, FL funeral homes can provide families with cremation services. But that doesn’t mean you should trust just any funeral home to set you up with the services you need. You should look around at all the different funeral homes in your area and choose one that has a wealth of experience as far as planning cremation services is concerned. By doing this, you’ll ensure that the cremation process goes smoothly from start to finish.
Failing to realize all the different funeral service options available for those being cremated
Some families are under the impression that they can’t plan funeral services for someone who is being cremated. But that couldn’t be further from the truth! You and your family are more than welcome to put together plans for a funeral for your loved one. And in fact, there are lots of different kinds of services that you can hold. From a traditional funeral to a memorial service to a celebration of life ceremony, there is no shortage of options for those holding funeral services for their loved ones.
Forgetting to put a budget into place for cremation services
The good news for those families holding cremation services for their loved ones is that they’re usually a lot more affordable than burial services. But the bad news is that you can still spend a small fortune on them if you’re not careful. With this in mind, you shouldn’t make the mistake of not creating a budget for your loved one’s cremation services from the start. You should sit down with your family and decide how much you can afford to spend on cremation services so that you don’t break the bank on them.
Neglecting to shop around for the right cremation urn
If you’re planning on keeping your loved one’s cremated remains in an urn once their cremation is complete, you’ll obviously need to buy one for this purpose. You should make sure that you shop around for the best option for your loved one’s remains. There are tons of cremation urns available in this day and age, including everything from budget urns that’ll cost under $100 to fancy urns that could run you over $1,000. Your goal should be to look around for an urn that you’re going to be proud to show off in the years to come.
One common mistake families make when planning cremation services is failing to consider all of the options available. Many people are unaware that they can purchase cremation jewelry to hold a loved one’s ashes. This can be a beautiful and poignant way to keep your loved one close, and it’s something that you may not have considered if you’re not familiar with all of the options available.
Steer clear of making any of these mistakes while planning out a Sarasota, FL cremation for a loved one. Maloney Funeral Home LLC can help you do it when you rely on us to provide you with cremation services. Give us a call today to find out how we can assist you.

How to Enjoy a More Stress-Free Experience at Funeral Homes
There is, unfortunately, no way for people to eliminate all of the stress that is associated with making funeral arrangements at funeral homes in Sarasota, FL. You’re pretty much always going to have to deal with at least a little bit of stress. But you should be able to minimize the stress that you feel while making funeral plans for a loved one by taking the right approach to doing it. Check out some of the things that you can do to enjoy a more stress-free experience at funeral homes below.
Make sure you have the right funeral home on your side from the start.
If you work with the wrong funeral home while planning a loved one’s Sarasota, FL funeral services, it’s going to get you off to a terrible start. You’re going to be stressed out beyond belief before long. It’s why you should do your research on funeral homes in your area and look for the best one of the bunch. By working with the right funeral home, you’ll automatically limit the stress that you feel and provide yourself with a better overall experience.
Figure out if you’re going to bury or cremate a loved one before you arrive at your preferred funeral home.
There are a lot of decisions that you’re going to have to wait to make until you’re at a funeral home working with a funeral director. But there are some, including several big ones, that you can make right at home. Figuring out if you’re going to bury or cremate a loved one is something that you can and should do prior to showing up at a funeral home. It’ll be good to get this kind of decision out of the way early since it’ll make everything else go so much smoother.
Put a strict budget for a loved one’s funeral plans into place.
The financial aspect of the funeral planning process is one of the things that can make it so much more stressful than it has to be. You’re going to be worried about how much everything is going to cost if you don’t have any kind of budget in place. You should, therefore, create a budget for your loved one’s funeral services and vow to stick to it. You should share it with your funeral director so that they can work to keep you on the right track while you’re making funeral plans.
Read also: The Biggest Benefits of Pre-Planning Services at Funeral Homes
Find ways to get along with your family throughout the funeral planning process.
There’s a good chance that you’re not going to be planning funeral services for your loved one alone. You’re probably going to be doing it with help from your family. This will help you in a lot of ways, but it could stress you out as well if you aren’t all able to get on the same page. You should make it your mission to get along with your family as best you can so that they don’t add to your stress levels.
Are you already stressed out by the idea of making Sarasota, FL funeral arrangements for a loved one? Let Maloney Funeral Home LLC take some of your stress away. We’ll walk you through the funeral planning process one step at a time and ensure that you don’t get overwhelmed by everything that’s going on. Reach out to us now to begin the process.

Can People’s Remains Ever Get Mixed Up During Cremation Services?
For a long time, people didn’t even consider cremation services in Longboat Key, FL for themselves or for their loved ones. They stayed away from cremation services because of the many misconceptions surrounding them. One of the things that people mistakenly believed was that people’s remains couldn’t get mixed up with other people’s remains during the cremation process. But as we all know now, this is not possible! Learn more about this topic below so that you don’t buy into this particular myth regarding cremation anymore.
No, people’s remains cannot get mixed up with other people’s remains in a cremation chamber.
Although some people have been under the impression that two people’s cremated remains can get mixed up during the Longboat Key, FL cremation process, this is never going to happen. While it may have happened many, many years ago when cremation was still in its infancy, a lot has changed within the funeral industry over time. Crematories go to great lengths to ensure that people’s remains don’t come anywhere close to another person’s remains at any point.
Read also: How Long Do Cremation Services Take From Start to Finish?
There are lots of rules and regulations in place to prevent people’s remains from getting mixed up.
One of the reasons why crematories do whatever it takes to keep people’s remains separated is because there are lots of rules and regulations in place these days. If a crematory doesn’t follow the proper procedures and clean out a cremation chamber accordingly following a cremation, they can get into trouble within their state. As a result, crematories have come up with procedures that prevent people’s remains from getting mixed up while cremations are being carried out.
Crematories go above and beyond to treat a person’s body with dignity during the cremation process.
In addition to making sure that people’s remains don’t touch during cremations, crematories also have processes that they use to ensure that they treat everyone’s body with dignity and respect. They double-check and triple-check people’s identities prior to cremating them. They also take their time while cremating a person’s body to make sure that it gets done right. And once a cremation is complete, they carefully gather a person’s remains and put them into an appropriate cremation container for safekeeping.
Read also: Can Families Hold Funerals for Those Who Are Being Cremated? | Cremation Services
You won’t ever have to worry about your remains or a loved one’s remains getting mixed up with anyone else’s remains.
It’s natural for families to worry about what’s going to happen to their loved ones’ bodies during the cremation process. But you shouldn’t have to worry about a thing as long as you work with the right funeral home. They’ll be sure to make the proper preparations for your loved one’s cremation so that everything goes according to plan. It’ll help you steer clear of worrying about your loved one’s remains getting mixed up with someone else’s remains.
Are you concerned about cremating a loved one? Maloney Funeral Home LLC is a Longboat Key, FL funeral home that can help alleviate all your fears. We’ll make sure your loved one’s cremation goes off without a hitch when you trust us to get it done. Contact us today to learn more about our cremation services.

Tips to Help Families Work Together While at Funeral Homes
It’s not all that uncommon for families to have disagreements when trying to work together while at funeral homes in Longboat Key, FL. There is always a lot of stress involved with the funeral planning process, which can make it a real struggle for families to stay on the same page throughout it. If you sense that you and your family might be headed in the wrong direction when making funeral plans for a loved one, you should prepare yourself accordingly to limit the disagreements that you get into with them. Take a look at some tips that are designed to help families work together better while at funeral homes.
Start the funeral planning process by making some of the big decisions with your family at home.
Ideally, you and your family should avoid waiting until you get to a funeral home to make the big decisions associated with your loved one’s Longboat Key, FL funeral arrangements. For example, you should figure out whether you want to have your loved one buried or cremated while you’re still at home rather than waiting until you’re at a funeral home to discuss it with your family. This will make the entire process go so much smoother than it would otherwise.
Read also: Understanding the Value of Working With Family-Owned Funeral Homes
Find a funeral home that you and your family all feel comfortable working with.
When it’s time for you and your family to go to a funeral home to make funeral arrangements for a loved one, you should make sure that you use the right one. You and your family should do your homework on all the local funeral homes and select the one that you like collectively like the most. There is a much better chance of you all getting along when you’re all happy with the funeral home that you choose and the funeral director that you work with.
Agree on a budget for your loved one’s funeral services with your family.
More often than not, the disagreements that families have when working together at funeral homes center around money. Families sometimes struggle to decide how much they’re willing to spend on certain funeral services. To avoid finding yourself in this situation, you and your family should come up with a budget for your loved one’s services as soon as possible. It’ll help you keep things on track and prevent you from spending more than you should on your loved one’s funeral services.
Read also: Tips on How to Tell Your Family That You Want to Be Cremated | Cremation Services
Take a step back from the funeral planning process any time you can sense tempers flaring.
No matter how hard you try to avoid it, there are going to be times when tempers will flare while you and your family are making funeral arrangements for a loved one. When they do, you should all take a step back and gather yourselves before coming back together to move forward. It’ll give everyone the time they need to cool off before picking back up where you all left off.
Do you want to make sure that you and your family are able to plan Longboat Key, FL funeral services for your loved one without arguing too much? Maloney Funeral Home LLC can keep you all working together nicely when you turn to us for assistance. Call us today to jumpstart the funeral planning process as a family.

Reasons to Bury a Person’s Remains Following Cremation Services
When you’re first starting to plan out a loved one’s cremation services in Lakewood Ranch, FL, you might not consider the idea of burying their remains at the end of them. This almost feels like it would defeat the purpose of cremating them in the first place. But there are actually several different benefits that you would get to enjoy by burying your loved one’s remains as opposed to doing something else with them. Discover some of the top reasons to bury a person’s remains following cremation services below.
Ensures that your loved one’s remains will stay safe and sound for many years to come
If you decide to keep your loved one’s remains rather than burying them following their Lakewood Ranch, FL cremation, you’re going to have to work hard to keep them safe in the coming years. There is a chance that they could get destroyed in a house fire or stolen during a home burglary. You won’t have to be concerned about these kinds of things happening when you bury a person’s remains. You’ll know that they’re going to be safe at all times no matter what.
Gives your family a place to gather to visit your loved one’s remains
Members of your family are likely going to want to visit with your loved one’s remains from time to time. This could, however, be very inconvenient for both you and them if you have the remains in your home. When you bury the remains, it’ll provide your entire family with a good place to go and visit your loved one’s remains whenever they want. You won’t have to worry about them constantly coming over to your house to see the remains, and they won’t have to worry about disturbing you all the time.
Provides your family with a chance to invest in a headstone for your loved one
When you bury your loved one’s remains, you’ll do more than just put them into the ground and leave them there. You’ll also likely invest in a headstone that you’ll place over the top of where their remains are buried. This will give your family an opportunity to pay tribute to your loved one and their legacy. You’ll be able to use their headstone to honor them by including everything from their name to a special quote on it.
Prevents your family from having to decide what to do with your loved one’s remains in the distant future
You might be capable of taking your loved one’s remains home with you and protecting them now. But what’s going to happen to the remains one day when you’re not around anymore to watch over them? There is going to come a time when you and your family will have to figure out what you’re going to do with them next. This isn’t going to be an issue when you choose to bury their remains. Your whole family will know right where they’re going to stay, and future generations will be able to visit the remains to learn more about their history.
Are you trying to decide what to do with a loved one’s remains following cremation? A good Lakewood Ranch, FL funeral home can help you make the decision. Maloney Funeral Home LLC can lend a hand with all your cremation needs. Give us a call today to discuss your family’s options.

How to Pick the Perfect Caskets for Loved Ones at Funeral Homes
In theory, it seems as though it should be simple enough to select a casket for a loved one when working with one of the funeral homes in Lakewood Ranch, FL. But once you see how many caskets are out there for you to choose from, it’s very easy to get overwhelmed with all your options. With this in mind, you should find out how to take the right approach for shopping for a casket for a loved one before you get started. It’ll ensure that you’re able to track down the best possible option. Here is how to pick the perfect casket for a loved one at a funeral home.
Begin by coming up with a budget for a casket.
One of the things you’re going to notice when you begin shopping for caskets for your loved one’s Lakewood Ranch, FL funeral services is that they’re going to come in a wide range of prices. You can find some caskets that are just a few hundred dollars and others that will run you tens of thousands of dollars. Your goal should be to locate a casket that’s going to fit into your price range. And in order to do that, you’re going to need to have a budget for a casket in mind from the very start. Decide what you can afford to spend on a casket prior to shopping for one.
Learn about the different caskets that are available.
Outside of seeing that caskets are available for many different prices, you’re also going to see that there are many different kinds of caskets out there in the world. From very simple wood caskets to more ornate metal ones, there won’t be any shortage of options for you to pick from. You should browse through as many options as you can and start narrowing them down to just the kinds of caskets that you like most. Doing this should knock a bunch of caskets off your list and make your decision more manageable.
Think about what kind of casket your loved one would have liked.
The casket that you ultimately decide to buy for your loved one’s funeral services should be a representation of them. If they were very modest and quiet, you’ll likely want to go with a casket that’s on the simpler side. If they loved fashion and enjoyed being the center of attention, a stylish casket might be a much better fit for them. You should think about whether or not they would have liked a casket prior to purchasing it. It’ll help to tell the story of the kind of person that they were.
Consider customizing a casket for your loved one.
Customizing a casket isn’t going to be in everyone’s budget. There are some families that won’t be able to afford to do it. But if your family has the funds to splurge on a casket, you might want to consider customizing some aspects of your loved one’s casket. You can pick a custom liner for their casket. You can also have something engraved on the inside and/or outside of their casket. It’s not a bad idea to at least think about customizing your loved one’s casket in some way.
Finding the perfect casket for a loved one doesn’t have to be challenging. When you make Lakewood Ranch, FL funeral arrangements through a funeral home like Maloney Funeral Home LLC, it won’t be too hard at all. Reach out to us to learn more about how we can help you to plan out funeral services for a loved one.