A funeral service based in Modesto is under investigation due to unethical business practice. Shaun McGuire who owns McGuire Cremation & Funeral Service in Modesto is accused of taking in money in advance for services. Funeral services should not take in money in advance, but are supposed to put it in trust. Tom Budhi claims that he gave McGuire a$1,000 in check to arrange for the funeral of his wife who has a terminal sickness.  Now the funeral service owner is unreachable and the check has already been cashed. In addition, according to an article by Patty Guerra which appeared on The Modesto Bee, several families that were having trouble getting loved ones’ remains returned have also filed complaints against McGuire with the state Cemetery and Funeral Board. The investigation is still on-going in the case. You can read the

There are few things in life that can bring more grief than the death of a loved one. It is something that we all fear but in the end we know that it is something that we have to deal with at some point.  We know that we would have to cope with the intense sadness followed by our loss. Experts say that grief is a natural method of dealing with a reality that is unacceptable. It is a way for us to adjust with how the world is turning out around us. It is very important to be able to handle grief in the right way for a healthy mental well-being. According to Rita Overfield on an article that appeared on codyenterprise.com, “The best thing you can do is allow yourself to grieve. There are ways to cope effectively

Police and paramedics use dark humor in coping with the death and destruction they deal on a day to day basis, according to researchers at Portsmouth. Dr. Sarah Charman of the University of Portsmouth’s Institute of Criminal Justice Studies has been looking at the role of black humor in the workplace of ambulance crews and police officers. The study has shown that black humor can provide comfort and creates a bond that crosses the occupational divide between emergency services. “Emergency workers frequently find themselves in unpleasant and unpredictable situations at odds with the heroic status and image presented in television dramas”, Dr. Charman said.

The 2013 Asia Funeral and Cemetery Expo, dubbed as an event for “practical ideas on global trends regarding the management and operation of funeral facilities and services”, was held in Hong Kong over the weekend. Many undertakers, funeral planners and other funeral industry professionals flocked the annual event. With many vendors, suppliers and interested parties allowed to showcase products or browse through displays, this is considered to be Asia’s largest funeral trade fair. The highlight of the three-day affair was the array of unique caskets, among them a piano coffin, an environmentally friendly paper coffin, and a Last Supper lined casket. There were also pet funeral planners offering urns for cremation, post-mortem makeup artists demonstrating different looks and embalmers discussing various techniques. For more on the latest trends in the funeral-planning industry, click here.

A newly released book entitled “How Animals Grieve” has revealed that like humans animals also mourn the loss or death of someone special to them. Book author Barbara J. King explained that based on her study she learned that grief is not a uniquely human emotion. King said animals. like humans, also feel sadness and sorrow if any of their family or friends have died. The author said she heard of stories of a cat mourning the death of a sister and a group of elephants who pay respects to the bones of their matriarchs. Well, I think the book has some basis, after-all losing someone is indeed such a painful experience, so even animals are bound to feel it. Like humans who are saddened by the loss of someone they love but recover as time goes by, I also

It is never a great experience to lose someone you love. What does it feel for a mother who lost her beloved child? Perhaps, it’s even a worse feeling that can never be explained with words. Losing a child, in whatever reason, is an agony. It’s very painful to suffer that feeling especially if you’re a mother. But did you know that losing a child because of drug overdose isn’t only a remorseful experience but also a reason for blame and accusations by other people? When we lose someone dear to us, things will never be the same again. Time will never heal the pain. It only teaches us to learn to live without them. But there is still hope as long as we’re alive. Find out how four mothers who lost their children to drug overdose and abuse found

Songs can make a huge impact on the overall mood of a funeral. It is one of the perfect ways to embody how family and friends feel about the loss of a loved one, especially when spoken words are difficult to put together at such a difficult time. Listed below are the top 10 funeral songs according to The Telegraph. All of them preferred by mourners as ideal for such solemn occasions. Frank Sinatra – My Way Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli – Time to Say Goodbye Bette Midler – Wind Beneath My Wings Eva Cassidy – Over The Rainbow Robbie Williams – Angels Westlife – You Raise Me Up Gerry & the Pacemakers – You’ll Never Walk Alone Vera Lynn – We’ll Meet Again Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On Nat King Cole – Unforgettable

Nikki Relton died in a car accident when the car that she was riding in crashed. The one who was behind the wheel at the time of the accident was her boyfriend Gary Bennett, who was later found out to have fallen asleep while driving. They were driving home after a vacation. Bennett admitted that he fell asleep while driving and that he is guilty for the death of his girlfriend. But Nikki Relton’s father has pleaded to the judge not to punish his daughter’s boyfriend for her death. He claims that coping with her death is difficult enough already without having to face punishment. According to an article that appeared on Thisissouthdevon.co.uk, “Her father, John Andrews, 72, asked the judge at Exeter Crown Court to spare Bennett jail, saying the defendant did not need to be punished twice. “She

The state of Florida has passed a bill that makes protesting within 500 feet of a funeral illegal. Moreover, it also bans people from gathering and protesting an hour before and after a funeral service. This Funeral Buffer bill may sentence individuals to up to a year in prison when violated. According to supporters, the bill’s purpose is, “To provide a solemn moment for the families of a loved one to grieve and it provides an opportunity for folks to exercise their right to free speech but to do so in way that allows friends and family to say their goodbyes in peace.” This law will take effect in October of this year. SOURCE: Florida makes funeral protesting a crime  

Unlike before, when music played at funerals were more reflective and melancholic, today’s funeral songs consist of emotive and inspirational ballads. Modern day funeral service tunes are summarized in one of the most curious music charts in existence: the Co-operative Funeralcare’s Top 30 of music played at funerals. When Wayne Hector was asked about his top 30 entry, Westlife’s Flying Without Wings, he said, “At a funeral you want a certain amount of joy, a song about hope rather than a sad song. As much as you’re lamenting someone’s passing, you’re celebrating their life. Songs such as this talk to the aspects that connect all humans.” Ranging from Bette Midler’s Wind Beneath my Wings down to Andrea Bocellis’s Time to Say Goodbye, these inspirational songs allow families to gain comfort and healing amidst their painful loss. Apparently, these types of songs