When Sherry Marshall goes on vacation, she trades the hushed, elegant halls of the Sullivan funeral home in Royal Oak for the wilderness. Her ideal destination is in well off the beaten path. She and her husband, Barry, have hiked and camped in in some of America’s most remote, beautiful places: Alaska, Yellowstone, the Grand […]

Writing a condolence letter is hard. That’s why you’ll find racks of sympathy cards at the drugstore. But a personal message to someone who has lost a loved one will touch their heart in a way you can’t even imagine if you haven’t experienced it yourself. Write the letter by hand, on real stationery. That […]

When a loved one dies we want to keep their memory with us. Mourning jewelry, containing ashes from cremation, lets us keep them physically close. The cremains jewelry available through William Sullivan & Son Funeral Directors is a contemporary version of a centuries-old practice. People began incorporating clippings of their loved ones’ hair as early […]

Conventional wisdom says that people fear public speaking more than they fear death. Delivering a eulogy, then, could be one of the most terrifying experiences of your life. Nevertheless, they’ve asked you to do it. Here are six steps to help you succeed. Brainstorm ideas. Start with the facts: Birth, marriage, children. Talk with several […]

Families often ask well-wishers not to send flowers, or to make a donation instead of flowers. Sometimes they choose a charity based on what is close to them at the time: Hospice, the hospital, a medical charity. If you know the deceased’s interests, consider directing your donation there instead. Think about her church, college and […]