Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Legacy Likeness

Losing a loved one is difficult, but having a special piece of them can make the loss easier. That’s where Legacy Likeness comes in. With Legacy Likeness, you can have a piece of your loved one that’ll last you forever, and bear extreme likeness, as if they were there with you. Continue reading about Legacy Likeness to learn more about how you can get your own personalized piece of your loved one. 

What is Legacy Likeness?
Legacy Likeness creates personalized face masks and funeral urns for families who have recently lost a loved one.

How Does it Work?
To create our works of art, we need an actual person to take an accurate measurement and create a piece of work. This means that a photograph cannot be used to take measurements from. While we prefer to work with the living, we will also work with families and funeral service providers when someone has passed away. 

How Much Does it Cost?
Our scanning services and computer renderings will cost you nothing. You pay when you commission a piece, or ask us to store your data for later use.

How is the Mask or Urn Made?
Getting measured is easy, painless, and fast. A capture session will last around 15 minutes to an hour depending on the anticipated work request. You can come to our studio in Hinsdale, IL, or for a small fee, we’ll come to the comfort of your home. A signature of authorization and release is required prior to having the cast made, and minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

How Do I Commission Work?
Keep in mind that our work cannot be created from a photograph, so time is of the essence. In order to capture a likeness, we will need to have access to an actual person. While we prefer to scan someone prior to passing, we can scan someone who is recently departed. After scanning, you’ll receive an email notifying you when the subject is ready for review. This will usually take place 24-48 hours after a scan. Once you authorize the commission, our system will keep you updated on the progress of your work from start to finish. 

Adolf Funeral Home Services is proud to partner with Legacy Likeness, so if you’d like your own commissioned piece of art, contact us today at our Berwyn location at 708-484-4111, and at our Willowbrook location at 630-325-2300. You can also visit our website to learn more about our funeral services. 

Thursday, January 25, 2018

When a Loved One Dies: Helping a Child Cope

The death of a loved one is a traumatic and pivotal experience, and it is only normal that children will cope in different ways. A child’s age, how close they were to the person who died, and the support they receive, are all factors as to how a child will carry on.   

Parents or guardians can do a few things to ease this loss, helping a child not only cope with the loss, but easing the transition to living a daily life without the loved one.  

Breaking the news.   A  child should be told immediately that somebody has died.  Hearing adults whisper or worse, hearing the news from somebody else, can be very disconcerting.  When talking to your child about death, use simple and clear words, approaching them in a caring fashion.  Begin by saying  “I have some very sad news to tell you.  Grandpa died today.” Do not use euphemisms as a child doesn’t understand them(“Passed  away” or  “Gone to sleep”).  

Listen.  Now is the time to listen.  Children will react different to the news that a loved one has died.  While some kids will cry, others will ask questions, and others may not seem to react at all.  All of this is normal.  Stay with your child, offer hugs, reassurance, and listen without interrupting.  

Feelings into words.  Encourage your children to talk about what they're feeling in the days, weeks, and months following the death.  Talk about your own feelings but use caution.  For example, if a grandparent has died, but you may not have had a good relationship with her, avoid saying anything negative about the deceased.  It is best to say something like “I know you're feeling very sad today about Grandma.  I know you loved her and I did too. “

What to expect now that the person has died.  If the deceased has been a normal part of a child’s daily routine, explain to them how they will move on.  For example, “Uncle Bill will pick you up from soccer like Grandma used to.”  Or, if you need to leave your child for a couple days to assist others in the transition explain, “I need to stay with Aunt Patty for a few days.  This means you and your sister will be at home with Dad till Friday.  I’ll call you every day , and I’ll be back by Monday.”  

What to expect from the funeral.  Let them know that there will be crying and people will be sad.  Explain about an open casket.  Be matter of fact.  Let them know that attending a funeral is their choice.  Do not push them.  Funerals are good for closure, but again it is up to your child if they should attend.   

Keep in mind that even the most well behaved children will get upset at a funeral.  If you decide a funeral may be too intense for your child, there are other ways to say goodbye to a loved one.  Planting a tree,  releasing balloons on a gorgeous day,  or displaying a potted plant are all ways to honor the loved one's life.

Repeated Questions.  Know that repeated questions, whether when you inform a child or in the coming weeks or months, are normal.  Repeated questions are not really for factual information about the death as they are for reassurance that the story hasn’t changed.  

Discussing an afterlife.  If you are religious and have beliefs about an afterlife, then by all means discuss it.  If you are not religious, you can explain to a child that a loved one lives on in our heart and in our daily activities.  

By explaining in simple terms, giving your child a role, and explaining information beforehand, your child has control over these traumatic events.  If a child feels in control and involved, their loss will be greatly  eased.  

The Adolf Family provides the service expertise, guidance,  and understanding that is needed during one of the most difficult and emotional times in an individual’s life.  For more information please visit us Adolf Funeral Home & Cremation Services .



Sources:

Broaching the Topic of Your Loved One’s Final Wishes

It is a sad fact that few of us want to think about none of us live forever.  If you have a person in your life that is elderly or very ill, approaching a loved one about their final wishes is challenging.   Chances are, your loved one has already given some of this sensitive topic some thought already.  In many ways, approaching them and bringing the subject up can also be of some relief.

The topic of death is never easy and pre-planning funeral arrangements isn’t necessarily on the loved ones to do list.  Here are some things to consider: 

Time and Place:  Let your loved one know that perhaps the two of you need to find a couple of moments to talk about their final wishes.  Giving your loved one the heads up that you’ll be discussing this topic gives them an opportunity to ruminate, preventing them from being caught off guard.  

Written Documentation:  While speaking to somebody about their final wishes is a sensitive subject, do not forget the importance of documents.  We are not talking about a will or trust, which is a documentation regarding a deceased property.  You will need a document for your loved one’s final wishes.  This paper or online document should include details on the remains of the body, the funeral event,  and venue.  This avoids arguing between adult children and other relatives as the deceased wishes have been clearly defined and stated.  

Many choices:  Does your loved one want a traditional funeral in a stately church?  Or a low-key memorial in a park or on a beach.  If your loved ones start to feel overwhelmed, .gently suggest reviewing and meeting again.  People want to do the right thing but religion, family beliefs, and existing finances may be too disconcerting for them to process.  Let your loved one know they do not need to give specifics immediately but urge them to meet with you again.   

Have The Talk of a Lifetime: The National Funeral Directors Association in Brookfield, WI has developed a program to help families have this important conversation with their loved ones. The program focuses on honoring the ones you love and memorializing them in a meaningful way. For more information visit their website

Think of this plan for your final wishes as a gift you leave behind for your loved ones.  
The Adolf Family provides the service expertise, guidance,  and understanding that is needed during one of the most difficult and emotional times in an individual’s life.  For more information please visit us Adolf Funeral Home & Cremation Services .



Sources: 

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Keepsakes That are Imprinted

“You may be gone from my sight. But you are never gone from my heart” ~ Winnie the Pooh. 

When a loved one leaves this world, they remain with us in so many ways. Their presence becomes imprinted in our thoughts. Adolf Funeral Home provides families with a unique option to memorialize their loved ones.

Thumbie Keepsake Jewelry

Fingerprints are synonymous with individuality. Ridges of the skin form loops, whorls, and arches. They curve, swirl, and spiral around the pads of the finger in unique patterns. No two people have been found to have the same fingerprints. They remain consistent and do not change over time and have been used since the late nineteenth century to identify individuals.

Capturing the fingerprint of your loved one is a unique way to memorialize those that are no longer with us. The pad of the finger is transferred onto a gold or silver metal charm. This keepsake comes in a variety of styles available for both women and men. 


Glass Remembrance Items

Burial is not always the preferred option for your loved ones. For many reasons, people may choose to have the remains cremated in more traditional ways. Clients who want this method have an alternate way to memorialize their loved ones.

Glass Remembrance items use a portion of the cremated remains to work into a unique, handcrafted glass memento. These original pieces of art use a technique of glass-forming that involves inflating molten glass into a bubble. The glassblower manipulates the bubble to form a variety of shapes and designs. Less than a teaspoon of ash is infused with the glass to create a beautiful one-of-a-kind tribute.

Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services, LTD.  Has always been committed to respecting a family’s choice regarding arrangement services and wish to help coordinate a meaningful tribute to someone’s life. We are proud to provide expertise, guidance, and understanding during this challenging and emotional time in a families life. Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services, LTD. Is a fourth generation family-owned and operated company since 1882.  Please call us at 630-325-2300 or go to our website.

Sources:

What Grief Support Services are Available to Me?

Where you do you go when you most need support? Do you consult a friend or a loved one when you seek advice and guidance? Maybe there’s a trusted co-worker you turn to when times get tough?Image result for grief

No matter who your closest confidant is, there’s no situation that’s harder to cope with, or get proper advice for, than grief. It doesn’t matter how qualified your friend is at giving relationship advice, or how much you trust a colleague to give you a professional guiding hand, they may not be your best source of comfort when you’re dealing with the loss of someone so precious to you. Even if they have experienced personal loss themselves, they may find it challenging to talk you through something so painful, specific, and delicate.
Luckily, there are plenty of places you can go that understand the struggle you are going through right now, and will continue to go through in the future. Here are a few that we at Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services highly recommend.


Coping With Grief Adventist St. Thomas Hospice, Hinsdale, Il 60522
Meetings take place every Monday from 9:30 am to 11 pm, or 7 pm to 8:30 pm. The Coping With Grief group considers all aspects of grief including mental, physical, spiritual and social. The goal is provide perspective for your memories to help you return to a regular life.
Educational Support Group—Seasons Hospice Naperville Inpatient Care Center, 2195 W Diehl Rd, Naperville, Il 60563
Offers person-to-person support by phone, email, postal correspondence or in person. Seasons also offers educational support groups, providing a place for grieving people to share experiences and learn from one another.

VITAS Understands—VITAS Healthcare, 5019 N Executive Dr, Peoria, Il 61614
This group provides a wide array of grief counseling options from Helping Children Cope, Defining Loss, Coping With Loss, Recognizing Anxiety & Depression, Losing a Family Member, Helping the Grieving, Holiday Grief and more.

Image result for grief

There is no one right way of handling your personal grief. It’s a deeply personal journey, and the pain of losing a loved one never quite goes away. But with the proper support and counseling, you can learn to deal with your grief in a productive way that helps heal your sorrow while honoring those you’ve lost. For more information on how to cope with your loss, trust your friends at Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Visit our website to email us your questions. You can also reach our Willowbrook location at 630-325-2300 and our Berwyn location at 708-484-4111.

Children’s Books About Death

  Death is a complex topic for anyone to discuss, especially children. Most young ones have not experienced loss and do not understand the c...