The festival, the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays, begins on the first day of the traditional Chinese calendar.   Chinese New Year customs focus on food, gifts called “red envelopes,” lanterns and in San Francisco’s Chinatown, parades.  They celebrate what people have believed in the most this past year.

Chinese rituals are often reflective and respectful of past traditions. We at Krause Funeral Homes see that in beautiful Chinese American funeral celebrations.

Many Chinese Americans place a great deal of importance on the details surrounding the death of their loved one. Family gatherings are more than special times to focus on the life of their loved one, they often include a specific set of rituals to be carried out in respect for their elders.  Wreaths, gifts and a portrait or photograph of the deceased may be placed at the head of a loved one’s casket.   Others orchestrate colorful, musical funeral processions combining Chinese and American traditions.   Some provide family and friends with pieces of candy to sweeten the bitterness of death.  Even after the funeral is long over, rituals may dictate that families gather at the cemetery to beautify gravesites, provide elaborate food or burn paper offerings.

Krause Funeral Homes celebrates the ethnic diversity of our community by offering a wide variety of options to meet the special religious and cultural traditions of families.

No matter what groundhogs were able to see yesterday, we look forward to spring and continuing to celebrate the seasons of life.

For many the grieving process over a deceased companion animal is the same as with a human companion.  We love our pets and consider them members of the family.  We care for them, talk to them and celebrate their birthdays.  Even those who have talked about the burden of caring for their pet often find the loss traumatic.  If nothing else, the death creates a change in everyday life.

However, friends and family may not understand or comfort someone who has lost “just” a pet.  And this may make grieving more complicated.  Below are some tips from the experts on dealing with the death of a pet.

How to Help Friends and Family

Acknowledge the loss and express your sympathy. Drop a note, make a call, stop by–let them know you are thinking of them.

A good listener can put people at ease during times of grief. You may want to ask:

“What happened?”

“Tell me a good story about…”

“When did you last see…?”

Cliche’s like “you’ll feel better soon” or “you can always get another cat” are not helpful.

Stay in Touch. It is very important to stay in touch after the death of a pet as milestones like birthdays and holidays are often difficult for those experiencing a loss.

Helping Children Express Grief

The loss of a pet may be a child’s first experience with death–he or she may feel guilt, sadness or fear.  He or she may be angry with him/herself, family members, or the veterinarian for not being able to save the pet.

Children need to know that it is healthy to talk about death. Encourage open dialogue and the freedom to express opinions and feelings. Don’t be afraid to answer questions with “I don’t know the answer, but I’ll get back to you on that.” Consistent attention from caregivers and time are also important to help children come to terms with their loss.  It’s a good idea to find out what your child already knows and validate any feelings he or she may express. Then tell the story simply and honestly.

Explain how you might feel when your pet dies—sad, mad, confused—and that it is OK to cry or want to talk or need time alone. Children learn by example, so don’t hide your own feelings. Showing your own grief gives children permission to show theirs, while holding grief back may inadvertently teach children to suppress their own sad feelings. You may also want to explain that while remembering your pet’s life, it is normal to also laugh at funny stories.

Many report that setting aside some special time to acknowledge the loss, pay tribute and share memories is helpful. Whether you have a funeral or a ritual of your own making, encourage children to participate.  They may find drawing pictures, writing stories or putting together a collage or scrapbook a positive way to express their emotions.

There are also books like When a Pet Dies, by Fred Rogers or I’ll Always Love You by Hans Wilhelm that may help.

Helping Seniors Experience a Loss

Seniors may find coping with the loss of a pet especially hard. If they live alone, they may feel a loss of purpose more than others.   Or the pet’s death may be a reminder of other loved ones’ deaths.  Getting another pet is also a more complicated decision for seniors as this loss may trigger thoughts of their own mortality and whether or not they will be able to care for a new pet.  Experts report that they often see great benefits when friends and family simply spend time with a grieving senior and help him or her find a bereavement group if necessary.

Helping Yourself Cope with the Death of a Pet

The first step to feeling better is realizing that it is natural that you feel anger, guilt or sadness and grieve the loss. Some find friends, books, local or online bereavement groups and/or support hotlines to be helpful.  Your veterinarian, local animal shelter and the web may help you find local pet loss support groups and coping information.  As with children dealing with the loss of a pet, adults often find it helpful to set aside some special time to acknowledge the loss, pay tribute and share memories.

Contact Krause Funeral Homes for more information.

To learn more or RSVP stop by, call or drop us an email. Click here for contact information.

Why the Nom de Plume?

In college at Dartmouth, Geisel was editor-in-chief of a humor magazine. After being caught drinking gin with friends (which violated national prohibition laws at the time), he was asked by school administrators to quit all extracurricular activities. Geisel did not want to give up writing for the humor magazine that he so loved and instead began signing his work with the pen name “Seuss.”

Silly Seuss

Milwaukean Stacy Sullivan reports that her grandfather, Stanton Kinnie Smith from Rockford, Illinois, knew Geisel at Dartmouth. Her grandfather shared stories of how Geisel was a practical joker. He liked to go to a park near campus, probably to sketch the animals he would later create caricatures of. One day, a police officer blew his whistle and accused Geisel of stealing public property–Geisel was carrying a bench out of the park. He surprised the accusing officer by asking him to examine the underside of the bench. After inspection, the officer learned he’d been duped–Geisel owned the official park bench replica carried it with him as a joke.

Thing One and Thing Two Are Not All Fun and Games

A May 1954 Life magazine report on illiteracy concluded that children were not learning to read because their books were boring. A list of 250 words important for first-graders to recognize was created. Geisel was hired to write a book “that children can’t put down”–using only those words. Geisel turned to humor, animals and trisyllabic meter. Nine months later, The Cat in the Hat was created using 236 of those words. Some say it is the most popular “beginning to read” book ever published.

The Power of Animals

Geisel’s love of animals probably stems from growing up as a zoo superintendent’s son. He often sketched the animals entrusted to his father’s care, but added twists not usually found in nature. It is reported that he liked to add body parts to his animals–an extra tail or limb–even at a young age. In all of Geisel’s children’s books, crazy-looking animals are featured. Their wacky twists make kids laugh, smile and want to read on. But they also often model traits like dedication and love. He knew the power that animals have on kids and used it to teach kids to read.

Krause Funeral Homes knows that children often respond well to animals too. We offer dove & butterfly releases that can signify the end of the funeral or the circle of life.

Oliver, Krause Funeral Homes’ trained, on-staff therapy dog, is a hit with children; and for many, petting or hugging Oliver has a calming effect and triggers happy memories. He is a hypoallergenic Portuguese Water Dog and has completed Canine Good Citizen and therapy dog training. In addition to attending funerals, Oliver often visits hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and children’s facilities as a community service. His presence at funerals is optional and free of charge.

While Oliver can’t comfort or teach with words, he can help break the ice, create a needed diversion and draw people out.

In the words of Dr. Seuss: “Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”

Click here for additional information on children and funerals or to contact us.

The recent snow dusting here in Milwaukee creates breathtaking, picturesque winter scenes. But, it also makes roads more dangerous; especially for the youngest and oldest drivers.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that drivers over age 75 are more likely to be involved in fatal accidents than any other age group—except teenagers. And, in the next 15 years, a fourth of all drivers in the U.S. will be 65 or older according to a University of Florida study.

Many, such as officials in states like Florida and groups like AARP, are providing classes to help older drivers. Not only do attendees report that they are more knowledgeable drivers because of the classes; but, the successes have prompted some insurance companies to provide discounts to those who take these accredited classes.

A recent NPR story reports that older drivers may not notice how much they have changed physically, how much driving has changed and what they can do to adjust.

The NPR story features Senior Transportation Consultant Fran Carlin Rogers, who does “car fits” for older drivers, and reports that a common mistake has to do with mirrors. “The way mirrors are recommended to be positioned now [is] dramatically different than the way all of us learned to drive because the roads are so much more complicated,” says Rogers. “There’s much more traffic than [when] we were young drivers." She also checks to see that clients aren't “sitting too far forward…to make up for getting a little shorter” and provides solutions for clients who can't reach seatbelts and therefore aren't wearing them.

Choosing safe roads may also be part of the solution. Sherrilene Classen of the University of Florida’s Institute for Mobility, Activity and Participation (or I-MAP) says that studies show older-driver-friendly roads have the following common elements:

• wider road shoulders
• protected left-turn lanes
• green arrows to give drivers the right of way

To learn more about new rules of the road as well as defensive driving techniques, tips on navigating problem situations, how to correctly use mirrors, anti-lock brakes, air bags and more consider taking an AARP accredited class like the one below.

Driver Safety Program

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 8:30am-12:30

Krause Funeral Homes

12401 W. National Avenue, New Berlin

To learn more or RSVP click here.

The class is taught by a certified AARP instructor who charges $14 per person ($12 for AARP members).

Maureen C. writes, "I have often wondered about the condolences one might send via the computer. During their acute time of grief, family members might not feel able to go online and read correspondence and thus would miss the thoughtful messages from friends."

As each website handles this differently, it is recommended that you check the specific website’s policy. Families whose loved ones are entrusted to Krause Funeral Homes are given hard copies of condolence notes, as part of a remembrance memorial package. Messages sent after the funeral are printed and sent to the family via regular mail.

Not at all. Sharing a meal after the death of a friend or family member has been a tradition in many cultures for centuries. It makes sense; most family gatherings and traditions revolve around meals and for many food is comforting.

In past decades, most meals were shared after the official funeral rituals were over. But recently families have realized the value in serving food and beverages during visitations and funerals. These days people are busier than ever and they appreciate offers of refreshment and nourishment while they visit and pay tribute.

For instance, at Krause Funeral Homes we hear very positive feedback when families offer their guests wine, beer, soft drinks and substantial hors d’oeuvres at an early evening visitation. It allows people to stay and share stories without having to rush off to feed their families. We cater everything from wine and cheese samplings to multi-course, seated meals. Click here to learn more.

Regarding “Fat Tuesday,” it is the day before the Christian Ash Wednesday. It begins the 40 days of Lent, and is also called Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday and Pancake Day. According to Wikipedia, pancakes are associated with this day because they were cooked in a way to use up rich foodstuffs such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting season of Lent. For the record, Krause Funeral Homes can cater pancakes at a gathering too.

Absolutely. In today's economy, we understand that families are looking for value in all aspects of their lives, even funerals. A family is welcome to provide merchandise such as a casket and have Krause Funeral Homes provide professional services. A family member would need only to be responsible and in attendance for casket delivery to ensure that it arrives in the condition expected. Some families who have provided merchandise also suggest to people choosing this option that they plan on being flexible on funeral timing as delivery uncertainty has occurred.

Batesville Earthtone Casket for $1,050 at Krause Funeral Homes

We are proud of our variety of price options and welcome you to compare casket costs. We offer a stately Batesville Earthtone Steel Casket for $1,050 as well as options in mahogany, cherry, maple, oak, pecan, polar, bronze, copper, etc. We also offer containers made of easily biodegradable materials, such as cardboard, wicker or pine.

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Astral Truman Steel Casket Included in the $4,995 Complete Funeral Package at Krause Funeral Homes

A complete funeral package for under $5,000 includes:

• Professional services of our staff
• Transfer of the deceased to the funeral home
• Preparation and care of deceased for viewing (private or public)
• Ordering, delivery and thorough inspection of a 20 gauge steel casket
• Online obituary with optional links to a video slideshow, funeral webcast and social media memorials
• Full coordination of a personalized visitation or gathering*
• Full coordination of a personalized memorial or funeral service*
• Full coordination of a personalized committal (graveside) service*
• Memorial portrait
• Guest register book
• Memorial folders
• Use of our traditional or motorcycle hearse and all necessary automotive equipment
• Video slideshow and DVD highlighting 30 pictures of deceased's life set to music
• Candle lighting ceremony
• Environmentally safe balloon release
• Thank you cards
• Floral pictures and delivery
• Disk containing 50 pre-written form letters to assist in notifying businesses and organizations of a person's death
• "Caring Voices" which provides your entire family access to a 24-hour grief counseling helpline
• Access to Krause Funeral Homes' extensive grief and senior resource materials
• Annual Remembrance Gathering to help families prepare for their first holiday season without their loved ones
• Krause Guarantee: If you are not completely satisfied with any of our professional services or facilities, you will not be charged for that service.

We also offer funeral alternatives. Eighty percent of families prefer personalized and customized funerals, but there are families who have cost limitations or who do not want personalized, customized or traditional funerals. To meet the needs of all families, Informed Choice, an affiliate of Krause Funeral Homes, specializes in limited budget burial, cremation and memorial alternatives.

For more information stop by, phone or email us.

* Services held on the same day 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday