Families who do not wish to harm the environment while putting their loved ones to rest, may incorporate greener options into their funeral planning. The exposure of funeral home workers to hazardous embalming chemicals, for instance, can be done away with if they choose to have the body refrigerated instead. For viewing purposes, they can specify that only non-toxic formulations be used for the embalming. For those desiring to be cremated, it had been put out there that the mercury from your dental work is given off as a by-product, among others. Instructions to have these fillings removed prior to the cremation can help address that concern.
For those who wish to be buried, on the other hand, they can purchase those funeral caskets that are biodegradable and then work with cemeteries that are starting to do away with vaulted burial practices that box in the casket in a cemented vault. Even in the area of caring for the cemeteries’ landscaping has the alternative of switching to the non-use of pesticide on their plants. If you are intent on going green, you may want to take the time to search for these cemeteries.
Source: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/what-is-a-green-funeral.html 
Articles
Ways for Funerals to go Green
Families who do not wish to harm the environment while putting their loved ones to rest, may incorporate greener options into their funeral planning. The exposure of funeral home workers to hazardous embalming chemicals, for instance, can be done away with if they choose to have the body refrigerated instead. For viewing purposes, they can specify that only non-toxic formulations be used for the embalming. For those desiring to be cremated, it had been put out there that the mercury from your dental work is given off as a by-product, among others. Instructions to have these fillings removed prior to the cremation can help address that concern.
For those who wish to be buried, on the other hand, they can purchase those funeral caskets that are biodegradable and then work with cemeteries that are starting to do away with vaulted burial practices that box in the casket in a cemented vault. Even in the area of caring for the cemeteries’ landscaping has the alternative of switching to the non-use of pesticide on their plants. If you are intent on going green, you may want to take the time to search for these cemeteries.
Source: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/what-is-a-green-funeral.html The Plight of Funeral Homes
Most funeral homes are family businesses that are as much a part of some towns as their landmarks. Owners pass on the business to their children and this can go on for generations. Along with their dedication, they also pass on the challenges that comes with the territory. One of which is the nonpayment for the services they rendered. Funeral directors always have an anecdote or two about clients making light of their financial obligations for the funeral of their loved ones.
Due to the sensitivity pour out on their clients at the time of their loss, the funeral homes often pay for certain items like the funeral flowers and the obituaries before receiving the actual payment for them. To their dismay and frustration, however, these and the other funeral costs would remain unpaid for a long time. They would then have to resort to sending the account to a collection agency or take the person responsible for the payment to court. If more people would pre-plan for their funerals, then this scenario could be avoided and the family will not be straddled with handling these matters during their difficult time.
Source: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/361827
Funeral Plans: To Buy or Not To Buy
Funeral Pre planning is often the subject of concern of the elderly who would not wish to impose on their family the burden of arranging and paying for their funeral. If they have some savings tucked away, for instance, they often wonder if that amount would serve them better if invested into a funeral plan or be allowed to grow in a savings account. One advantage of purchasing and paying off a funeral plan in advance is being able to lock in on the costs and be assured of the same services in the future which, by then, have a higher price tag due to inflation. In this particular point, you will just have to compare the rate of inflation versus the interest rate that the same amount of money would earn in a savings account. More often than not, the inflation would come out higher.
Starting your funeral planning earlier will also ease your family from the burdens of arranging the details for you. Often, their decisions are dictated by their wanting to show their respect, love and honor for you, but this may translate to higher costs and the possibility of conflict among them. Putting your wishes on paper will resolve all that.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/blog/2011/feb/25/invest-in-a-funeral-plan Walking the Tightrope on Obituary Writing
Writing obituaries is more tricky than you might think so no matter how good a writer you may be or how well you know the family or the deceased person, there are still a few lines that you may want to think twice before crossing. Defining the word death, for instance, will stump most writers because it sets the tone of your text. If you are not careful, the obituary could sound cold and unsympathetic.
The information that you include in the obituary is another area that can put you in a tight spot. The family members who are the most active in the funeral planning may not be the closest of kin of the one who passed away. The cause of death may or may not be left out, depending on how the family feels about it. Suicide, for instance, can be a little unsettling to some people but acceptable to others. You would not want to put the family members in a compromising spot of having to answer questions from guests. Confirming the inclusion of this matter with them before including it in the content can avoid any awkward situation later.
Source: http://www.obituaryguide.com/questions.php Factors in Picking a Cemetery
As soon as the last of the funeral songs had been played, the next and last stop for your deceased loved one will be at the cemetery. Just like in picking a home for you, the choosing of the right cemetery for your family starts with the location. If you are planning to visit your loved one’s plot or expecting for their friends and relatives to pay their respects in the future at regular intervals, then the proximity of the cemetery to the residences is the primary consideration. The location becomes not so much for the benefit of the deceased but for the living to have that convenient access.
Within the cemetaries themselves, there are also differences in cost that you may need to consider. Those locations with gardens and manicured landscaping will fetch a higher price, but if you select plots located in ideal spots like those near the gates and pathways as well as those near the cemetery’s features, you should be expecting to spend more. Cemeteries also have certain rules that everyone buying a plot in, would need to abide by. These guidelines may restrict and impose things so you will need to it think over if you are comfortable with them.
Source: http://www.iccfa.com/blogs/marvin-dearman/2010/03/04/choosing-cemetery The Multiple Roles of the Funeral Director
It used to be that the funeral director would embalm the body and oversee the funeral services for those families or deceased that are not members of any church. Nowadays, a funeral director is a schooled professional who manages the funeral home and is involved with the planning of the funeral and most, if not all, of the aspects relating to putting your loved one to rest. Due to the exposure that the profession gives them, they are the best people to inquire about the different options you have on how to go about the cremation or burial of a loved one.
Because funeral directors are licensed by the state and must abide by their code of ethics, the giving of the assistance you need at your time of grief is paramount to them. Even if they are displaying funeral caskets in their location, you are not obliged to purchase from them nor can you be charged of any fee if you use a casket bought from another vendor. Even the minute details of the ceremony such as the choice of songs, flower arrangements, and the writing of the eulogy can be inquired from or delegated to them if the family would rather spend the time in prayer and mourning for their loss.
Source: http://www.funeral-services.org/2009/09/funeral-directors/ 
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