And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2
A Unique Celebration of Life
Franzen-Davis arranged a celebration of life a few weeks ago that was truly a joy to be a part of. The gentleman had owned a heavy equipment business and was well loved by the folks in the Shields Valley. His casket was transported to the cemetery on his backhoe. Below is a short photo gallery highlighting parts of the funeral that we thought everyone would enjoy seeing.
Introducing Jenny Vogels
Jenny Vogels is the Office Administrator at the Anderson Stevenson Wilke & Retz Funeral Home. She moved to Helena, Montana from Green Bay, Wisconsin in May of 2012 to pursue her dream of mountain living. After applying for an anonymous job position at Helena Job Services, she was hired by the Stevensons as the administrator for the Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home. Meeting and helping families has always been the cornerstone of the purpose-filled life to which Jenney aspires.
Jenny has a great love for animals, and volunteers for Montana WILD, Fish Wildlife and Parks’ Wildlife Rehabilitation program here in Helena. On a weekly basis, she feeds and walks the ambassador owls and falcons, clean the facilities and participates in public education programs as a bird handler. Jenny is also an active member of the Helena Valley Timing Association, a local car club that organizes the annual Blast from the Past Car Show and Drag Races; it is the largest attended classic car show in Montana! With this show, her club raises money for scholarships for college students enrolled in trades education. When she’s not volunteering, her favorite pastime is travelling. She’s endlessly curious to learn about people and their cultures, both here and abroad. Her favorite place to rest her feet is in the sand in Negril, Jamaica.
When she’s not travelling, Jenny spends her time experimenting with cooking and baking (using her friends as Guinea pigs for those new recipes) reading, going to concerts, watching the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers, hiking, gardening, fishing, hunting and doing my best to leave each person, place and thing better than how she found them. Please take a moment to view the photos in the slider album below. The one of the Owl on her gloved hand is her favorite!
What to Wear to a Funeral
Whether you have been invited to attend a funeral, also known as a final celebration of life, or you have decided to go and pay your last respects, it’s a good idea to take several factors into consideration when considering your attire.
Now, before you go getting all flustered about having the “right” outfit to wear, remember this: there is no specific attire required at a funeral, except in the case of certain Heads of State.
Generally speaking, when attending a funeral, it’s customary to dress conservatively and respectfully. Here are a few helpful tips and basic guidelines to assist you in selecting your funeral attire.
While black is traditionally associated with funeral attire, it’s certainly not mandatory. You can opt for other dark or muted colors as well. Dark blue and the gray family are quite frequently worn. Dark suits with broad pinstripes are popular. Avoid bright colors, flashy prints, and glittery fabrics – unless they are specifically suited to the type of funeral you’re attending.
Consider the location and time of the service: A beach memorial will be more casual than a place of worship. Use common sense: If the deceased was known to be formal, choose more conservative, more formal attire. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice: Consult an immediate family member or the Funeral Director. Funeral Directors are customarily great sources for input regarding attire, choices of flowers, etc.
It is not uncommon for the deceased to have specified preferences in their funeral plan, which includes attire: in the Dakotas, Wyoming and Montana, for example, rancher and/or cowboy outfits are often requested to be worn. If you do not have those things, just wear something very casual like jeans and a white, light blue or other suitable shirt.
It’s a good idea to dress to blend in: Avoid standing out; aim to be dressed similarly to other mourners. Take into account cultural norms. Americans lean towards the entire spectrum of colors and styles, while some cultures prefer specific colors (e.g., white in Asian cultures, red and black in some African cultures and so forth). If you are concerned about respecting a cultural norm, best to speak with a family member or the Funeral Director. It’s quite acceptable to ask a family member or Funeral Director about the preferred attire.
Some final hints: For both men and women, generally opt for business-type attire. Err on the side of dressing up, rather than dressing down. Black or another dark color is almost invariably appropriate. Do not forget to consider both the weather and the location of the service. This may mean dressing for warmth or wearing cooler attire. If the location is quite windy, beware of loose-fitting hats and large skirts and/or dresses. Umbrellas are the most widely accepted protection against rainy weather.
In the end, don’t worry too much about what you’re wearing. The focus should be on honoring your friend or loved one, and dressing respectfully, as befits your friend and his life, merely reflects that sentiment.
Below is a brief photo album showing some various outfits that would be very acceptable for specific types of different funerals. It would not be possible to create an album of all attire that is acceptable, since there are so many variations to consider, but we hope this gives you a feel for the extent of the range that’s considered just fine. Be comfortable. Be respectful, and remember the real reasson you are attending the funeral.
Pre-Planning – One Person’s Experience
Watch the following, brief video and hear what one person thinks of her experience with pre-planning final arrangements.
From Some We’ve Served
Nothing makes everyone at all of the Stevenson & Sons funeral homes feel more fulfilled than knowing we’ve pleased the people we’ve served. We’re all very grateful for their many acknowledgements and proudly share some of them among ourselves. A few of them, we’re so proud of, we like sharing them with you too. See them all in the album below.
Funeral Planning Aid
We frequently receive questions regarding what the person responsible for making funeral arrangements should expect. Since we’ve received so many requests for this information, we are placing a link which allows our newsletter subscribers to download a complete copy of our Funeral Planning Aid. The informative article is presented as a PDF – simply click the PDF Button below to access it. That way, if you wish, you may keep it on your computer for future reference or sharing with others. If after you read the article, you have any questions, please contact the Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of your choice.
Who’s eligible for Military Funeral Honors?
- Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.
- Former military members who served on active duty and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
- Former military members who completed at least one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
- Former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
How to establish veteran eligibility
Submit the DD Form 214. The DD Form 214 may be obtained by filing a completed Standard Form 180 with:
National Personnel Records Center(NPRC)
9700 Page Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63132
The Standard Form 180 may be obtained from: http://www.archives.gov/research/order/standard-form-180.pdf
Headstones for Veterans
For complete information and ordering, please visit: Legislative Changes Concerning Eligibility for Headstones, Markers and Medallions – National Cemetery Administration (va.gov)
Supporting Others
If you know someone who would benefit from the uplifting messages and support information we provide in these monthly newsletters, they can sign up to receive their own copy here (https://stevensonandsons.com/news/sign-up/). It’s a great way to lend your support to a friend or a family member.
Financial Assistance
Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020…
If you lost a loved one due to Covid-19, you may qualify for financial assistance for your family’s funeral expenses. Click here to find out more information.
Recently posted on the FEMA Covid-19 Funeral Assistance page: The COVID-19 incident period ended on May 11, 2023. FEMA will continue to provide funeral assistance until Sept. 30, 2025, to those who have lost loved ones due to this pandemic.
Grief Support
Many people do not have the time to locate a proper grief counselor. Others do not live in an area where there are any grief counselors available. And finally, many people are not prepared to pay a professional for grief counseling. Fortunately, the internet provides some solutions for those who wish to seek grief counseling or to interact with groups of people who are also coping with grief. Many such services exist, as do professional counselors who will assist people privately on line, hence eliminating the need for travel. Not all services are the same, nor are all chat rooms/groups. You should research what you are interested in and follow-up on the leads you believe will be most helpful to your personal situation until you locate exactly what works best for you. In your search engine look for terms like “grief chat rooms” “bereavement support groups” “professional grief counseling” or “grief management.” Good research is the path to successfully linking up with what, or who, will work the best for you. Another option would be to start your search at the Mental Health American website. Lots of information, and many places to research groups, centers and more.
