What is Shiva

What is Shiva

Shiva is the first structured period of mourning in the Judaism religion.  In Hebrew, the word 'shiva' means 'seven'.  Therefore, shiva, in terms of Jewish mourning, is a seven-day mourning period observed by close family members of the deceased, including the spouse,...

What is a Trust Company

What is a Trust Company

A trust company is a legal corporation that acts as an agent, fiduciary, or trustee for an individual or business in order to administer, manage, and eventually transfer any assets to the beneficiary.  The word 'trust' in the name trust company refers to the ability...

What is a Death Doula

What is a Death Doula

A death doula is non-medical individual who is trained to care for others at the end of life.  He or she provides holistic care in terms of the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual realms.  Death doulas are also known as end-of-life coaches, death...

What to Expect at a Jewish Funeral

What to Expect at a Jewish Funeral

Are you attending a Jewish funeral for the first time?  Would you like to have an idea of what to expect?  While the customs of the different streams of Judaism are often unique, there are some central concepts common to all of the Jewish faith. Order of the Service -...

What is an Estate Planner

What is an Estate Planner

An estate planner (also called an estate lawyer or estate planning attorney) helps individuals choose the appropriate options for maintaining their estate after they pass away or become incapable of making the decisions themselves.  An estate planner is an attorney...

What is an Autopsy

What is an Autopsy

Simply put, an autopsy (or postmortem examination) is an exam performed on a dead body in order to determine the cause of death, the effects a disease had on the individual, or to identify the deceased.  The word autopsy comes from the word autopsia, a Greek word that...

End of Life Social Media Etiquette

End of Life Social Media Etiquette

Whether we like it or not, we live in the world of social media.  Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have become major methods of communication across generations and cultures.  It is only natural, then, that social media is now involved in...

How to Support a Grieving Loved One

How to Support a Grieving Loved One

When someone we love is grieving it’s hard to know how to comfort them or what to say. Our hearts break as we watch them grieve and yet we’re often at a loss as to what we should do to provide comfort. We want to help but we’re scared we’ll say or do the wrong thing...

What is a Board and Care Home

What is a Board and Care Home

A board and care home is a typical house situated in a residential neighborhood that is equipped, tailored, and staffed to care for seniors.  They usually house only a small number of residents at any one time.  They provide room, board, 24-hour staff and care...

End of Life Care Options

End of Life Care Options

It is a fact that at some point most of us will have to deal with deciding on the best end-of-life care options for either a loved one or ourselves.  It is a daunting and emotional task so here is some information on the types of end-of-life care options to help you...

Who to Invite to a Funeral

Who to Invite to a Funeral

Funerals are an occasion for close family and friends to gather and reminisce and honor the passing of a loved one.  They are also an occasion for family and friends who rarely see each other to gather and get caught up on what is happening in their lives.  Families...

How to Select Pallbearers

How to Select Pallbearers

When planning a funeral, you will be faced with many decisions you need to make. One of those decisions revolves around deciding who will carry the casket if there is one.  If there is not a casket (i.e. the deceased has already been buried or cremated), you may want...