Is It Okay to Play Happy Songs at Funerals?
At Fares J. Radel Funeral Homes and Crematory, we have seen seismic changes in funerals over the generations our family has been honored to serve the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area. We have been proud to be a part of many of those changes, starting with being one of…...
What’s Best? An Open or Closed Casket?
Once a family has decided they would like to have a visitation at final services, the next decision will be whether that visitation will include a closed or open casket. Like just about everything else involving a funeral, this is a very personal decision. You should not feel pressured into…...
Funerals and Social Distancing
The COVID-19 pandemic has made many of life’s events much more challenging. Birthdays are being celebrated differently, weddings are being postponed and graduations are being cancelled or being held “virtually”. The pandemic is also having its effect on final services. Losing a loved one at any time can be emotionally…...
What is a Green Burial?
Throughout history, funerals have changed with the needs and wishes of the families. Once held in homes, they were eventually moved to funeral homes. Cremations were once chosen by few, while today they account for over half of all final services. We have also seen the change from somber, dark…...
Why Are Caskets Expensive?
When a loved one passes, family members are faced with a number of decisions involving final services. One of the most expensive decisions will involve that of choosing a casket. A casket, in basic terms, serves as the container for a body while it is displayed and ultimately for burial.…...
The History of Cemeteries
Cemeteries are usually park-like settings reserved for the burial of the dead or their cremains. Markers usually contain the name and date of birth and death of the person buried and the sites are sometimes visited by friends and family members. Some will take comfort in the knowledge the term…...
What is Hospice?
If you’ve ever wondered exactly what hospice is, who it is for and what services are provided you are not alone. While most of us are at least aware of hospice and may have a general idea about what’s involved, we may lack some specific knowledge about exactly what is…...
How Life Expectancy Has Changed Through History
Most of us assume that on average, we will live longer than the generations that preceded us. Those of us in North America can take some comfort that we have the longest life expectancy in the world. On average, women will live to be 81 and men will live to…...
The Stages of Human Decomposition
What happens when we die? While we can’t pretend to have all the answers, we can address the physical aspects of the question, especially when it comes to human decomposition. If you are uncomfortable about reading some details of the physical process of human decomposition, we would suggest you move…...
Is It Rational to Fear Death?
The Greek philosopher Epicurus said “Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.” That may have been easy for Epicurus to say for he, after all, only believed things existed in the material world…...
