Blog | Roupp Funeral Home (2024)

By Crystal Statskey • 11 Dec, 2023

It’s that time of year again. Grief in and of itself is bad enough, but it can be magnified when the holidays roll around. That's mainly because the holiday season is filled with reminders of the one you lost, as you're surrounded by others who have their loved ones with them and are celebrating a season of joy and togetherness. Movies can add to that feeling of loneliness during the holidays . And picking the right holiday movie that won’t be triggering can be tricky. Some movies can evoke a good cry, others can be nostalgic and bring back good memories of those you’ve watched them with in the past. And then there are those movies that are purely to escape. If you’re grieving this holiday season, we’ve put together our top 10 Christmas movies for those who are grieving to get you through this difficult time of year! 1.Miracle on 34th Street This movie is about opening your heart and letting your inner child believe in miracles and feel the hope and kindness Santa is meant to spread. It’s a great film for those of us who are sick of feeling sad, bitter, or cynical from grieving . 2. Home Alone Whether you count it as a Christmas movie or not, Home Alone is a great demonstration of persistence. Persistence can be defined as the act of continuing onward despite difficulty or opposition. 3. Elf This feel-good movie is full of laughs, romance, and self-discovery and has just the right amount of silliness to take your mind off your troubles. 4. How The Grinch Stole Christmas The Grinch is angry and stays far away from others for the duration of the movie. He initially thinks that stealing Christmas will cause him to feel better. Come to find out, anger was the secondary emotion that was protecting him from the underlying hurt that he felt. That’s exactly how grief can make us feel. It causes us to withdraw or act differently towards others so, in a way, the Grinch may feel very relatable. 5. Gremlins Ok, so we beg to differ whether this is a Christmas movie or not but regardless, it’s a classic. It’s a movie for pure escapism and something that will give a good thrill to get your mind off things even if it’s just for a few hours. 6. Frosty the Snowman This is a great movie to reflect on our childhood. If you haven’t seen it in a while, you may have forgotten that the jolly, happy snowman melts at the end. The children who love Frosty must deal with losing a loved one, just like we are. 7. A Christmas Story People are going to question you and your abilities throughout your life, just like Ralphie is questioned by the bully. This does not mean that you need to question yourself. You are the expert in your life and your decisions. The holidays and the new year are a perfect time to reconnect not only with friends and family but with yourself and your values. You might be amazed at how others can help you during your time of grief. 8. The Nightmare Before Christmas We’d like to label this another movie for pure escapism and just fun. This is a Christmas fantasy movie like no other, and the songs from Danny Elfman are delicious without being overly sweet. 9. It’s a Wonderful Life Comparing your life to the lives of others is an urge that often comes at the price of your own mental well-being. When you compare yourself to others, often you end up feeling inadequate and potentially even depressed and anxious. This movie serves as a reminder that the world would not be a better place without you. You may not always know the positive impact that you have on others. 10. Almost Christmas Initially, the characters in this movie are isolated in their own grief. This is an acknowledgment that it’s hard to connect with others when we’re feeling a loss. It’s easier for us to lash out in anger or stay in denial. However, once we allow others in, the knowledge that we’re not alone can be incredibly healing. It makes the burden of grief just a little bit easier to carry. Perhaps the lessons in these movies resonate with you and give you a new perspective on your grief this Christmas season. Throughout the holidays, keep in mind that grief takes time. It’s okay if you aren’t feeling 100 percent or if you need to bow out of a few engagements. You’ll need to give yourself grace while you’re grieving. But remember – you need joy to balance out your grief as you learn how to live life again and find your new normal. This winter, come join us at Roupp Funeral Home for our 13-week GriefShare program. This Grief Support Group is happening every Tuesday at 6:30 pm starting December 5th through February 27th. The program is offered at no cost and you may register at any time. If you’d like more information on how to attend, please contact us or visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/roupp-funeral-home-36200047863

By Crystal Statskey • 27 Nov, 2023

once the death has been legally pronounced, many decisions must be made. At this time, you may find your emotions are heightened, and for that reason, it is a good idea to ask for help in making all the decisions and arrangements. Additionally, the funeral home’s staff is eager to assist you and the family in making the best decisions possible. This information can help guide you and your family throughout the process. Contact The Proper Authorities Before any arrangements and decisions can be made, a legal pronouncement of death must be declared. If your loved one dies inside a medical or nursing facility like a hospital or nursing home, the staff will handle getting this declaration made. If your loved one dies at home, you need to immediately contact the local emergency officials to either take them to a hospital or contact the local coroner, both of whom are legally able to declare the time of death. Family members who die under hospice care can be declared by the hospice staff. If the hospice nurse is not present at the time of death, they need to be contacted. This legal declaration must be made before the family can proceed with making any funeral arrangements or handling any legal affairs. Begin To Make Arrangements Once the death has been legally pronounced, you and your family can proceed with making any type of funeral arrangements. Your loved one may have pre-planned their service, and you and your family should first look into their wishes. If your loved one has not made any previous type of arrangements, and you have decided on which funeral home you would like to use for the services, you will contact them and meet with the funeral director and begin discussing options. During this time, if the deceased hasn’t made their final wishes known, the family will need to decide if they will have a full burial or cremation of the body, and what type of service should be held. These decisions include the time, date, and location of any service; what type of casket or urn your loved one needs; drafting an obituary notice; deciding on pallbearers; and making any decisions about the specifics of the service like who the minister will be, what music will be played and who will speak. As part of the process to begin making the funeral arrangements, if the deceased was active or retired military, contact the Veterans Administration to determine if they offer any death benefits or service options. Information Funeral Directors May Need Prior to meeting with the funeral director, they will advise you on any information or paperwork they need for the death certificate or to proceed with making final arrangements. Deceased Information Required: Full name and address Marital status Race/Ethnicity Date and city of birth Highest level of education Father’s name, mother’s full maiden name Name of spouse Occupation and employer Social security number Documents Funeral Directors May Need Funeral directors will need important documents to complete any legal paperwork. These documents include: Burial Account statements Beneficiary designations Life insurance policies Military discharge papers (form DD 214) Taking Care Of Personal Property Following the death of your loved one, there are a few things you need to attend to involving the deceased’s personal life. First, secure your loved one’s property. Make sure their home and vehicle are properly secure. If your loved one has a pet, make the necessary arrangements for the pet to be taken care of by family or friends. Any mail that comes to your loved one should be forwarded to a family member who plans to handle the deceased’s estate. Any mail that piles up at a vacant home only alarms potential intruders that a home is empty. Make sure to contact the deceased’s boss and inform them of the death. If your loved one has any upcoming appointments, make contact to notify them about the death and to cancel the appointment. If a death has just occurred, first, let us express our deepest sympathy for your loss, and know that we are here for you and your family during this difficult time. If you've not done so, please call us at 570-966-2402 day or night. We will make arrangements to bring your loved one into our care and will set a time for you and your family to come to the funeral home to begin the funeral arrangements. If you would like, filling out the form here will help us gather the information we need to begin more quickly. If your loved one has passed, please call the funeral home in addition to this form, so we may assist you in a timely manner. Click here to fill out now.

By Crystal Statskey • 13 Nov, 2023

Death away from home is very unexpected, but it does happen. The process of handling funeral arrangements is already complicated and stressful, but knowing what to do when this happens away from home can help family members responsible for making any arrangements. Whether you’re an avid traveler or traveling for the holidays, this is some good information to know! ‍ The first step when a loved one dies away from home would be contacting the funeral director at your local facility. He or she will be able to advise you on the best course of action in dealing with this situation. There are different scenarios depending on the country or state the death has occurred. Death inside the United States When the death occurs within the United States, the family has the option to transport the body back to the home state or town. This usually requires the use of two funeral homes to provide a part of the services. The first funeral home at the location of death will collect and prepare the body for transport and the second funeral home will receive the body and conduct any services the family would like to hold. Many life and funeral insurance policies include out-of-town death transport add-ons. If you are an avid traveler, this may be something worth considering to cover transport fees. Death outside the United States When a death occurs outside of the United States, the family can have the body returned. The preparation and shipment will be done according to the laws and customs of the country where the death occurred. Embalming isn’t widely practiced in other countries, however, there are other methods to prepare the body for shipment. The family will also have the option to bury the deceased in the country where the death occurred or have the remains cremated and returned to the United States through the mail or air services with the family. Planning Ahead Not everyone likes to plan ahead, but pre-planning your funeral arrangements not only gives you peace of mind about your final wishes being honored but also alleviates some of the stress and burden your loved ones will go through no matter where the death occurs. The staff of Roupp Funeral Home is happy to assist you with your pre-planning arrangements by helping you make decisions about your funeral service in advance and guiding you in helping eliminate some of the unnecessary stress brought on by a loved one’s death. Contact us today!

By Crystal Statskey • 30 Oct, 2023

Many of us are unsure about what encouraging words to say to the family or how to interact and respond to their feelings of sorrow. Knowing a few funeral etiquette rules can help anyone be more comfortable in both a funeral and visitation setting. Here are a few of the most popular questions we’re asked and our answers to help you: When Should I Visit? Once you learn of someone’s death, visiting the family at their home is appropriate, but the funeral home is the best place to visit with family members and offer your condolences. For anyone wanting to visit and offer assistance to the family before services are held, these actions can provide additional comfort. Offering to bring food, and household necessities, assist with childcare, and handle any errands or chores are a few of the things you can do to assist the grieving family. What Should I Say? This is the most common question asked by someone wanting to pay their respects. While no words can adequately express the depth of a loss, offering a few kind words to the family of the deceased lets them know you care. Try to avoid airing your grievances or saying the deceased is in a better place now. Where Should I Sit? Many people attend funeral services and are unfamiliar with seating arrangements. Typically, at both the funeral and visitation service, the first rows of seats are reserved for family members. If you are not a part of the family, choose a seat behind the reserved seating. What Should I Do? Arriving on time is very important. When entering either the funeral home or another location, enter as quietly as possible. If you are attending the visitation, speak to the surviving family members and offer your condolences before taking a seat. Cellphone use during a service is inappropriate. If you feel you must answer a message or call, excuse yourself and walk into another room or outside. What Should I Do About Children? While there isn’t a definite answer to this question, a child attending a visitation or funeral service depends on the situation or relationship to the deceased and their family, as well as the age of the child and whether or not they can appropriately behave. If you decide to take your child to any service, explain what will occur while at the service and how they should act during that time. What Should I Give? Sending flowers to the funeral home or home is an appropriate way to offer condolences. In some cases, the family members may ask for donations to be made to a particular foundation in place of flowers, and those wishes should be honored. Bringing food to the grieving family is another way to show respect to those who are suffering from the loss. A less expensive and completely appropriate option would be to send the family a sympathy card. There is no specific time or expiration on when cards can be sent. The staff at Roupp Funeral Home takes great pride in caring for you and your family. We have a wide range of resources to support you not only today but in the weeks and months to come. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any additional questions and let us know how we can support you during this time.

By Crystal Statskey • 16 Oct, 2023

The Fall season has officially arrived. The weather is getting cooler, the leaves are starting to turn into beautiful colors. For some, this brings a feeling of happiness and peace. For others, it can cause those feelings of grief to hit like a freight train all over again. The beauty of nature can appear dim and uninspiring. Color that would normally make your heartbeat skip for the sheer beauty of it, goes unnoticed. The longer nights, less sunshine, and spending more time indoors can all have profound effects on grief. Many describe this feeling as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which can happen to anyone. And if you are grieving a loss, the resulting moodiness, fatigue, and hopelessness from the seasons changing can become even more pronounced. It’s important to keep yourself busy during this time. So, let’s take a moment to focus less on the 'why' or the “how” and more on the quick tips for what you can do to beat these feelings. Keep away the cold weather blues with some of these ideas to keep you busy this Fall and Winter: Write a list of cold weather activities you enjoy, so you can refer to it when the hibernation funk sets in. Write a list of indoor projects you want to accomplish this winter, to keep you motivated and inspired. Create a scrapbook or memory book in honor of your loved one. Start working on the memorial or legacy project you want to do (a memorial celebration, scholarship fund, memorial walk, etc). Make a list of people you have lost touch with who you want to reach out to by phone, email, or social media. Make a plan to start sorting through your loved one's belongings if you have been putting it off and want to do it. Go through and organize, scan, print, etc old photographs (of your loved one or otherwise). Make a list of shows and movies you want to watch, so when you are watching TV it is things you enjoy/value and not just mindless channel surfing. Just remember to set some boundaries. Too much TV can be an unhealthy escape. Stock up on puzzles, books, and materials for arts and crafts. Find a grief support group to help you through the season. You can find the ones we offer here: https://www.rouppfuneralhome.com/grief-support/local-grief-resources If you find yourself disengaged with others, nature, and even yourself, just remember that the thing about seasons is that they change. Slowly, the summer heat subsides, and Fall breezes and gentle cleansing showers refresh the dry, dusty environment. Fall offers a season of reflection on our grief. The change in the seasons, assures us that our grief will change too. But grief is different than seasons in that we can make choices that will help us grieve through each change with intentionality. Seasons don’t have that choice. We know that every person is different, and so is their grief. Each person will follow a different path toward healing. If you are in search of grief support and would like to learn more about your options, please visit our grief resources page. Click here.

By Crystal Statskey • 02 Oct, 2023

The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos), is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink, and celebration.