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Tippecanoe Blog

Explore our blog for valuable content about cremation, burial, how to write an obituary, coping with grief and much more.

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What to Do First When Someone Dies

When a loved one passes away, the moments that follow can feel overwhelming and confusing. Knowing what to do first is crucial. This guide offers a compassionate roadmap to help you through the immediate aftermath of loss.

The Complete Guide to Planning a Funeral

Planning a funeral can be overwhelming. Our Guide to Planning a Funeral can help. Our experts offer step-by-step strategies to finalize every detail.

How to Choose Music for a Funeral or Memorial Service

Music has the power to uplift and inspire, offering a beautiful way to celebrate the lives of our loved ones. Carefully selected songs can spark joyous memories and bring solace to those in mourning.

Funeral PlanningMusic

Which to Choose: Burial or Cremation?

Deciding between cremation and burial can be a deeply personal choice, influenced by various factors. With the cremation rate in the U.S. nearly doubling in recent years, many are exploring the benefits. Which one is right for you?

BurialCremation

The Complete Guide to Burials

Losing a loved one is challenging, and planning the burial can be stressful. Whether you choose burial or cremation, understanding the steps is crucial. This guide will assist you in selecting a cemetery and plot, simplifying the process.

BurialCemeteryGuides

The Complete Guide to Memorial Services

Planning a memorial service can be daunting during a time of loss, but it also allows you to honor a loved one’s life. This guide will help you through the process, from picking the right time to adding meaningful themes

GuidesMemorial Service

How to Talk to Your Aging Parents About End-of-Life Planning

How do you talk to your aging parents about end-of-life planning? It’s a conversation many families avoid, only to find themselves searching for documents they've never seen. Here are some tips for having the conversation now, before that moment arrives.

The Complete Guide to Cremation

Discover the many aspects of cremation. From the necessary process to the associated costs and various options for ashes, we'll guide you through it all.

CremationGuides

How to Write An Obituary

We’ve all seen traditional obituaries that focus on names and achievements, but writing one can be tough emotionally. Instead of following the usual format, think about how your loved one lived. Were they adventurous, funny, or poetic? Remember their unique

EulogyGuidelines

What to Wear to a Funeral

What you should wear to a funeral can be confusing. Our six guidelines will help you show respect without drawing attention. From religious services to out-of-town burials, we’ve got you covered.

FuneralFuneral Planning

Choosing Sympathy Flowers Based on Color Meaning

Choosing sympathy flowers is meaningful. Each color has a unique message. White lilies mean purity, while purple irises represent regret and sympathy. Express your condolences by personalizing an arrangement.

EtiquetteFuneralGuidelines

What to Write in a Sympathy Note

Expressing sympathy can be difficult for many of us, but it's important to reach out to loved ones during their time of grief. A simple note or card can make a big difference and help them in their healing process.

GuidelinesSympathy

How to Write a Eulogy

Being asked to write a eulogy for a loved one can feel overwhelming, but it’s an opportunity to share your unique relationship and honor their memory. You don’t need to be a professional writer; a eulogy is simply telling the

What to Do When You Can’t Attend a Funeral

Funerals are important for saying goodbye, but there are valid reasons for not attending, such as grief, distance, or family dynamics. If you can't attend, consider sending a condolence card or preparing a meal for the family. Ten other ways

EtiquetteFuneral

Should Children Attend Funerals?

How can you determine if your child is emotionally prepared to attend a funeral service? If depends on their age and maturity level. Here are some steps to take to prepare them.

ChildrenFuneralGrief

What to Keep, What to Let Go of When a Loved One Dies

Practical strategies for anyone facing the difficult task of deciding what to keep and what to let go of after a loved one dies.

After the FuneralGrief

When Grief Meets Back-to-School

Back-to-school season brings excitement and new beginnings, but for grieving parents, it can feel overwhelming. Balancing the need to appear “normal” for your children while coping with profound loss is challenging. Here are some tips to help you through.

Back-to-SchoolGrief

The Healing Power of Journaling: Finding Solace and Strength in Writing

Losing someone you love is hard. Journaling can be a helpful tool for dealing with grief. It gives you a safe place to share your feelings, understand your loss, and keep good memories alive.

GriefJournaling

Five Things to Say to Someone Who’s Grieving

What to say - and probably not say - to someone who's grieving.

Why You Should Acknowledge Someone’s Loss

It's important to acknowledge someone's loss. Mention the deceased by name, reach out proactively, listen without giving advice, show understanding by sharing personal experiences, and offer support through gestures of kindness.

GriefGuidesSympathy

Is It Okay to Text Your Condolences? Emily Post Would Say Yes.

Someone you know just lost a loved one. You start to type a message—then stop. "Is a text enough?" Here's why experts say yes.

EtiquetteTexting

When Someone Suffers a Loss: 10 Things You Can Do

Knowing what to say or do when someone you know suffers a loss can be diffifult. Here are 10 suggestions.

Helping a Sister Through Grief – A Sister’s Guide

If your sister has recently experienced a devastating loss, there are ways you can help her on her journey toward acceptance and healing.

GriefGuidesSympathy

Valentine’s Day: A Survivor’s Guide

If you're grieving a loss, single, or simply overwhelmed by expectations, Valentine's Day can heighten feelings of isolation and heartache. Here's a Valentine's Day Survivor's Guide just for you.

Grief SupportHolidaysValentine's Day

It’s Summer! Why Don’t I Feel It?

It's summer, and you're not quite feeling it. A piece about seasonal nostalgia, Summer SAD, and the grief the season can stir up.

When Mother’s Day Is Complicated

If your relationship with your mother was complicated, Mother's Day probably is too. Grief doesn't care whether the relationship was good — sometimes it shows up harder when it wasn't. For anyone whose Mother's Day doesn't fit the script.

GriefMother's Day

Grief and Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day can be difficult for those who have lost a mom or maternal figure. Explore thoughtful suggestions to help you cope and celebrate the love that endures amidst loss.

GriefMother's Day

Remembering Dad on Father’s Day

For those whose fathers are no longer with them, Father’s Day can stir up mixed emotions, including fond memories as well as grief that he is no longer here.

The Hidden Grief of Father’s Day

Father’s Day can be a complex time for those grieving the loss of a father figure, whether it’s a biological parent, stepfather, or mentor. While society often celebrates traditional father-child relationships, the grief associated with non-traditional bonds is frequently overlooked.

Father's DayGrief

2026 Memorial Day Newsletter

Memorial Day is a time for remembrance, but it doesn’t have to be filled with sadness. From saying their name to sharing stories, these acts can help us carry our grief while also celebrating the joy of memories.

Small Ways to Mark Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a time for remembrance, but it doesn’t have to be filled with sadness. From saying their name to sharing stories, these acts can help us carry our grief while also celebrating the joy of memories.

When Thanksgiving & Grief Collide

Your grief doesn't pause simply because it's Thanksgiving. In fact, it can feel even stronger when those around you are celebrating. Give yourself permission to do what you need to do for yourself this season.

GriefThanksgiving

6 Ideas to Help You Cope with Grief at Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving can be particularly challenging when grieving a loved one. The conflicting emotions can be overwhelming. It's ok to feel both joy and sadness at the same time. Here are ways to help you cope.

A Resolution That Lasts

What if this year, you made a different kind of resolution? One that could bring your family closer and provide peace of mind for years to come? We’re talking about having the conversation about final wishes. How to start it

New Year'sPlanning Ahead

The Space Between: When Everyone Goes Home

The holidays can be a whirlwind of joy and activity, but for those grieving, the silence that follows can feel overwhelming. December 26 often carries a weight that Christmas Day itself did not.

ChristmasGriefHolidays

Giving Yourself Permission to Change Holiday Traditions

During the holidays, it’s okay to change how you do things. Experts say it’s important to allow yourself to make new choices, whether that means skipping some events, keeping favorite traditions, or starting new ones.

ChristmasGriefHolidays

Holiday Gift Ideas for Someone Who’s Grieving

If you have a friend or family member who's grieving this holiday, a gift can say, "I remember them too." From personalized ornaments to self-care, a gift acknowledges both the joy of the season and the weight of what’s missing.

ChristmasGriefHolidays

A Guide for Coping with Grief at the Holidays

Grief isn’t a place where you unpack and settle down permanently. Instead, it’s a process that continually evolves and shifts with time. There is no “right” way to navigate it. Find what works best for you during the holiday season.

How to Support Someone Who’s Grieving During the Holidays

The holiday season can be particularly tough for those grieving. Your support can make a significant difference. From simply listening to acknowledging their loss, there are meaningful ways to show you care. Read on for practical tips and heartfelt suggestions.

Grief & The Holidays

You are an individual. And your grief process is your own. How to set boundaries and navigate grief during the holidays.

ChristmasGriefHolidays

The First Christmas After a Loss

December is different this year for my husband and his siblings as they face their first holiday season without their mother, Louise. The weight of loss is felt during gatherings and cherished traditions. Yet, amidst the grief, there’s an opportunity

ChristmasGriefHolidays

How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

Whether it’s getting in shape, learning a new skill, or cultivating better habits, setting goals for a new year is a tradition that dates back thousands of years. However, studies show that only a fraction of these resolutions are successfully