Krause Funeral Homes Blog

The embalming procedures used by priests back in 1342 B.C. allowed researchers to find viable DNA in 16 royal mummies, including King Tutankhamen, according to a study published yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.  With that DNA, scientists have determined that the pharaoh’s parents were siblings, it’s likely he married his sister and he fathered two stillborn babies.  They also concluded that it was probably malaria, not murder, that killed him.  Medical and radiological investigations reported that he had Plasmodium falciparum (the cause of the most severe form of malaria) along with a debilitating bone disorder, club foot, cleft palette and freshly broken leg.

While he ruled for just nine years, people have been fascinated with the former ruler after a 1922 discovery unearthed his now 3,000 year-old tomb.  The tomb revealed that people from the 18th dynasty of the New Kingdom personalized burial rituals by incorporating interests and hobbies.  Tut, who was 19 when he died, was buried with his board game called “Senet,” his bronze trumpet, his model boat and much, much more.

While burying objects with their owners is not widely popular today, people do pay tribute by tailoring memorials to fit their loved ones.

* An avid Harley rider may have his or her bike brought into the visitation room with riding gear placed around it.
* For an environmentalist, a green burial may be arranged with a catered organic lunch to follow.
* At the service of a car collector, a favorite Corvette or Model A car may be parked at the funeral home entrance.
* For a book lover, a display of favorites may give a reception the feel of a cozy library.
* For the much admired cook, a favorite dish may be served at the visitation with the “secret” recipe handed out as a take-home memento.

To help families celebrate the life of their loved ones with customized services, Krause Funeral Homes funeral directors go beyond Wisconsin state requirements by attending life appreciation training.  All of our burial and cremation packages include signature services like video slideshows, candle lighting ceremonies and environmentally safe balloon releases.  And while we can’t offer a gold gilded wood chariot, like the one King Tut was buried with, we do offer the choice of a traditional or motorcycle hearse.  For more information on customizing memorials contact us.

This year Scott T. made a New Year’s resolution to get organized.  If something  unforeseen happened, Scott isn’t certain his family would be able to find legal, financial or other important information.  “A friend of mine unexpectedly died last year and I watched his family struggle to make decisions about funeral arrangements and spend hours trying to find the info they needed.  I wouldn’t want my family to go through that–any advice?”

Scott, you bring up excellent points for joining the ranks of the 16.5 million people who will preplan their funerals this year.  As another writer put it “no one is promised tomorrow.”  According to 2000 U.S. Census data, people under 50 account for one fourth of all U.S. deaths.  It also reports that deaths are more common than births:  a baby is born every 12 seconds while a death occurs every 8 seconds.

When a death occurs, one of the best gifts you can give your family is peace–the knowledge that they have acted in accordance with your wishes.  Preplanning also:

• eliminates the possibility that your family will debate, discuss and guess your wishes
• protects your family from the stress of hunting for important information and documents
• removes the possibility that grieving family members will feel the need to overspend

Below are tips from the experts to help you move forward.

Set a Timeframe

The best time to preplan is when you are healthy so that you can have time to reflect and decide what is best for you.   Many find that setting a finished plan goal date works best.

Educate Yourself

There are over 100 detailed decisions a family needs to make upon the death of a loved one and a trusted professional can help streamline the process and answer questions.  At Krause Funeral Homes, Preneed Specialists concentrate on listening and recording clients’ wishes.  They are trained and licensed beyond the State’s licensing requirements and have helped more people organize their wishes than any other funeral home in Wisconsin.  Christine Jacob, Krause’s Preneed Director, says  “We find that it works best to meet face-to-face for about an hour and can arrange to meet in our office or any quiet place convenient for people.  If that option isn’t available, we can set-up a phone conference or simply answer questions via email.”  There is no charge for meeting with a Preneed Specialist.

Set Aside Introspective Time

For most, preplanning involves some easy-to-answer questions and some that need more thought.

Educate Your Loved Ones

Once your wishes are in writing you need to tell someone where they are.  While you may have put directives in your will or a safe deposit box, often these are not opened or read until after a funeral.  And unless someone has access to your computer passwords and knows which files to look for, a computer document may never be opened.  A safe bet is to keep a copy of your wishes at the funeral home of your choice.

Related helpful advice can be found here:

• Talking to Your Adult Children About Your Funeral Wishes
• Talking to Your Parents about Putting a Plan In Place
• Talking to a Spouse Who Is Reluctant to Put a Plan In Place
• Prefunding a Funeral
• Why Preplanning Makes Sense

Don’t hesitate to contact us for further information.

Peter R.* asked about memorial ideas and cremated remains scattering.  “Where can remains be scattered?”

As long as it is permitted by local regulations you can have a scattering memorial service or ceremony in any place that is meaningful to you or your loved one. Krause Funeral Homes has experience in helping facilitate scattering discussions with the proper authorities.

Many choose a traditional scattering where one or many release the cremated remains to the wind; however, there are endless ways to personalize a scattering ceremony. For some families the right choice is to scatter some of the remains and keep some remains in an urn or keepsake urn. A permanent plaque or other memorial noting the location of a scattering is another option.

It is important to discuss your wishes with family members and put specifics into writing.

Personalized Scattering Ideas

• Farewell Toast: Using special cups or glasses, cremated remains may be tossed simultaneously in a “toast” like gesture.

• Personalized Trench: Using a trowel or hoe, some choose to draw initials, a heart or a date into the Earth and fill with their loved one’s remains. It could be done on a beach, timed so that the remains slowly wash into the water as the tide rises.

• Circle of Life: Remains can be poured around a meaningful object like a tree or a group of candles. Loved ones may create a circle around the object and remains, sharing words of remembrance.

• Returning to the Earth: A rake may be used to ceremoniously mix the Earth with cremated remains. This is often how the remains are scattered in a memorial garden.

• Water Scattering: By using a water-soluble urn that gradually disperses the ashes back to the water or tossing cremated remains directly into the water a favorite lake or river could be a loved one’s final resting place.

• Aerial Scattering: Cremated remains may be professionally cast from a private plane over a specific location.

• Reef Construction: Cremated remains can be combined with concrete to create new marine habitats for fish and other forms of sea life.

• Artwork: Artists may combine cremated remains with oil paint and create a painting of choice, including portraits and landscapes.

• Fireworks: Professional pyrotechnicians have combined cremated remains with explosive materials and create a fireworks display in conjunction with a memorial service.

For more information contact us.

Keith S.* asks “I’ve heard of a green burial but I’m not sure what’s involved. Can you provide more info?”

Green Burials are natural burial alternatives that often aim to avoid chemical preservatives or traditional metal and wood caskets. Remains may be put directly into the ground, either shrouded in cloth or buried in containers made of easily biodegradable materials, such as cardboard, wicker or pine. Outer burial containers may or may not be required. There are a few Southeastern Wisconsin cemeteries with dedicated sections for green burial. Options vary between cemeteries and Krause Funeral Homes can help families decide which would best serve their needs. As with any final resting place choice, a memorable service, visitation or gathering can be planned.

Call, email or stop by for more information.