PINELAWN MEMORIAL PARK ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENT OF ONSITE FUNERAL HOME & NEW MEMORIAL TRIBUTE
Southern Pines, NC – 5.10.2021 – Pinelawn Memorial Park today announced two new structures as part of an ongoing series of upgrades to enhance the beauty of their 15-acre grounds while offering new ways to serve Moore County families for generations to come.
A new “Fountain of Faith” Columbaria is slated to be completed by June 1, 2021. The new stone installation features an elegant eagle in flight along with a water feature. It will be positioned behind the mausoleum with additional cremation niches also slated for development.
“With these enhancements to the park, families and friends will continue to have a quiet and beautiful place to visit their loved ones.” said Robert Nunnaley, Pinelawn Owner & Director.
Pinelawn and Powell Funeral Home are scheduled to break ground on a brand-new funeral home and cremation center. As a current owner of three other funeral home locations, Nunnaley stresses the importance of all-in-one care when families need it most. “We have served thousands of families over the years. We know how hard it is to lose a loved one—that’s why we do everything we can to make the funeral process as simple as possible by providing everything the family needs in one convenient location.”
A series of other updates and future enhancements are also in the works for Pinelawn Memorial Park. “When my wife Kerry and I took over ownership last year, we promised the Williford family that the property would stay locally owned and independently operated while continuing to offer the highest level of care. That means always looking ahead to see how we can enhance our grounds, our facilities and our services to better serve families.”
About PinesFunerals PinesFunerals is proud to offer the best amenities for honoring a loved one with three convenient locations serving all of Moore County: Fry & Prickett, Kennedy and Powell Funeral Homes. As members of Selected Independent Funeral Homes, our staff adheres, our staff adheres to the highest standard of care and we provide the most options for merchandise, service and support.
For more information on how to reserve your spot today, click here or complete the form below.
Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.
FEMA will begin accepting applications for Funeral Assistance on Monday, April 12, 2021 through the dedicated call center number below.
To be eligible for funeral assistance, you must meet these conditions:
The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19.
The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020.
There is no requirement for the deceased person to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.
How to Apply
On April 12, FEMA will begin accepting applications.
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line Number
Applications begin on April 12, 2021 844-684-6333 | TTY: 800-462-7585
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time
If you had COVID-19 funeral expenses, we encourage you to keep and gather documentation. Types of information should include:
An official death certificate that attributes the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
Funeral expenses documents (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that includes the applicant’s name, the deceased person’s name, the amount of funeral expenses, and the dates the funeral expenses happened.
Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. We are not able to duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, government agencies, or other sources.
If you are eligible for funeral assistance you will receive a check by mail, or funds by direct deposit, depending on which option you choose when you apply for assistance.
Holidays are often difficult for anyone who has experienced the death of someone
loved. Rather than being times of family togetherness, sharing and thanksgiving,
holidays can bring feelings of sadness, loss and emptiness.
Love Does Not End With Death
Since love does not end with death, holidays may result in a renewed sense of personal
grief—a feeling of loss unlike that experienced in the routine of daily living. Society
encourages you to join in the holiday spirit, but all around you the sounds, sights and
smells trigger memories of the one you love who has died.
No simple guidelines exist that will take away the hurt you are feeling. We hope,
however, the following suggestions will help you better cope with your grief during
this joyful, yet painful, time of the year. As you read through this article, remember
that by being tolerant and compassionate with yourself, you will continue to heal.
• Talk About Your Grief
During the holiday season, don’t be afraid to express your feelings of grief. Ignoring
your grief won’t make the pain go away and talking about it openly often makes you
feel better. Find caring friends and relatives who will listen—without judging you.
They will help make you feel understood.
• Be Tolerant of Your Physical and Psychological Limits
Feelings of loss will probably leave you fatigued. Your low energy level may naturally
slow you down. Respect what your body and mind are telling you. And lower your
own expectations about being at your peak during the holiday season.
• Eliminate Unnecessary Stress
You may already feel stressed, so don’t overextend yourself. Avoid isolating yourself,
but be sure to recognize the need to have special time for yourself. Realize also that
merely “keeping busy” won’t distract you from your grief, but may actually increase
stress and postpone the need to talk out thoughts and feelings related to your grief.
• Be With Supportive, Comforting People
Identify those friends and relatives who understand that the holiday season can
increase your sense of loss and who will allow you to talk openly about your feelings.
Find those persons who encourage you to be yourself and accept your feelings—both
happy and sad.
• Talk About the Person Who Has Died
Include the person’s name in your holiday conversation. If you are able to talk
candidly, other people are more likely to recognize your need to remember that special
person who was an important part of your life.
• Do What Is Right for You During the Holidays
Well-meaning friends and family often try to prescribe what is good for you during the
holidays. Instead of going along with their plans, focus on what you want to do.
Discuss your wishes with a caring, trusted friend. Talking about these wishes will help
you clarify what it is you want to do during the holidays. As you become aware of
your needs, share them with your friends and family.
• Plan Ahead for Family Gatherings
Decide which family traditions you want to continue and which new ones you would
like to begin. Structure your holiday time. This will help you anticipate activities, rather
than just reacting to whatever happens. Getting caught off guard can create feelings of
panic, fear and anxiety during the time of the year when your feelings of grief are
already heightened. As you make your plans, however, leave room to change them if
you feel it is appropriate.
• Embrace Your Treasure of Memories
Memories are one of the best legacies that exist after the death of someone loved. And
holidays always make you think about times past. Instead of ignoring these memories,
share them with your family and friends. Keep in mind that memories are tinged with
both happiness and sadness. If your memories bring laughter, smile. If your memories
bring sadness, then it’s all right to cry. Memories that were made in love—no one can
ever take them away from you.
• Renew Your Resources for Living
Spend time thinking about the meaning and purpose of your life. The death of
someone loved created opportunities for taking inventory of your life— past, present
and future. The combination of a holiday and a loss naturally results in looking inward
and assessing your individual situation. Make the best use of this time to define the
positive things in life that surround you.
• Express Your Faith
During the holidays, you may find a renewed sense of faith or discover a new set of
beliefs. Associate with people who understand and respect your need to talk about
these beliefs. If your faith is important, you may want to attend a holiday service or
special religious ceremony.
As you approach the holidays, remember: grief is both a necessity and a privilege. It
comes as a result of giving and receiving love. Don’t let anyone take your grief away.
Love yourself. Be patient with yourself. And allow yourself to be surrounded by
loving, caring people.
About the Author
Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D., is a noted author, educator, and grief counselor. He serves as Director of
the Center for Loss and Life Transition in Fort Collins, Colorado, and is on the faculty at the
University of Colorado Medical School Department of Family Medicine.
Dr. Wolfelt is known for his compassionate philosophy of “companioning” versus “treating”
mourners. Among his many publications are the books Healing Your Holiday Grief: 100 Practical Ideas
for Blending Mourning and Celebration During the Holiday Season, The Journey Through Grief, Healing Your
Traumatized Heart, The Mourner’s Book of Hope, and Understanding Your Grief: Ten Essential Touchstones for
Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart. Visit www.centerforloss.com to learn more.
At PinesFunerals we have seen first hand through this crisis how families with loved ones in Senior Living and Nursing Facilities have not been able to be together. We can only imagine how hard this must me, so in an effort to try and keep families connected we are collecting new and used iPads.
These tables will be reconditioned and distributed to the various facilities as a way to connect families through video chatting.
If you would like to donate a tablet please enter your information below, or call any of our locations and we will arrange to pick them up.
Thank you for helping us to keep families connected,
If someone you love has died during the novel coronavirus pandemic, you have come to grief in an exceptionally challenging moment in history. You may have been separated from your loved one as they were dying. You may have been unable to view or spend time with the body after the death. You may have been prevented from having the full funeral you wanted because of gathering and travel restrictions. And people who care about you may not have been able to be near you to support you in your grief. These and other pandemic-related barriers to the cultural grief rituals we rely on may be making your grief journey especially painful.
I am sorry you have been so deeply affected by this hardship.
As a grief counselor and educator, I know that ceremony helps mourners through the early days and weeks of their grief and can also support their healing in the months and years to come. Funerals are for the living. When funerals are personalized and rich in elements that are meaningful to friends and family, they help mourners set off on a healthy mourning path.
But if you couldn’t have an immediate funeral because of the pandemic, or if the ceremony you were able to have felt incomplete or unsatisfactory, I want you to know that you can still use ceremony to help you and others who are mourning this death. I hope these ten freedoms provide you with affirmation and ideas.
You have the freedom to embrace ceremony.
The funeral does more than acknowledge the death of someone loved. It also helps provide you with the support of caring people. It is a way for you and others who loved the person who died to say, “We mourn this death, and we need each other during this painful time.” If others tell you that funerals are unnecessary or old-fashioned, don’t listen. They simply haven’t been educated about all the reasons why humans have relied on funerals since the beginning of time.
You have the freedom to hold an immediate private ceremony.
If you were not able to have a bedside ceremony, funeral, committal, or any form of service shortly after the death, you can choose to have a private ceremony right now. Ask a spiritual leader, officiant, family member, or friend to help you plan a simple online meeting using Zoom, Teams, or another tool. You can also hold a small candle-lighting ceremony at your dining-room table.
You have the freedom to plan one or more ceremonies to be held later.
Especially if you couldn’t have the ceremony you wanted at the time of the death, you can still hold one or more memorial ceremonies in the months to come, when gathering and travel restrictions are lifted. Remember that a delayed ceremony is a much healthier choice for your family than no ceremony.
Yes, you have the freedom to have more than one ceremony!
Ceremony helps grieving people heal. And multiple ceremonies are especially helpful in supporting families through complicated loss circumstances such as yours. For example, you might have an online ceremony now followed by a full ceremony and gathering later this year and then a smaller graveside or scattering ceremony on the anniversary of the death. You will find that each time you hold a ceremony, your grief softens and integrates into your ongoing life a bit more.
You have the freedom to plan a ceremony that will meet the unique needs of your family.
Keep in mind that any ceremonies you plan can and should be customized to honor the unique person who died as well as meet your unique family’s needs and wishes. There are no real rules about what you should or shouldn’t do, and your ceremony can be spiritual, religious, or secular—whatever you wish.
You have the freedom to feel all of your feelings about the circumstances of the death as well as any ceremony difficulties you may be having.
Because of the challenging and limiting circumstances in which your loved one died, you may be experiencing heightened anger, anxiety, guilt, regret, helplessness, despair, and other difficult feelings in addition to your normal grief. Remember that your feelings are naturally complicated because the situation is complicated. Talking out your feelings regularly with a trusted listener will help.
You have the freedom to make use of memories.
You may feel “stuck” in this pandemic moment, unable to carry out all the actions you would like to in honor of the person who died, but you still have the freedom to lean upon your memories. During this dormant time, gathering photos, video clips, memorabilia, and life stories will help you acknowledge the reality of the death and honor the life that was lived. Sharing memories with others will help everyone as well. Then, when it comes time to have a memorial service in the coming months, photos and memories will already be prepared.
You have the freedom to reach out and connect.
The isolation you may be experiencing as a result of the pandemic is not conducive to healing. You need and deserve the support of others during this challenging time. Others mourning the death need support as well. So, even if you can’t gather in person with others right now, you can still reach out for and accept support. Talk openly and honestly with the people in your home and be as empathetic as you can. To communicate with others outside your home, video calls are probably the best substitute for face-to-face conversations. Voice calls come second. After that, emails, texting, and social media work too. And don’t forget the power of the handwritten letter! The point is to stay connected as much as possible AND to be open and honest in those communications about whatever it is you are feeling or struggling with at the moment.
You have the freedom to ask others to be involved in any ceremonies you plan.
Funeral and memorial ceremonies can have lots of moving parts and may require a good deal of planning. Many hands make light work. You can ask several people to help with the planning and carrying out of tasks. In fact, ceremonies in which many people take part are often the most meaningful to everyone involved. You do not need to do this alone.
You have the freedom to move toward your grief and heal.
When it comes to grieving the death of this precious person, you may feel somewhat in limbo during the pandemic. An immediate ceremony will help you feel a degree of progress. In addition, you can move toward your grief by acknowledging and expressing your feelings (see number 6, above), doing memory work (number 7), and reaching out to others (number 8). Giving attention to your natural and necessary grief in all these ways is essential.
Thank you for entrusting me to teach you about the ten freedoms for using ceremony during the pandemic. Despite the restrictions, I hope you will find ways to use ceremony to befriend your grief and begin to heal. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Godspeed.
About the author
Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D., is an author, educator, and grief counselor. He serves as Director of the Center for Loss and Life Transition and is on the faculty of the University of Colorado Medical School’s Department of Family Medicine. Dr. Wolfelt has written many bestselling books on coping with grief, including Grief One Day at a Time and First Aid for Broken Hearts. Visit www.centerforloss.com to learn more about grief and loss.
Show the immediate family you care with a personalized note on your loved one’s obituary page. Your special message will be placed on a Care Card which will be displayed during the services for the immediate family to read and appreciate.
To submit your personal message, visit your loved one’s obituary page and select the personal message option on the guestbook.
As the coronavirus spreads across North America and our daily lives are transformed, we all must be aware of the need for good mental-health care. Obviously, it’s a stressful time. Families are confined to their homes. School is canceled. Many businesses are closed. Workers are being laid off en masse, causing financial distress. And then there is the illness itself, COVID-19. Will we or someone we love become critically ill or even die? We are all naturally worried about the “what ifs” and “what nexts.”
The youngest among us are not immune to all of this stress. They sense it in the adults around them, and they see it on social media and other sources of information. Their own day-to-day routines have been completely disrupted.
When it comes to painful, complex realities, it can be difficult to know how much we should share with children. Many people have an instinct to protect kids. But as someone who has worked with and advocated for grieving children for many decades, I’ve learned that what they really need is honesty combined with steadfast care.
Here are a few foundational dos and don’ts.
Follow the child’s lead
Pay attention to what the child seems curious or worried about. For younger children, these concerns may manifest through their play rather than directly. You don’t need to volunteer a lot of information. Instead, invite them to ask questions. And try saying just a little at a time. Children are often satisfied with short answers and small “doses” of information. When they want to know more, they’ll let you know, especially if you are someone who is always straight with them.
Talk openly and honestly to children about what is happening
It’s important to be honest with children about difficult circumstances. In fact, I often say that children can cope with what they know, but they can’t cope with what they don’t know. Be factual. Talk to them about social distancing and that it’s necessary to keep people safe. Explain to them that it’s mostly elderly people who are at risk of getting really sick or dying. If finances are an issue, it’s good to talk to them about that too. If someone in your family has been affected by the virus, keep the child updated. And if your family finances are being stressed, as they are for so many people right now, try not to overburden your children with this challenge. It’s OK to let them know about the need to curtail unnecessary spending, for example, but also keep in mind that financial issues are grown-up issues. We must be careful not to make children over-worry about this or feel responsible.
Use developmentally appropriate language
Use simple, concrete language when you talk to children about the pandemic. It’s OK to use the words “coronavirus” and “pandemic,” because children are hearing those terms, but you will need to explain them in ways that they will understand.
Share your feelings
As I said, we are all naturally worried about and disoriented over the pandemic. Circumstances are changing rapidly from day to day, and the future is unknown. Children who spend time with you will pick up on your anxiety, so it’s essential to tell them what you’re worried about. If you don’t, they are likely to imagine even worse scenarios–or think that they are somehow to blame or at risk. And it’s also important that you practice good self-care to manage any severe anxiety you yourself may be having. If your anxiety levels are too high, theirs will be, too.
Understand magical thinking
Young children are susceptible to what’s called “magical thinking.” They may believe that their thoughts and behaviors can cause bad things to happen. If they didn’t want to talk to Grandma the last time they saw her, for example, and she gets sick, they may secretly believe they caused or contributed to her sickness. So be attuned to any feelings of guilt or shame the children in your care may be hiding, and explain clearly to them that none of this is their fault.
Be patient, kind, and reassuring
Most of all what children need is reassurance that they are being cared for and that their family and others they care about are safe.
Routines help children feel safe, so if their daily routine has been turned upside-down, it’s important to create a new routine. Even if you’re stuck at home, you can still have breakfast together at a certain time and follow a daily schedule. Keeping evening rituals consistent is also essential. And while all of this is going on, try extra hard to be patient and kind. I know it’s extremely challenging to manage children patiently when school and activities are not there to help share the “it takes a village” burden, but keep in mind that your children will likely have strong memories of this strange interlude in their lives, as will you. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be caring, consistent, and honest.
It’s also important to emphasize to children that lots and lots of grown-up doctors, scientists, and government workers across the world are working to solve the problem. It is our responsibility, not children’s. We are working hard on treatments and vaccines as well as ways to help families who need help. We will get through this.
And I hope you will take advantage of any extra time you have during the quarantine to use for cuddles, hugs, and play. Physical closeness and care go a long way in helping children feel safe and loved.
About the Author
Dr. Alan D. Wolfelt is a noted author, educator, and grief counselor. He serves as Director of the Center for Loss and Life Transition in Fort Collins, Colorado, and is on the faculty at the University of Colorado Medical School’s Department of Family Medicine. Among his many bestselling books are Healing A Child’s Grieving Heart and Finding the Words: How to Talk with Children and Teens about Death, Suicide, Homicide, Funerals, and Other End-of-Life Matters. To order Dr. Wolfelt’s books and for more information, visit www.centerforloss.com.
Every major life event requires advanced planning. From wedding receptions to graduation parties through anniversary celebrations, these milestones require months, even years, of planning to get every detail just right.
A funeral is no different. Of course, it’s hard to think about life after you’re gone—but the benefits of advanced planning far outweigh the costs. Discover three reasons to take initiative and start planning your funeral now.
1. Gain Peace of Mind
Planning ahead is an act of love. By recording your final wishes and even pre-paying for the services, you protect your loved ones from stressful decisions and unexpected expenses during a time of grief and emotional distress. All too often, physically and emotionally drained family members take their frustrations out on each other, arguing over what would have been best for you and creating painful rifts between one another.
2. Save Money
Pre-planning saves your family money in two different ways. First, those who are emotionally charged are more likely to make impulsive decisions and overspend. Your loved ones may try to cope with your loss by purchasing lavish caskets or expensive memorial tributes that go beyond their budgets.
Secondly, inflation is unavoidable—funerals only get more expensive as time goes on. Putting a plan in place and locking in today’s funeral costs ensures your survivors are not burdened with an unexpected expense. It is truly the best value for your money.
3. Ensure Your Final Wishes are Carried Out
No two funerals are the same. Arrangements vary greatly based on faith, heritage, lifestyle and personal preferences. Do you want to be buried or cremated? Would you prefer a more traditional service or a more vibrant life celebration? Will there be a graveside ceremony or after-service gathering?
Pre-planning gives you the time needed to research your options and make practical decisions regarding all of the above. When you pre-plan with Pines Funeral, your final wishes are clearly documented and kept on file with us.
Gain peace of mind, save money and get the funeral you want by planning in advance. For more information about pre-planning arrangements, contact us for your free pre-planning kit today.
Funerals are one of the most sacred, time-honored traditions. From the beginning of time, civilizations and cultures of all kinds have practiced rituals to honor and celebrate loved ones after they pass. However, in recent years, some families have begun to question if this is still a necessary practice—particularly in cases where the death is sudden or the deceased leaves no plan in place. In these instances, foregoing a funeral may seem like a way to save time, money or heartache—but abandoning this important ritual can have serious and lasting negative impact on the lives of family members.
Celebrating Life through Funeral Services
Funerals serve two main purposes: the first is to remember that person the way we knew them in life. That’s why funeral and memorial services often incorporate personal stories, photographs, videos and personal artifacts as a tribute to the deceased. This helps us remember their life, acknowledge their death and gain support by gathering amongst a close network of loved ones.
Saying Goodbye and Beginning the Grieving Process
The second purpose of a funeral is to say goodbye. At the service, survivors must accept the reality of death—this is the first major step toward activating the grieving process, gaining closure and healing. Those who choose to forego the funeral may find it harder to move on and continue to struggle with the loss for months, years—maybe even forever. In these cases, it is common to regret not holding a funeral service and even feel guilty about not giving a loved one the life-honoring tribute they deserved.
At the end of the day, funerals are more important to the living than the deceased. They give us a chance to celebrate life while finding comfort and closure. And while funerals are a longstanding tradition, they don’t have to look or feel like it. Funerals today can be tailored to reflect the individual. They can be somber or more celebratory, depending on what you and your loved ones need to begin the healing process.
For more information about funeral services, memorial tributes and life celebrations, contact us today at 910-947-2224.
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About the author
Really great and compassionate people!