On Mother’s Day, Honor the Mothers without Children, Too For all its commercial slickness, Mother’s Day is really a sweet holiday. It’s a time for us to reflect on all that our mothers do for us, and a time for moms to receive heartfelt trinkets that let them know their families love them. For those [...]

Did You Know Baue Is Certified by The Green Burial Council? In 1998, the first green cemetery in the US opened. The idea was simple, find a way to honor loved ones in a more eco-friendly manner than traditional burials. Green burials use natural embalming processes and biodegradable caskets. By creating the option of green [...]

Resuming to a New Normal: Life After Loss During the Pandemic More and more people are venturing out and attempting to resume normal life.  Vaccinations are being distributed.  The warm air allows people to visit outside more comfortably. Families are planning vacations.   And there is a glimpse of hope that the worst of the pandemic [...]

COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. For the latest information please visit https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance

Documenting your Grief: Journal Your Way Through There are so many misconceptions about grief.  Those that have not experienced the loss of a loved one believe that grief has stages and an expiration date.  Those that are grief avoidant step away from the negative emotions and try to make things better for the bereaved by [...]

Coping with Grief and the Holidays Traditions that have been carried out for many years, may look different right now. I am often asked, do I put up a tree, send out cards, cook traditional dishes, keep everything as it was last year, change it or do nothing at all? Your energy levels may feel [...]

Why More Families are Choosing to Prearrange Than Ever Before The “New Normal.” This sure is a phrase that we have all heard a lot of lately. Reality seems to look different nearly every day, and changes are just a part of life. When things are uncertain, we inherently do what we can to prepare [...]

Preparing the Gardens for Fall and Winter We are very busy at St. Charles Memorial Gardens preparing the gardens for the winter. There is a lot we do now to set the cemetery up for success through the winter and into the spring.   We will be placing green flags in the cemetery. These are [...]

Creating Community During a Time of Mourning: You Are Not Alone 2020 has been a difficult and unique year for everyone, but if you are someone that has encountered a loss during this unprecedented time, it may seem that the upcoming holidays will be too much to bear. Dealing with toxic relatives, a busier schedule [...]

Helping Yourself Heal During the Holiday Season by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Holidays are often difficult for anyone who has experienced the death of someone loved. Rather than being times of family togetherness, sharing and thanksgiving, holidays can bring feelings of sadness, loss and emptiness. Love Does Not End With Death Since love does not [...]