Most commonly, an end-of-life ceremony will be called a “funeral,” a “memorial service,” or a “celebration of life.” All these terms refer to the ritual of family and friends gathering when a loved one has died.
If you have just experienced the death of a beloved pet, you are probably faced with the need to make an immediate decision of what to do next. We ask you to take a moment to pause, breath, and call us at Heavenly Paws at (272) 236–1841 to discuss all your options and make a final decision that ultimately brings you and your family the comfort you need.
When your pet dies, it is common to experience a variety of emotions, including, sadness, anger, fear, and most of all denial. It is hard to imagine your life without your beloved pet. As humans, we try to lessen the hurt by simply moving on without any type of final farewell or ceremony to avoid the emotions that often accompany a funeral. However, there is value in viewing the body of a beloved pet or gathering to support one another. These rituals can help family and friends acknowledge the loss which is the first step in healing. Heavenly Paws Pet Funeral Home and Crematory is just as our name states. We offer many different services and are here to guide you, but most of all, to listen to you as a pet family and plan a service that fits you and your pets’ personal needs.
You and your family may choose to have a private viewing in our chapel or comfort room. This opportunity gives a small group of family and friends the opportunity to grieve in a more private setting. Or your family may choose a public viewing to give extended family and friends the opportunity to gather in a shared environment.
The primary importance of a ceremony lies in honoring the life lived and allowing the people whose lives were touched to share in the loss and support one another. We can help you plan a ceremony with your pet’s body present or have the urn displayed. The atmosphere can be as formal or relaxed as you feel comfortable, ultimately creating a safe place to share memories, express emotions, and find comforting support.
Animals that become our companions quickly become our best friends and are part of our family. The bond with a beloved pet runs so deep that it can ultimately change who we are after they are gone. Let us at Heavenly Paws help you memorialize your pet by assisting you with writing your pet’s obituary, design a life tribute video, or acquire a forever keepsake such as fur clippings, ink paw prints, personalized candles, or a paw print impression. Unfortunately, all living things must die and we hope that our funeral home and the services we offer will help draw upon the love you shared with your pet and minimize the grief and pain left behind.