Parker Funeral Home

01/03/2023

Happy New Year! This year is a big one for us! Our first family we took care of was back in 1993 making this our 30th year in business. Today, we are beyond proud to still be of service to thousands of families and blown away by all the amazing connections we have made. Stay tuned, we have some new and exciting changes here at Parker Funeral Home!

12/22/2022

02/21/2022

This is s as Keats an option at Parker Funeral Home…

09/06/2021

This is lovely…

✨Expected Death ~ When someone dies, the first thing to do is nothing. Don't run out and call the nurse. Don't pick up the phone. Take a deep breath and be present to the magnitude of the moment.

There's a grace to being at the bedside of someone you love as they make their transition out of this world. At the moment they take their last breath, there's an incredible sacredness in the space. The veil between the worlds opens.

We're so unprepared and untrained in how to deal with death that sometimes a kind of panic response kicks in. "They're dead!"

We knew they were going to die, so their being dead is not a surprise. It's not a problem to be solved. It's very sad, but it's not cause to panic.

If anything, their death is cause to take a deep breath, to stop, and be really present to what's happening. If you're at home, maybe put on the kettle and make a cup of tea.

Sit at the bedside and just be present to the experience in the room. What's happening for you? What might be happening for them? What other presences are here that might be supporting them on their way? Tune into all the beauty and magic.

Pausing gives your soul a chance to adjust, because no matter how prepared we are, a death is still a shock. If we kick right into "do" mode, and call 911, or call the hospice, we never get a chance to absorb the enormity of the event.

Give yourself five minutes or 10 minutes, or 15 minutes just to be. You'll never get that time back again if you don't take it now.

After that, do the smallest thing you can. Call the one person who needs to be called. Engage whatever systems need to be engaged, but engage them at the very most minimal level. Move really, really, really, slowly, because this is a period where it's easy for body and soul to get separated.

Our bodies can gallop forwards, but sometimes our souls haven't caught up. If you have an opportunity to be quiet and be present, take it. Accept and acclimatize and adjust to what's happening. Then, as the train starts rolling, and all the things that happen after a death kick in, you'll be better prepared.

You won't get a chance to catch your breath later on. You need to do it now.

Being present in the moments after death is an incredible gift to yourself, it's a gift to the people you're with, and it's a gift to the person who's just died. They're just a hair's breadth away. They're just starting their new journey in the world without a body. If you keep a calm space around their body, and in the room, they're launched in a more beautiful way. It's a service to both sides of the veil.

Credit for the beautiful words ~ Sarah Kerr, Ritual Healing Practitioner and Death Doula , Death doula
Her original video link is here ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7mG0ZAym0w

Beautiful art by Columbus Community Deathcare
Always With Love

08/31/2021

My husband was on a waiting list to receive a heart. So we had discussed his wishes if anything were to happen. Unfortunately his heart quit working before we were able to complete the transplant referral process. He didn't want to "be in a box in the ground." We both decided cremation was our preferred option. My niece had heard of people planting trees with the ashes of their loved ones, so after his death, I began my internet research. There are slot of places to help people do just that, but The Living Urn provided me with a ecologically safe and affordable option. Couldn't ask for an easier process. We opted to buy a large tree to plant and had our small family memorial as we did. Thank you The Living Urn for allowing me to have a constant reminder of my husband and the love we shared. ~ Amy W.

https://www.thelivingurn.com/apps/simple-testimonials?action=view&id=3974

08/19/2021

Meredith Norton and her caring and experienced professionals at Parker and Elizabeth Funeral Homes & Crematory are here to support you through the difficult time of losing a loved one. They offer a range of personalized services to suit your family’s wishes and requirements. Her staff can assist in planning a personal, lasting tribute to your loved one while carefully guiding you through the many decisions that must be made during this challenging time. Learn more about Parker Funeral Services here https://www.pfh-co.com/ or follow them on Facebook Parker Funeral Home and Crematory

There's still time to sign up for the End of Summer Road Rally! Click here to reserve your spot TODAY! https://douglascounty.givingfuel.com/2021-road-rally-participants?registrants.source=email

06/29/2021

Overdose Death Loss: Recognizing and Responding to Complex Grief
If someone you love has died as a result of an overdose, your grief experience will be complex, and it can be complicated by the factors surrounding your relationship with your loved one, the way in which they died, and the responses you receive from others in your life.
Complicating those “expected” grief emotions might be intensified anger – at your loved one; at yourself; at friends or family who ignored or enabled your loved one’s substance use; at medical professionals and pharmaceutical companies; or at people in your loved one’s life who supplied drugs or supported their substance use.
Similarly, the sadness commonly felt after a death loss may feel more overwhelming due to the sudden and traumatic nature of an overdose death, while the loneliness many survivors experience could become isolating if your grief is unrecognized or unsupported.
https://rememberingalife.com/blog/overdose-death-loss-recognizing-and-responding-to-complex-grief

06/22/2021

Acknowledging the Anniversary of a Loved One’s Death
Purposefully acknowledging a loved one’s death anniversary can be a proactive way to balance a sense of loss over their death with a celebration of their life, and a celebration of the life shared with them. Your relationship with the deceased, what is comfortable and meaningful to you, timing (how long ago did your loved one die? day of the week, time of year), the wishes of other family members, and religion and culture all can play a role in how a death anniversary is observed.
How have you acknowledged the anniversary of the death of someone you love?
Learn about some meaningful ways to acknowledge the anniversary of a loved one's death in this blog post by Elizabeth Lewis.
https://rememberingalife.com/blog/acknowledging-the-anniversary-of-a-loved-ones-death

Purposefully acknowledging a loved one’s death anniversary can be a proactive way to balance a sense of loss over their death with a celebration of th

06/15/2021

In Sadness and Celebration: Acknowledging Special Days
Although the sense of loss often experienced on special day anniversaries can make us feel as if we are taking a step backward in the grieving process, another perspective can be to see such days as an invitation to come to terms on a deeper level with our grief. Creating flexible yet consistent special day rituals can act as a doorway to both honoring our pain and celebrating our loved one’s life.
How do you acknowledge special days, such as birthdays, anniversaries and holidays, that you used to spend with your loved one?
https://rememberingalife.com/blog/in-sadness-and-celebration-acknowledging-special-days

On the day of the morning my sister Paula died, my mother, sister Anita and I went out for ice cream. We had been at Paula’s deathbed for a week, had

06/10/2021

Waking Up to Gratitude
We all know this has been a difficult year. Gathering restrictions and the desire to keep our family members and friends safe have often prevented us from being with the people we love. In spite of that, and perhaps even BECAUSE of that, Dr. Alan Wolfelt invites us to consider the people and experiences for which we are most grateful - even during these difficult days.
For what and for whom are you grateful today?
https://rememberingalife.com/blog/waking-up-to-gratitude

Before COVID-19 changed all of our lives, my busy travel and teaching schedule had me hopping. Most mornings after I woke up, I went straight to work.

06/08/2021

Surviving Su***de Loss
While the prevalence of su***de in our culture is in itself tragic, the grief of losing a loved one to su***de is often overwhelmingly isolating and, literally, unspeakable. After the death of a loved one to su***de, we may feel untethered from our understanding of the world, encased in shock that weighs on us like a block of ice, only to reach out for support that we may not receive.
If you've experienced the death of a loved one by su***de or know of someone who has, learn more about surviving su***de loss from Dr. Sara Murphy.
https://rememberingalife.com/blog/surviving-su***de-loss

In 2018, su***de was the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. That statistic alone is troubling, but su***de is also the second leading cause of de

06/03/2021

Loss in a Pandemic: A Year of Mourning
Just over one year ago, we knew so little about how our world would soon be turned upside down. During the past months, we’ve experienced tremendous loss, both personally in our networks of family and friends and collectively within our communities and as a nation.
Whether we’re mourning the death of a loved one or struggling with not being able to see family and friends, our grief is real and powerful. But, according to Dr. Sara Murphy, so is our ability to begin to heal. In this post, Dr. Murphy invites us to reflect on our year of loss and look to the future by focusing on three words that can give us purpose and hope.
https://rememberingalife.com/blog/loss-in-a-pandemic-a-year-of-mourning

Love and loss are inextricably linked phenomena. Without one, we do not truly experience the other. In this year of mourning, we must remember and hol

06/01/2021

Never Too Late: Memorial Services After Pandemic
If you weren't able to have the service you would have liked for a loved one who died during the pandemic, it's never too late to plan a meaningful tribute that can be safely held in the future. In this blog post, Dr. Sara Murphy invites us to consider how a gathering of friends and family can help us remember and honor the person we love.
https://rememberingalife.com/blog/never-too-late-memorial-services-after-pandemic

Over this past year, I’ve witnessed extensive frustration amongst bereaved persons who struggle with making the “right choice” in planning funeral ser

05/28/2021

For Memorial Day, we’re thinking of and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe.

05/26/2021

How do you want your loved ones to remember you when you’re gone? Whether you want them to remember you for your love of tradition, your
sense of adventure, or any other quality that makes you unique, we can create a service that honors exactly who you are. Give us a call at
303-841-4004 to talk to our staff about preplanning your funeral

04/06/2021

COVID-19 Reimbursement