Planning services in advance spares loved ones during time of grief

Bryan-Braker Funeral Home

Chas seen a significant increase in the demand for cremation services. More religions and faiths are allowing and accepting cremation as a final resting choice, and cremations can be a cost-effective alternative to traditional burials. Other reasons families are choosing cremations include flexibility in planning services for a time all family members can attend.

Once you have made the decision that cremation is right for you, the next step is to gather some more information. Choosing the right cremation provider and planning your final arrangements in advance has many advantages. Having your final plans in place is not only a sound economic decision but a thoughtful decision for your family. With your wishes documented and funded, it relieves your family from the financial pressure and decision-making during this difficult time.

It is a common misconception that services cannot be held when cremation is chosen. Meaningful and beautiful memorial services, or “celebrations of life,” can still be

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• 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday arranged when choosing cremation. The memorial service or celebration of life is still an important part of the grieving process when losing a loved one. Another common misconception is the choices you have for a final resting place for your cremated remains. Almost all cemeteries offer in-ground or above-ground locations for cremated remains. Above-ground locations, called niches, are individual locations located in columbariums. A marker memorializing the loved one is placed on the front of the niche. Other options include arranging for your cremated remains to be scattered on land or at sea.

Cremation services are provided by cremation centers, cremation societies and funeral homes. Most providers offer free preplanning services for you to ask questions and gather more information. A well-established cremation center or funeral home will throughout the process, both with you while pre-arranging your services and with your family at their time of need. The employees should be knowledgeable, professional and caring. You should feel comfortable asking questions and leave feeling like you have a good understanding of the process.

Some funeral homes own and operate their own crematory, keeping your loved one in their care throughout the entire process; while others have a partnership or connection with an offsite cremation center. Word of mouth or referrals from family and friends are always a good place to start when choosing your cremation provider.

Once you have decided on a funeral provider, it is important to let your family know about the arrangements. This way your family knows who to contact when your time comes. Having these plans in place is one of the more thoughtful gifts you can leave your loved ones, enabling them to grieve without the stress of choosing a provider and planning arrangements.

Scammers are everywhere –and they’re more clever than ever. With the advent of new technologies, sophisticated fraudsters are able and willing to do nearly anything for a quick buck, from down the street or across the globe. Are you prepared to fight back?

Here are five tips to prevent some common scams in Solano County:

• Double-check the source of “government” communications. The Social Security Administration, IRS, VA, Medicare and California Franchise Tax Board never threaten criminal action, demand an immediate payment or ask for personal information. If a letter from one of these agencies looks suspicious, call their official phone number to verify.

• Watch for fake social media identities and “sweetheart scams.” It’s easy to create a fake social media account. All a criminal needs is a photo and a name to replicate someone’s identity on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and dating sites. Then, they can send a message to all your friends asking for money, a donation –