Showing posts with label memorial service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label memorial service. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Organ Donation and Donating Your Body to Science

 

When one door closes, another door opens. Though death is a sad and emotional experience, it also gives you a once-in-a-lifetime chance to save another life or make a gift to humanity. Organ and body donation is one of the most generous and selfless things you can do that still honors the life and memory of those you lost. While most people are for becoming an organ or body donor, there are still several questions that the population is still unsure of. We're here to answer those questions!

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about body and organ donation:

  1. What is the difference between organ donation and body donation? Organ donations involve organ transplants to other living people that can potentially save their lives. Body donation is when you donate your entire body to a medical school or hospital for medical research and science. If you choose to donate your organs, you cannot donate your body to science—bodies from which organs have been removed will not be accepted for medical research. Organ donation also does not include brain donation—brains are only used for medical research.
  2. How do you determine if my organs are eligible for donation? Your organs are accepted once you have passed specific medical and social requirements. For example, if you have a medical condition that could spread cancer, heart disease, or another infection to another, your organs may not be accepted. This is determined by Organ Procurement Organizations (OPO), which will recover the organs after death.
  3. How do I become an organ or body donor? You can register to become an organ donor at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) when you renew your license. You can also register online. Once you've decided to be an organ donor, make sure your family knows your wishes so they can honor your decision once you have passed. To donate a body, contact a local medical school to see if they need bodies—they will likely take care of any costs to get the body over to them.
  4. Can family members choose to donate their loved one's organs/body? Yes, family members can choose to donate organs on a dying person's behalf. The OPO must get the family's consent before retrieving the organs. Family members cannot override a person's decision if they have already decided to be an organ donor. Once someone has registered, family members must respect the decision.
  5. What kind of funeral/end-of-life plans can I make if I choose either of these options? It is still possible to have a service for your loved one and even retrieve the remains after organ or body donation. Hospital workers will embalm a body well enough for an open casket or viewing after an organ transplant. Remains, or cremated remains, of a donated body, can also be returned to families within a year or two, so you can still have a proper burial or scattering of ashes. However, because organ transplants and body donations must happen quickly, it is best to plan a memorial service rather than a funeral or burial soon after death so you can still commemorate a person's life.

Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer service. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning. We will do whatever it takes to make our workplace environment positive and translate to your experience with us.

Adolf Funeral Home has served the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for many years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability yet small enough to provide personalized service. To discover more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website or call one of our locations today.

 

 

Sources:

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/frequently-asked-questions-about-organ-donation-older-adults

https://www.pcrm.org/ethical-science/animal-testing-and-alternatives/donate-your-body-to-science

https://memorialsocietyofgeorgia.org/resources/body-organ-donation/

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Celebration of Life: What is it?

Celebration of Life: What is it?

“One lives in the hope of becoming a memory.” ~ Antonio Porchia

When you think about your life would you want people to remember the happy times and celebrate or would you want a more traditional subdued affair such as a funeral? Many people are opting to choose a celebration of life to respect those who have died and for good reason. Subdued funerals or memorial services can oftentimes leave friends, family, and loved ones sad and overwhelmed due to the traditional practice.

While it’s always sad to lose a loved one, a celebration of life focuses more on the joyful aspects of the deceased's life rather than mourning. Here are a couple of things you can expect:

It’s ok to smile

A celebration of life might feel more like a party than a funeral. The location may have been chosen by the deceased before they died or in someone’s home, a park, or even a restaurant or banquet facility. Stories about the deceased are encouraged to share among attendees, along with music, favorite photos, and other personal touches. It’s more or less an upbeat memorial service. It’s ok to encourage humorous stories or memories as well as memorable situations as they pertain to the deceased individual.

Timeframe

Unlike traditional memorial services, a celebration of life does not have to take place right after the individual has died. A celebration of life can take place several weeks, months, or even a year after the individual has died. Some people choose the anniversary of the actual death for the celebration date.

What to wear 

A celebration of life is less formal but you should pay attention to cues when it comes to the location or venue and if attire is a question, always ask the planner what is appropriate.

Arrangements 

You may still send floral arrangements depending on the venue, but many people opt to choose arrangements that are less formal and more personalized to the individual such as an arrangement of their favorite color, sports team, or alma mater. Instead of floral arrangements, you may be asked to make a donation to a worthy cause the deceased individual was passionate about. Setting up a scholarship in their name is also common.

No matter what kind of ceremony you choose, always think of the deceased and if this is a way that represents their life. Cremation services allow family members to choose from burial to scattering remains to wherever they please. A memorial service or a traditional service is a beautiful way to say goodbye with all of their loved ones present. Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer services. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning and will do whatever it takes to make our positive workplace environment translate to your experience with us. Adolf Funeral Home has been serving the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for a number of years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability, yet small enough to provide personalized service. To discover more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website or call one of our locations today.

Sources:
https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-a-celebration-of-life-4583830

Children’s Books About Death

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