Write Your Own Obituary
This article provides guidelines for writing your own obituary, suggestions for a eulogy, and for choosing an epitaph if you plan to have a grave marker or memorial marker.
Funeral Consumers Alliance of the Virginia Blue Ridge
Protecting your end-of-life rights
Funeral Consumers Alliance of the Virginia Blue Ridge
Protecting your end-of-life rights
Category Burial & Body Disposal
Brochures
These professionally designed brochures about funeral and end-of-life topics from the Funeral Consumers Alliance may be downloaded and printed for distribution to members or at events.
What to Do When a Family Member Dies
This expanded “Checklist of Things to DO After Death” is based on an article published by AARP in June 2020,…
Let’s Include Funerals in the Conversation
Include funerals in the conversation when a loved one is dying to relieve you of the stress and confusion of practical decisions.
Documents Everyone Needs at End of Life
These essential documents for end of life will help you to cover all the bases for yourself or a loved one.
Designate an Agent for Body Disposition
Your power to designate an agent for body disposition is honored in all states. Learn more and download a pre-made form for Virginia.
Backyard Burial: What a Way to Go
A Virginia family chooses a backyard burial for their loved one, just up the hill from the house.
How to Save on Caskets
Learn about alternatives to expensive caskets, FTC laws about pricing, and misleading product claims.
Financial Assistance for Final Arrangements
Where to inquire for financial assistance with final arrangements, including Department of Social Services, Catholic charities, even local funeral homes.
Recycling Implants After Death
Today many implants, pacemakers, artificial joints, and metal plates can be recycled—extracted, processed, and ultimately reused in some form.
Body, Organ, and Brain Donation
By deciding to donate your body or organs, you can make a valuable gift to humanity and offer hope to future generations.
Cremation Explained
What is cremation? Understand the process, benefits, and the reasons behind its growing popularity in funeral practices.
Embalming Explained
What is embalming? Are there religious concerns? Are there alternatives to embalming? Answers to these questions and more.
Traditional Burial
Traditional burial, for most Americans, includes using a funeral home, embalming, casket burial in a public cemetery. However, families do have a wide range of choices.
How to Arrange a Home Funeral
Learn how to arrange a home funeral and why you might want to, the legal requirements, how to handle the body, and ideas for holding a vigil.
How to Read a Funeral Home Price List
Learn how to read a funeral home price list so that you understand the charges and ensure that the funeral you want fits within your budget.
Death Away From Home
How to handle death in a foreign country, death away from home in the US, shipping the body, making cemetery arrangements and more while traveling.
Veterans Funeral and Burial Benefits
by Funeral Consumers Alliance, published at funerals.org. United States veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors are entitled to many…
Did You Forget? The Most Important Part of Funeral Planning
Salespeople urge you to plan your funeral—for “peace of mind.” But a piece or peace may be missing if you forget that funerals are for the living.
End-of-Life Resources
Helpful forms, to-do lists, DNR forms, and resources related to the funeral industry, and end-of-life issues.
Green Burial & Other Environmentally Friendly Choices
This article covers the basics of green burial practices and cemeteries, reducing environmental impact, and two newer green alternatives: alkaline hydrolysis and natural organic composting.
Common Funeral Myths
Uncover the truth about common funeral myths and save money by making informed choices during the funeral planning process.