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Funeral Preplanning: The Essential Guide to Giving Your Family Peace of Mind

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:47:38 GMT

Funeral costs can surpass $10,000, and funeral preplanning is one way to avoid financial strain on your loved ones. The median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial was $9,420 in 2021. Planning your funeral in advance will give your wishes the honor they deserve. It also relieves your family from making difficult decisions during grief. We’ve created this funeral pre planning guide to walk you through the steps and cover financial advantages along with common questions about pre-planning your funeral.

What Is Funeral Preplanning and Why It Matters

Preplanning involves making your end-of-life arrangements before the need arises. Funeral preplanning means outlining the details of your funeral or cremation service, selecting merchandise, and documenting your wishes while you have time to think things through. This proactive approach spares your family from guessing what you would have wanted during an already overwhelming period.

Funeral preplanning vs. at-need planning

The difference between pre-need and at-need planning extends beyond just timing. Pre-need funeral services involve planning and arranging funeral details in advance, often years before they are needed . You can specify priorities for the ceremony type, select a casket or urn, and add personal touches that reflect your personality and values.

At-need arrangements happen right after a person passes away. Families must coordinate everything within a short timeframe and make quick decisions while they traverse their grief. You can think in chapters when you have time to plan ahead. You’re often thinking in hours when you’re at-need.

At-need planning involves:

Making all funeral arrangements within days of death
Juggling pronouncement, transportation, authorizations and permits at once
Coordinating with relatives while still in shock
Selecting disposition methods and service details under time pressure

Emotions run high and time is short during at-need situations. Families face financial concerns that add stress to everything else. Pre-need planning eliminates this rush and allows you to research funeral homes, compare options, and make sound decisions without the cloud of grief affecting your judgment.

Who should think about pre-planning a funeral

The straightforward answer: anyone who wants to remove the burden from their loved ones should think about planning their funeral in advance. Funeral preplanning isn’t reserved for older people or those facing terminal illness. Many of us plan weddings, children’s education and family vacations well in advance. We purchase home, auto and medical insurance for unexpected events. Planning your funeral follows the same logic.

People at any life stage can benefit from preplanning. Some people choose this path after watching someone they love scramble through decisions while grief was still fresh. Others preplan because they have specific priorities they want honored, or because they refuse to leave a major financial burden behind for their loved ones.

The emotional effect on families

Families experience relief from the stress of making urgent arrangements when a funeral is preplanned. They don’t have to guess what their loved one would have wanted or guide complicated choices while coping with loss. This eliminates the need to make urgent decisions during an emotionally charged period.

Preplanning removes uncertainty that often guides family disagreements. Family members may struggle with conflicting opinions about burial priorities, religious elements or the tone of the service without documented plans. These disagreements, though rooted in love, can cause unnecessary tension. You provide clear guidance that allows your family members to focus on supporting each other rather than worrying about funeral logistics by outlining priorities ahead of time.

The space preplanning creates for genuine mourning is just as important. Grief and loss are distressing, but structured planning serves as a step toward healing. Your loved ones can spend precious moments together and honor your life rather than scrambling to make arrangements. They gain the freedom to grieve without the added weight of logistical concerns. Family members find peace knowing everything was arranged according to your wishes instead of feeling uncertain about whether they made the right choices.

Key Benefits of Pre-Planning a Funeral for Your Family

Taking the step to plan your funeral in advance creates ripple effects that extend far beyond checking items off a list. The benefits touch every aspect of how your family will experience your passing, from their emotional well-being to knowing how to honor your memory without added complications.

Reducing stress and emotional burden during grief

Grief adds unnecessary weight to an already heavy situation when decisions must be made. After someone dies, many decisions must be made quickly. Family members don’t have the luxury of time to compare services, facilities and prices . Preplanning gives you the time you need to consider the myriad of decisions around your funeral and final disposition. You can think clearly and think over your choices without pressure.

The chaotic emotional turbulence that follows loss can make practical decision-making effortful. Your family faces overwhelming emotions coupled with the pressure of making critical decisions. Outlining priorities ahead of time spares them from this additional distress during an already difficult moment. They gain space to mourn, connect and reflect. Everything is already thoughtfully documented rather than scrambling to select readings, music or service priorities in the wake of loss.

Preventing family disagreements and conflict

One of the most common sources of tension after a death involves conflicting opinions on funeral arrangements . What happens if one person wants a more secular funeral while another expects a religious service? Or what if multiple family members insist that they’ll be the one to make the eulogy? Perhaps someone wishes their loved one to be cremated while another plans a burial. These differing ideas become formulas for a fight.

Making decisions in advance and documenting these wishes accomplishes clarity that simplifies what could otherwise be a cumbersome process. Your family will want to honor your wishes even if some members still have ideas of how to do things differently. There will be less space for a fight to develop because you’ve given them the blueprint to your funeral and final disposition. Preplanning documents serve as a reference point to resolve disagreements in situations where family members may have different opinions on funeral arrangements.

Making sure your personal wishes are honored

Wills often go unchecked until after funeral decisions need to be made and this can leave your last wishes unfulfilled. Discrepancies between your desires and family traditions can lead to overlooked funeral priorities and add emotional strain to your loved ones. Without documented plans, the responsibility for determining your funeral and burial rests with your loved ones. Disputes could arise between family members over what you would have wanted.

A legally binding document allows you to appoint a trusted representative to oversee your arrangements and manage the disposition of your remains after death. This approach offers a two-fold benefit: it outlines your priorities and grants legal authority to your chosen agent. Your instructions are carried out easily. Storing your declaration among your estate planning documents makes it accessible for those responsible for implementing your final wishes.

Providing clear direction in difficult times

Families often worry about whether they’re making the right choices for a loved one’s funeral planning. Without a blueprint to lead them through the funeral planning, they may have concerns about whether they’re creating the funeral that you wanted. Pre-established priorities minimize potential conflicts and allow your loved ones to come together to celebrate your life in harmony. This unified approach supports the grieving process and reinforces familial ties during a period of loss.

The financial implications of funeral preplanning extend well beyond budgeting. You lock in arrangements ahead of time and activate several monetary protections that shelter your family from major expenses.

Financial Advantages of Funeral Pre-Planning

Locking in current prices and avoiding inflation

Funeral costs have climbed steadily over decades. Average funeral prices rose 100% from 1991 to 2021 and outpaced general inflation rates. You purchase a prepaid funeral plan with price guarantees and secure current costs whatever future increases may come. To cite an instance, you select a casket priced at $3,000 today and that same item costs $5,000 at the time you pass. Your loved ones won’t pay the additional $2,000.

The mechanism works through pre-need contracts where you choose exact services and pay at current rates. Your money goes into state-regulated trusts or insurance policies and remains protected until needed. A trustworthy provider offers itemized lists that specify which costs carry price guarantees and which don’t. Guaranteed plans lock in prices for specified goods and services. Nonguaranteed plans leave your family responsible for bridging price gaps.

Managing funeral costs with payment plans

Prepaid arrangements offer payment flexibility beyond what at-need situations allow. You can settle costs through one lump-sum payment or installments over time. Many funeral homes structure payment periods between 12 and 36 months and make services more manageable within monthly budgets. Families face immediate need and often must pay entire costs upfront. This creates financial strain. Advance planning removes this pressure.

Payment goes into interest-bearing trust accounts where funds can grow over time. Your family might use accrued interest to enhance the service or cover price increases not included in guarantees.

Hidden costs you can avoid with advance planning

Grief creates conditions for overspending. You make calm decisions based on priorities and budget rather than emotion without time pressure or emotional distress clouding judgment. Families often feel compelled to provide grand farewells and spend beyond what you would have wanted. Pre-planning establishes budget boundaries and helps loved ones avoid unnecessary expenses and potential funeral debts.

How to Create Your Funeral Pre-Planning Checklist

Creating a funeral pre planning checklist changes abstract intentions into concrete arrangements. The checklist itself gives structure during a topic most people prefer to avoid and helps you record priorities while covering details without overwhelm.

Burial or cremation

You need to select your final disposition preference first. Your biggest options include traditional burial, cremation, green burial or anatomical donation. State your choice clearly to avoid uncertainty among family members. Burial involves selecting a casket and choosing a cemetery. You’ll also decide between above-ground and below-ground interment. Cremation requires choosing a cremation container and deciding on an urn style and material. You can add personalization requests. Green burial offers eco-friendly options for those with environmental values.

Service type and location

Choose the location and type of service that reflects your priorities. Common venues include funeral homes, churches, private residences and outdoor settings like parks or gardens. Funeral homes offer clean, company-ready spaces with ample parking and equipment to support any service type. Churches work well at the time religious affiliation plays a central role. Community centers provide budget-friendly flexibility. Select both a first and alternate choice. Document contact information for each venue. Decide whether you want a traditional funeral service with the body present, a memorial service after disposition, a graveside ceremony or a celebration of life gathering.

Memorial details and personalization

Personalization changes a standard service into a meaningful tribute. Select music, hymns or songs that held significance in your life. Choose photographs, memorabilia and personal items for display. Think over customs, traditions or religious rites important to you and your family. Decide on clothing you’d like to be dressed in for viewing. Select floral arrangements or request charitable donations instead. Brainstorm ways to pay tribute to your accomplishments and hobbies through themed elements, memory tables or symbolic gestures.

Your wishes and sharing with family

Put your priorities in writing through a detailed funeral plan outlining specific service wishes. Store documents using cloud services where family members and your chosen funeral home can access them. Select the core team responsible for ensuring your wishes are followed and provide them with documents and clear instructions. Host a family meeting to discuss plans openly and address questions. Verbal instructions alone prove insufficient since loved ones may forget or disagree on what you said.

Cremation and funeral preplanning considerations

Decide on final disposition methods for cremated remains, such as burial in a cemetery plot, placement in a columbarium niche or scattering in designated locations. Choose who should manage your cremated remains and whether you want the cremation witnessed by family. Select memorial markers, whether plaques, stones or sculptures. Think over durability and personalization through inscriptions and symbols.

We have green options to choose from at Bradbury Memorial Center.

Common Questions and Misconceptions About Planning Your Funeral

Several misconceptions prevent people from planning their funerals in advance. These misunderstandings, once cleared up, help you make informed decisions without unnecessary hesitation.

Is funeral preplanning only for older people

This represents one of the most persistent myths about funeral preplanning. Adults of any age benefit from advance planning. Life remains unpredictable whatever your current health status or age bracket. Preplanning stands as a thoughtful act of responsibility whether you’re 35 or 85. Many people plan weddings, education funds and vacations years ahead. Funeral preplanning follows similar reasoning. Planning while healthy allows clear thinking. Pressure or emotional distress won’t affect your choices.

Can you change your plans later

Most plans can be changed, as with how you revise a will before passing. Funeral homes recognize that priorities move due to family dynamics, financial situations or personal beliefs. Contact your funeral home to discuss revisions and any financial implications tied to updates. Document changes through addendums to your original agreement. Communicate modifications to family members to prevent confusion during grief. Changes remain possible in most cases, though modifications may affect original guarantee terms.

What happens if you move to a different area

Portability is possible but not automatic. Transferring remains simple through notification to your preferred funeral home if you only made plans without prefunding. Prefunded arrangements require additional steps. Insurance-funded plans offer more flexibility since coverage remains nationwide in most cases. Ask your specific provider what happens to your plan if relocating to your new state, then request written confirmation.

Conclusion

Funeral preplanning might feel uncomfortable at first, but as shown above, the benefits outweigh any original hesitation by a long shot. You protect your family from financial strain and spare them from difficult decisions during grief. Your personal wishes are honored as you intended.

Preplanning is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give your loved ones when all things are taken into account. Whether you’re 35 or 85, taking time now to document your priorities means your family can focus on celebrating your life. They won’t scramble through logistics.

Start with the checklist we’ve provided and compare funeral home options. Have those important conversations with your family today.

National Pet Week

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:47:37 GMT

The first full week of May is National Pet Week which gives us a chance to reflect on our furry family members. They wait for us to get home and make the day brighter. Pets love us unconditionally and bring comfort in even the most trying of times. Our pets feel what we feel and have their own range of emotions as well. It’s important to remember pets can grieve when they lose someone that they are close to.

There are many different pets that we love and share our homes with such as rabbits, guinea pigs, cats, and of course dogs. This week is a reminder to take care of our furry companions and make sure their needs are met. May 2- 8th is not only National Pet Week but also Dog Anxiety Awareness Week. May 8th is National Dog Mom’s Day and May 9th is National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day. Cat enthusiasts will appreciate June 4th is Hug Your Cat Day and June 24th as Cat World Domination Day.

We also want to take the time to inform you about ways to help your pets during the loss of their beloved owner. Pets benefit from spending as much time as possible with their loved ones before they pass. Pets are very attuned to what is happening with our bodies and this will help them start the grief process. Pets benefit from having an item that belonged to their loved one with their scent on it after they pass. At Bradbury Memorial Center we include the pet family members when their human passes away and provide a pet grief gift.

There are also many resources out there to help us when we lose our furry family members. In our local area, the WAHS (Wester Arizona Humane Society) holds a support group meeting. The meeting is on the second Monday of every month at 2 pm. The meeting is free but limited, so RSVP to Beth Pohl 928-854-4200 or Pastor Sandy Johnson 928-855-0323.

AVMA

NATIONAL DOG MOM’S DAY

Funeral – Know your rights.

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:47:35 GMT

The Funeral Rule and The Consumer Guide

What is ‘The Funeral Rule’?

The Funeral Rule affects all funeral providers and is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission.

The Rule makes it possible for the consumer to choose only those goods and services they want or need and to pay only for those they select, whether they are deciding arrangements after a death occurs, or pre-planning in advance.

The Rule allows consumers to compare prices among funeral homes and select funeral arrangements they want at the funeral provider of their choice.

The Rule does not apply to third-party sellers, such as casket and monument dealers, or to the cemeteries that lack an on-site funeral home.

The Rule requires funeral providers to give consumers accurate, itemized price information and various other disclosures about funeral goods and services.

The Rule prohibits funeral providers from:

Misrepresenting legal, crematory and cemetery requirements
Embalming for a fee without permission
Requiring the purchase of a casket for direct cremation
Requiring consumers to buy certain funeral goods or services as a condition for furnishing other funeral goods or services, and
Engaging in other deceptive or unfair practices.

The Rule pertains to both pre-need and at-need scenarios. The Rule went into effect in 1984, pre-need arrangement contracts signed before that time are not subject to The Rule unless it has been updated after 1984.

The Rule states the funeral provider cannot refuse to handle a casket or urn you bought online, at a local casket store, or somewhere else – or charge a fee to do it. Furthermore, the funeral home cannot require you to be there when the casket or urn is delivered to them.

The Rule: The General Price List

The General Price List enables consumers to more easily comparison shop and to purchase, on an itemized basis, only the goods and services of their choosing.

It is the law – funeral providers must give the General Price List to anyone who asks, in person, about funeral goods, funeral services, or the prices of such.

The funeral providers are required to provide accurate price information on the phone if requested to do so. Callers are not required to provide their name, address, or telephone number.
Funeral providers, however, are not required to provide the General Price List to consumers who have telephoned or mailed for inquiry unless followed up with an in-person meeting.

Helpful hint: most funeral providers will email the General Price List and other pertinent information upon request.

The Rule: Required Information on the General Price List

Name, address; and telephone number of the funeral provider’s place of business(es); the caption ‘General Price List’; and the effective date of the pricelist.

The Rule: There are six disclosures required on the General Price List:

The consumer’s right to select only the goods and services desired.
The law does not require embalming and may not be necessary in certain situations, such as direct burial or direct cremation.

Helpful hint : Public viewings and airline transport are times when embalming is ideal or required.

Alternative containers can be used for direct cremation, a casket is not required.

Helpful hint: Not all providers include the alternative container in their package pricing.

Helpful hint: A rigid, combustible container is required by law for cremation.

The Basic Services Fee pertains to the fee for the professional services of the funeral director and staff.

Helpful hint: The Basic Services Fee often is included in the provider’s package pricing.

The Casket Price List price range and availability.

Helpful hint: Despite the required notation on the General Price List, some providers have a separate, more detailed Casket Price List, selection list, or flip books, at the funeral home.

The Outer Burial Container Price List

Helpful hint: Funeral providers without a cemetery, and who do not sell these items, are therefore exempt from the required notation of the Outer Burial Container Price List on their General Price List disclosures.

The Rule: The Statement of Funeral Goods and Services is an itemized list that the consumer has selected during the arrangements meeting. It includes detailed cost information.

Helpful hint: The categories listed on the Statement of Funeral Goods and Services generally correspond to the items listed on the funeral provider’s General Price List.

The Rule: Cash advance/cash disbursement/accommodation items may be listed separately on the Statement of Goods and Services as they are most often a third-party that is paid by the funeral provider on the consumer’s behalf.

Helpful hint: These items include pallbearers, public transportation, clergy honoraria, flowers, musicians or singers, obituary publications, gratuities, death certificates, etc.

For more information about the FTC Funeral Rule visit https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0300-ftc-funeral-rule

For more information about “Shopping for Funeral Services” visit https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/system/files/publications/pdf-0056-funerals.pdf

What is the ‘Consumer Guide to Arizona Funerals Information’?

The Consumer Guide to Arizona Funerals Information brochure is a helpful collection of information designed to inform consumers about end-of-life arrangements.

It is the law – funeral providers must give the “Consumer Guide to Arizona Funerals Information” brochure to consumers.

The Consumer Guide is a quick overview and definitions for understanding autopsies, caskets, cemetery requirements, cremation requirements, body donation, embalming, funeral arrangements, and prearranged funeral plans.

For more information about the Consumer Guide to Arizona Funerals Information visit https://funeralboard.az.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/Consumer%20Guide.pdf

How many death certificates do I really need?

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:47:34 GMT

The death certificate provides pertinent identifying information about a deceased individual including their certified time, place, and cause of death. Most often, the death certificate serves as proof for legal purposes. These purposes range from estate settlement after death too if a widow wishes to remarry.

It is the decedent’s assets that will determine the number of death certificates that will be needed . An average of 6 to 10 death certificates could be needed, with most emphasis on 10, according to web sources. At Bradbury Memorial Center, we simply pass along the state’s death certificate costs, which are $20/each.

Typically, when a death record has been completed and filed, the death certificates can be ordered. On average, the death certificates can arrive within 6 to 10 days after ordering. However, in some counties, the process can take as long as a month. Notably, the death record/death certificate process overall can be delayed for cases pending autopsy results, toxicology results, or anything else required to determine an individual’s cause of death.

A death certificate will be required to access a deceased person’s bank account. Unless you are the other person named on a joint account, it is illegal to withdraw money from an open bank account of someone who has died before the next of kin notifies the bank of the death and has been granted probate. This is the case even if there is a need to access the bank account to pay for the funeral or funeral home services.

Accounts types that usually require a death certificate:

Property/land transfers, or property tax payments

Real estate (if it is held in survivorship, in a trust, or with a transfer-on-death designation)

Vehicles such as cars, trucks, boats, motorhomes, etc.

Anything else with titles or deeds

Bank Accounts

Safety deposit boxes

Credit card accounts

Death benefits from employers, pension programs, social security, etc.

U.S. military veterans’ survivor benefits

Insurance policies

Life insurance

Preneed insurance

AD&D Insurance – Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance

Home and automobile insurance

Probate/Wills/Trusts

Lawyers

Stocks/Bonds

Mutual funds

ETFs – exchange-traded funds

Savings bonds

Annuities

IRAs – Individual Retirement Account

401(k)s and employer death benefits

The legalities involved:

(According to Arizona Administrative Code R9-19-314 and R9-19-315)

Arizona is a “closed record” state. This means vital records, such as the death certificate, are not public records . The confidentiality of citizens is protected under Arizona law and its restrictions on the public’s access to vital records. A person must be 18 years of age or older and an eligible recipient, to obtain a certified copy of a death certificate . A certified copy of a death certificate issued by Vital Records will have a raised seal, will show the signature of the local Registrar, and will be printed on security paper.

Eligible recipients include a funeral director representing final disposition; next of kin including a surviving spouse, parent or grandparent, adult child, grandchild, or sibling; or another person deemed responsible for final disposition of the deceased; or a person with Power of Attorney for the decedent (granted the POA agreement specifies “through final disposition”).

This also includes executors, beneficiaries, a person named in a court order, a person authorized by an eligible person, insurance companies or financial institutions, hospitals, healthcare institutions, a person with a court order having a claim against the deceased individual’s estate, an attorney representing an eligible person, a consulate or foreign government by request and government agency by request.

Funeral directors responsible for the final disposition of the deceased person in question are eligible to order death certificates for one year following an individual’s death . In Arizona, eligible persons may order online directly from the Arizona Department of Health Services.

In Mohave County, death certificates also may be ordered by eligible persons from the county’s Department of Public Health.

Processing and postage fees do apply and are set by each of those entities. Please visit each of those department’s websites for further information.

On Earth Day Ideas For An Earth Friendly Funeral

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:47:33 GMT

Mary Woodsen a science writer for ten years at Cornell University compiled information regarding cremation and burial. In 2002, she surveyed mortuary schools and funeral directors regarding the quantity of resources they use annually and calculated from there. Woodsen believes these careful calculations provide a conservative estimate and the figures and the numbers may run higher. Though certain areas utilize cremation at a higher rate, traditional funerals are still common in certain parts of the United States.

Regarding embalming, more than 827 thousand gallons of formaldehyde-based embalming fluid is placed into bodies and buried in the ground. These toxic chemicals may possibly leak into the earth.

Every year, conventional burials utilize over 1.6 million tons of reinforced concrete for vaults; more than 90 thousand tons of steel and 27 hundred tons of copper and bronze for caskets; and 14 thousand tons of steel for underground vaults. This equates annually to traditional funerals utilizing enough metal to build a Golden Gate Bridge and enough concrete to build a two-lane highway from New York to Detroit.

Cremation May Not Be As Environmentally Friendly

Cremation also is not as environmentally-friendly as you might think. According to statistics with the National Geographic, the carbon footprint a typical flame-based cremation takes the same amount of energy and has the same emissions of two tanks of gas in an average car.

CANA (Cremation Association of North America) has traditionally been conservative in its projections. However, the number is increasing at a higher rate than usual. CANA anticipates this trend to continue until the national rate exceeds 60 percent. The United States is squarely in the rapid growth period. In Arizona and California the cremation rate is already at 61-70 percent.

Rethinking Final Disposition

The most eco-friendly way to do final disposition according to The Green Burial Council is to return the body to the earth as naturally as possible. This would entail the body not being embalmed. The body is placed in a biodegradable vessel such as wicker, wood, or cloth. Some local cemeteries will allow burial without a concrete outer burial container.

Embalming May Not Be Required for a Funeral

It is not required by law in the state of Arizona to embalm for a funeral. When refrigeration is provided, the body does not have to be filled with chemicals.

For more information on ways to have final disposition in an environmentally friendly way, call or stop by Bradbury Memorial Center and receive information that may change the way you think about your final disposition.

Information found on the following sites:

National Geographic

CANA

Green Burial Council

Aveilut (pronounced ah-vay-LUTE)

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:47:31 GMT

The Hebrew word for mourning

Ritually, the body of the deceased is washed thoroughly, dressed in a simple white linen shroud, or tachrichim, and prepared for burial in a simple pine, or sometimes redwood, coffin. Jewish custom requires burial to occur as close as possible to 24 hours. The deceased is carried to the graveyard amid a rabbi’s chants of biblical and liturgical verses. It is customary for the procession to stop along the way to allow mourners to express grief. Often, a eulogy is given either in a chapel or as the coffin is lowered into the grave. Then male mourners help fill the grave with earth.

Traditionally, five stages of grief are observed to provide guidance during bereavement.

First, it is the input. a Hebrew word meaning “deep sorrow”. It designates the time from death until burial. On that note, when despair is at its most intense, the mourner’s religious requirements come to a halt. The second is the three days following burial. It is a private time for weeping and expression of grief.

The third is a period of seven days called shiva, it is when the mourner accepts the condolences of family and friends in the home and leads a prayer service. In contemporary times, shiva begins right after burial. Family and friends prepare meals so the mourner will not be distracted from their grief. Mourning generally concludes in the morning of the seventh day. Modern times has the second stage’s three days of private mourning coinciding with the third stage of sitting shiva.

When it comes to the seven days of grieving, however, the Jewish may not mourn on the Shabbat or the Jewish Sabbath, nor may a burial take place on that day. The Shabbat does however count as one of the seven days. If a Jewish holiday occurs after the first day of shiva, the mourning period ends.

The fourth stage is sheloshim when the mourner returns to work and normal social obligations.

The final stage lasts 12 months during which the mourner returns to his or her customary functions. For example, the observant Jew says the kaddish, which is the prayer hymn for the dead, each week at the synagogue. The prayer has variations, according to web sources, but is noted as never mentioning death or dying. Instead, the prayer proclaims the greatness of God, and through recitation, the mourner affirms this greatness despite having their faith tested by loss. When mourning a parent, this can occur daily for 11 months post-burial.

“May my death be an atonement for the sins, transgressions, and violations which I have sinned before you. And set my portion in the Garden of Eden and let me merit the World to Come reserved for the righteous. Hear O Israel the Lord our God, the Lord is One.”

– Prayer on a deathbed, from a traditional Jewish Prayer Book

Furthermore, the day of the dead is celebrated on the yahrzeit, or anniversary date. A memorial candle is lit in the home and burns all night. The gravesite, at a minimum, is visited during High Holy Days, or Yamim Noraim, or “Days of Awe” in the autumn months. It is the High Holy Days that encompass Rosh Hashana, or the Jewish New Year; and Yom Kippur, which is the “Day of Atonement”. The Jewish believe it to be the holiest day of the year. Both are among very special customs within Judaism.

Gravesite etiquette among the Jewish includes visits on fast days and using the left hand to place a small stone of the grave even if the individual was unknown to the visitor in life. Leaving flowers is not a traditional Jewish practice. The placing and replacing of the stones are thought to perpetually ‘tend’ the grave’s existence. Visiting the gravesite is not reserved for specific days and can be visited at any time.

With the Jewish year having approximately 354 days, Jewish festival days happen about the same time each year, but specific secular dates vary. In 2021, Rosh Hashana begins the evening of Monday, September 6, and ends the evening of Wednesday, September 8. This year’s observance of Yom Kippur begins Wednesday, September 15, and ends the evening of Thursday, September 16. The eight-day Hanukkah (Chanukah, Festival of Lights) is set to begin the evening of Sunday, November 28, and end Monday, Dec. 6, in 2021.

The simple pine, or sometimes redwood, burial boxes are not created on the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat), or on the seventh day of the week – beginning Friday evenings and ending Saturday night.

The simple wooden coffin is about equality, to indicate that every human being is created equal and therefore every human being is equal in death.

Organ donation is prohibited by general rule however permitted by means of a living will instruction. Jewish law, however, does not permit organ donation from a person in a living state.

Judaism stresses burial on earth as a religious duty of laying someone to rest but some Jewish individuals do choose cremation as an acceptable disposition after death.

Traditionally, nothing is buried in the casket with the deceased other than the linen shroud and earth. However, some families do ask to bury mementos like photos or letters within.

Information based on various resources including both print and web sources.

U.S. Flag Folding: “On behalf of the United States of America…”

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:47:29 GMT

All photos courtesy of MCL Detachment #757 photographer Ron Silva, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Bradbury Memorial Center staff is very grateful to have a handful of key members of the Lake Havasu Marine Corps League Detachment #757 teach us about the U.S. Flag in terms of folding it, handling it, respecting it, and presenting it.

Local Marine Corps League Commandant Bud Watts, Captain of Color Guard/Honor Guard John Pulliam, ceremonies assistant Don Bittenbender, photographer Ron Silva, and Senior Vice Commandant Kim McCoy visited Bradbury Memorial Center in late January to help us learn more about the U.S. Flag.

The honor of folding the U.S. Flag, how to create it, how to respectfully handle, hold it, and carry the Flag was told to us in vivid detail. With our co-owner Charles Marchand being a retired U.S. Navy veteran, the MCL members went above and beyond when explaining instructions to Charles so how he could appropriately present the U.S. Flag to the widow or family of a deceased U.S. military veteran here at Bradbury Memorial Center. Most recently, we do this when the funeral or memorial service of a deceased veteran is delayed for reasons of the current public health crisis.

The Marine Corps League members also talked to us about the components of their full-scale U.S. Flag folding display when they are at either a graveside service or other funeral venue such as the park, a church, or a reception hall. We had many questions, which they graciously answered. On that note, they talked of their uniforms, shoes, gloves, roles, and more. They did this while demonstrating their protocol, positions, and commands that choreograph their reverent display during the ceremony.

The Marine Corps League Color Guard Color Guard/Honor Guard went dark the latter part of 2020 during the pandemic however Bittenbender said they all hope to return to their full ceremonial duties in March.

The group toured Bradbury Memorial Center during their visit and asked many good and very interesting questions about our building and our business and our industry. From all of us here at Bradbury Memorial Center, THANK YOU! Thank you for sharing your knowledge about U.S. Flag folding and protocol with us. And, most sincerely, thank you for your military service, we appreciate you!

Weeping Buddha

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:47:28 GMT

Weeping Buddha statues depict Buddha in a bent-over position, crying, and covering his face.

There is a legend of two masked warriors who fought each other in many battles. Neither defeating the other until one day when the older warrior killed the younger warrior.

When the older warrior removed the opponent’s mask, he was confronted with the face of his only son. Seeing this, the older warrior – who is none other than the Weeping Buddha – began to cry.

The torment and misery of having fought and killed his own son forced him to the ground where he cried tears of great anguish as he buried his face in his hands to hide from the truth of what he had done.

It was then he renounced violence and proclaimed the virtues of helping the young, the sick, the suffering, and the old.

It is believed that the Weeping Buddha is crying for the suffering of the World, he internalizes the grief and troubles of the World. In return, he bestows peace and provides strength and joy to those who rub his back.

Catholicism

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:47:26 GMT

Photo courtesy of Jayne Hanson/Garden of Gethsemane, Tucson, Arizona : Lifesize sculptures include that of Jesus of Nazareth at the Last Supper with his disciples, and Jesus on the Cross, among other sculptures worth seeing.

The Artist’s story : As Felix Lucero faced death as he lay on a World War I battlefield, he reportedly proposed a deal with the Virgin Mary: “spare my life, and I’ll spend the rest of my days creating Christian artwork.”

After 20 years of time, Lucero began that promised work. Homeless and living in a shanty beneath a bridge in Tucson, Arizona, in 1938, his sculptures made their way into existence. Using damp sand reinforced with debris recovered from the Santa Cruz riverbed, he manifested his sculptures with plaster. His collection, called “Garden of Gethsemane”, has suffered the ravages of time, floods, and acts of vandalism.

Lucero died in 1951 but his sculptures live on. Despite being moved several times to different locations, and repaired numerous times after vandalism, they now exist in a shady roadside park at 602 W. Congress Street, in Tucson. Admission is free.

CATHOLICISM AND CREMATION

Catholics do choose cremation as an end-of-life disposition, but their faith has them bound to a specific way of doing things. The three elements they observe, according to the Order of Christian Funerals, include the vigil or wake, the funeral liturgy, and the rite of committal.

PART 1 – THE VIGIL

The first part is the vigil, or wake; it is the principal rite celebrated in the time after death but before the rite of committal. This segment of time is an opportunity to pray for the soul of the deceased and is often an occasion for family and friends to express their memories of the deceased.

When choosing cremation, it is always recommended the body be present for the vigil.

PART 2 – THE FUNERAL LITURGY

The second part is the funeral liturgy; it is the central celebration of the Christian community when it comes to the deceased. It is when the community gathers alongside family and friends to give praise and thanks. Catholics believe it is “through the Holy Spirit the community is joined together in sign and symbol, word and gesture that each believer through baptism shares in Christ’s death and resurrection and can look to the day when all the elects will be raised up and united in the kingdom on light and peace.”- Order of Christian Funerals #129

When choosing cremation, the Church encourages that the body of the deceased be present for the funeral rites. This is ideal for appropriate reverence for the sacredness of the body; the sprinkling with holy water, the placing of the pass and honoring the body of the deceased with incense. A casket may be rented for presentation of the body at the funeral.

PART 3 – THE RITE OF COMMITTAL

The Right of Committal is the conclusion of the funeral rites and therefore the final act of the community of faith in the caring for the body of a deceased member. This may be celebrated graveside, or at the tomb or crematorium.

“In committing the body to its resting place, the community expresses the hope that, with all those who have gone before marked the sign of faith, the deceased awaits community of believers into welcoming company of those who need faith no longer but see God face to face.” – Order of Christian Funerals #206

When choosing cremation, the Church clearly prefers the body of the deceased to be present for the funeral rites. It is recommended the cremation take place after the Funeral Liturgy.

REVERENT DISPOSITION OF CREMAINS

“The best way to explain to people is simply to say: ‘ the cremains are shown the same respect as the body. If you wouldn’t split the body up or spread it around, then neither do we do that to the ashes ’,” stated Father Chauncey, Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic Parish, in a letter he recently penned to Bradbury Memorial Center.

“The cremated remains should be treated with the same respect given to the human body from they come. This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the way they are carried, the care and attention to appropriate placement and transport, and the final disposition,” – Order of Christian Funerals #417

“The cremated remains should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum of columbarium,” – Order of Christian Funerals #417

“The principal of respect for cremated remains of a deceased Christian embraces the deeper belief in the individuality of each baptized person before God. Throughout history, the mingling of remains has never been an accepted practice, except in extraordinary circumstances.”

“The practice of scattering cremated cremains on the sea, from the air, or on the ground, or keeping cremated remains in the home of a relative or friend of the deceases are not the reverent disposition that the Church requires,” – Order of Christian Funerals #417

“Whenever possible, appropriate means for recording with dignity the memory of the deceased should be adopted, such as a plaque or stone which records the name of the deceased,” – Order of Christian Funerals #417

BURIAL IN A CATHOLIC CEMETERY

Catholics are strongly encouraged to be buried or entombed in a Catholic Cemetery, where there is an assurance that the remains of the person will be treated with reverence and perpetual care.

The Church recommends the burial or entombment of cremated remains occur without delay once the cremation process is completed.

WHAT IS NOT PERMITTED BY THE CHURCH

Use of a common grave, ground, or niche where the cremated remains of several persons are scattered, poured, buried, or combines without individual urns or sealed containers is to be completely avoided.

BLESSING THE GRAVE OR NICHE

A priest or deacon should accompany the remains to the cemetery and perform the prescribed liturgical rites. If the grave or niche has not been blessed, the priest of deacon is to do so at this time.

THE BELIEFS

“Since in baptism the body was marked with the seal of the Trinity and became the temple of the Holy Spirit, Christians respect and honor the bodies of the dead and the places where they rest,” – Order of Christian Funerals #19

“In the face of death, the Church confidently proclaims that God has created each person for eternal life and that Jesus, the Son of God, by his death and resurrection, has broken the chains of sin and death that bound humanity,” – Order of Christian Funerals #1

The Power of 100

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:47:25 GMT

The current population of Earth is around 7.8 Billion. For most people, it is a large figure, that is all. However, someone has condensed the 7.8 billion in the world into 100 persons, and then into various percentage statistics. The resulting analysis is relatively much easier to comprehend.

Out of 100 : (each section)

11 are in Europe

5 are in North America

9 are in South America

15 are in Africa

60 are in Asia

49 live in the countryside

51 live in cities

12 speak Chinese

5 speak Spanish

5 speak English

3 speak Arabic

3 speak Hindi

3 speak Bengali

3 speak Portuguese

2 speak Russian

2 speak Japanese

62 speak their own language.

77 have their own houses.

23 have no place to live.

21 are over-nourished

63 can eat full meals.

15 are under-nourished

1 ate the last meal but did not make it to the next meal.

The daily cost of living for 48 is less than US$2

87 have clean drinking water

13 either lack clean drinking water or have access to a water source that is polluted

75 have mobile phones

25 do not

30 have internet access

70 do not have conditions to go online

7 received university education

93 did not attend college

83 can read

17 are illiterate

33 are Christians

22 are Muslims

14 are Hindus

7 are Buddhists

12 are other religions

12 have no religious beliefs.

26 live less than 14 years

66 died between 15 – 64 years of age

8 are over 65 years old

If you have your own home, Eat full meals & drink clean water, Have a mobile phone, Can surf the internet, and have gone to college, You are in the minuscule privileged lot. (in the less than 7% category)

Amongst 100 persons in the world, only 8 can live or exceed the age of 65

*If you are over 65 years old be content & grateful. Cherish life, grasp the moment.

* You did not leave this world before the age of 64 years like the 92 persons who have gone before you. You are already blessed amongst mankind.

Take good care of your own health because nobody cares more than you yourself! Cherish every remaining moment.

Reprinted from Mohave County News – December 2020 Wrap-Up Edition, Published by Supervisor Buster Johnson, Volume 9. Issue 1.

Pet Grief: How do I know if pets are sad?

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:47:23 GMT

Pet grief is something that can easily be overlooked in the chaos of a loss. Bradbury Memorial Center is very mindful of this and can help with pet grief by reminding our families who have pets that they, too, may need some extra love and care during the time of a loss. Especially companion animals who are very specific to a deceased loved one.

Pet signs of grief

Loss of appetite
Lowered water intake
Sluggish response to human or other pet interactions
Loss of interest in play or physical activity
An occasional mournful howl

What to do

Give extra love and affection
Maintain a normal feeding schedule
Stick to a regular exercise routine
Increase playtime
Be patient

When it comes to cats, other web sources suggest simply talking to grieving cats or even regularly playing music for them helps ease their sadness.

If a pet shows an increase of grief symptoms over many weeks or months, be sure to schedule a time for the pet to visit its veterinarian as soon as possible to rule out any physical illness the pet may be experiencing.

Viewing Room

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:47:20 GMT

Our Family Viewing Room is more than what it seems …

Bradbury Memorial Center features a Family Viewing Room that is suitable for those final moments to be shared with a deceased loved one, for family members who wish for an observation cremation ceremony, or simply for a family identification space.

“It’s a living room space that accommodates a minimal amount of people,” said Naomi Bradbury-Marchand, funeral coordinator, licensed cremationist, and co-owner of Bradbury Memorial Center. “It is for the families to use to see that person one more time. Clergy, priests, or bishops can utilize that room for a final blessing or a commitment prior to cremation. Or it is a Cremation Observation room.”

What is a Cremation Observation?

At Bradbury Memorial Center, our Cremation Observation room provides a valuable opportunity for the family to express themselves one more time. It allows the families to see firsthand that their loved one has been prepared for cremation alongside the clothing or items per their exact specifications.

“It is a way to show that we have fulfilled those final wishes, and the families are able to see that their loved one is being respected and cared for with the utmost dignity and respect,” Naomi Bradbury-Marchand said.

The room itself is outfitted with a large window with a view of our Crematory. For varied reasons, there are times when family members request to observe as their loved one is placed into the Crematory prior to processing. Furthermore, it provides the family a last chance to honor that life in a brief and informal service.

What is Family Identification?

It is simply what it is called, and it is literally what it means. For us, however, the measure stretches well beyond those words and that sentence.

At Bradbury Memorial Center, Family Identification means a time and space allowed for a loved one who maybe did not arrive in time for a death. It is a private and quiet place for final reverence and last respects. It is an opportunity for ‘one more time’ when it comes to saying goodbye.

In the end, our Family Viewing Room could be about those all-important last rites, a committal at a cremation, a final blessing; or it could be about a place for very private and personal grief rituals, or it even could be about spirit offerings. It is unique to each family or individual and largely depends on varied religions, cultures, and beliefs.

We are all-inclusive and open to any ideas about embracing all religions, faiths, and beliefs when it comes to honoring a deceased loved one. In short, we welcome all walks of life. We are fully dedicated to meet the needs of the families we are so privileged to serve, and we hope to do so in whichever manner suits your individual beliefs.

Check out our TREE and Our Top 10 Christmas Fun Facts!

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:47:19 GMT

We adore the Christmas and holiday season at Bradbury Memorial Center, and we continue to allow it to hold us spellbound. For us, it is all about the overall meaning, the acts of benevolence, the high spirits, the hope, and the unbridled merriment.

Our Christmas tree theme is ‘Donated’ this season! Our lobby tree and décor this year are donated to us by family and friends. As a team, we have chosen the Jasmine Place Senior Living and Compassus Hospice Holiday Food Drive as our group activity. Their food drive benefits the Lake Havasu Community Food Bank to help with holiday boxes for its recipients. We thought paying it forward was a perfect fit with our own good fortune!

Below is our Being Bradbury Blog story made up of Christmas Fun Facts. It is solely based on our own research. May we present Bradbury Memorial Center’s Evolution of Christmas:

THE STORY:

The story of this special day was accounted as Joseph and Mary and how they traveled nearly 100 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem along the valley of the River Jordan during the Jewish Census. Mary often riding a donkey to conserve her energy for her nearing birth of Jesus, according to the Christian Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

Arriving in Bethlehem, Jesus and Mary were turned away from an inn that was at capacity with the census. The couple soon sought refuge in a humble animal stable and Jesus was born.

As the story goes, wise men, who had journeyed by camel and followed a star, arrived to bestow gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh at the infant’s manger.

FUN FACT #1 : According to web sources, Christmas itself is rooted in the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, the festivals of the ancient Greeks, the Druids, and the pagan or folk customs of Europe. Ancient civilizations, such as the Norsemen or the Romans, had similar celebrations of feast and festivities during the Winter Solstice.

At the time of Jesus’ birth, Judaism was the dominant religion of Israel. The Jewish midwinter festival of Hanukkah marks an important part of Jewish history. Its eight days are honored with one more candle lit on the menorah each day at nightfall as the celebration progresses. It is described as a time of remembrance, a celebration of light, and time to give gifts and have fun.

FUN FACT #2 : Interestingly, the iconic symbol of Holly predates Christianity altogether. It was something associated with the Sun God and significant in pagan customs. Some ancient religions used holly for protection and hung at doors and windows to ward off evil spirits. It was the Church that injected Christian meaning into the use of Holly, making a symbol for Jesus’ crown of thorns. Legend portrays the holly’s branches woven into a painful crown that was placed on His head by the Roman soldiers who mocked Him. The legend claims the holly berries themselves were, in fact, white at the time and it was Christ’s blood that has left them forever stained crimson.

FUN FACT #3 : Medieval Times, or up until the 1400s, Christmastime also was a time for feasting and merrymaking. This is where the ‘12 days of Christmas’ stems from. According to web sources, Medieval Christmas lasted 12 days from Christmas Eve on December 24, until the Epiphany on January 6. The Epiphany is believed to be when Jesus was revealed to the world.

FUN FACT #4 : Christmas celebration was banned in the middle 1700s into the early 1800s during a Puritan movement amid the reign of Queen Elizabeth (1558-1603). With a notion that Christmas celebration too closely resembled pagan ritual, the Puritans banned all associated festivities – even decorating with evergreens, lively celebration, and eating mince pies – in lieu of strict moral code, plenty of prayers, and tight adherence to the New Testament.

FUN FACT #5 : There was a lull in Christmas celebrations, at least in England, until it returned with gusto during the Victorian Era (1837-1901). It was during this time that many imaginations were captured when Charles Dickens’ beloved story of “A Christmas Carol” made its way into existence.

FUN FACT #6 : Traditions of caroling, sending Christmas card tidings by mail (borrowed from St. Valentine’s Day practices), and the emergence of popularizing the Christmas tree followed in the next 50 to 75 years. Furthermore, there is the observance of Advent, which Christians often associate with preparing for the coming of Christ. In turn, Advent wreaths popped up in church traditions everywhere.

FUN FACT #7 : The myth of Father Christmas, a.k.a. Santa Claus to the U.S., has origins in Christian and European tradition. His iconic appearance, however, was cemented by American card-makers in the Victorian Era. Traditionally, the myth has Father Christmas visiting houses at midnight on Christmas Eve. Entering by way of the chimney to leave presents and stockings filled with little presents and treats for Christmas. Hence, the stockings many families traditionally hang each year.

FUN FACT #8 : A handful of traditions surrounding Father Christmas pre-date Christianity. For instance, his sleigh, pulled by reindeer, is based on Scandinavian mythology. On a different note, the practice of leaving treats and a glass of milk for him on Christmas Eve echoes a time back when pagan sacrifices were made to mark the end of winter and the coming of spring.

FUN FACT #9 : America’s love of Santa Claus, whose name Saint Nicholas has ancestry from the Dutch Sinterklass. Saint Nicholas of Myra (modern-day Turkey) is, among other things, the patron saint of sailors. Notoriously speaking, age-old stories of old Saint Nick have him delivering bags of gold coins to a man who could not afford a dowry for his daughters to wed. Some versions even have him dropping the bags of such coins down the chimney.

FUN FACT: #10 : Modern-day Christmas as we know it arguably remains the biggest holiday on the calendar. It is an all-inclusive holiday – even outside the realm of any religion – with the main element being the exchange of gifts on Christmas Day.

In our opinion, today’s good nature allows for an array of pies, cookies, chocolates, and celebration with family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers; all amid a storm of ribbons, bows, and brightly wrapped packages beneath a bright, beaming decorated fir tree. We acknowledge that for some, all of this is to honor Jesus’ love for us, and for each other, on His birthday.

In closing, we also enjoy and honor all of the other evolutionary elements and influences that bring us together this time of year, not only to forget about these past long, dark days but also to look ahead with hope.

Christmas Eve is Thursday, Dec. 24 this year, with Christmas Day following on Friday, Dec. 25.

Hanukkah begins on the evening of Thursday, Dec. 10 this year and lasts through Friday, Dec. 18.

Naomi Bradbury-Marchand

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:47:16 GMT

Naomi Bradbury-Marchand serves Lake Havasu City families during a very trying time in their lives. She most ardently carries this heavy task with a care and finesse like no other.

“We enter people’s lives at a time when they are feeling very vulnerable and I take it as a very serious responsibility,” Naomi Bradbury-Marchand said. “I want to make sure people feel safe during that time and begin to heal.”

Naomi began her work in the death care industry in late 1990’s while working and raising her family in the Midwest. In 20 years, she has had the privilege to help countless families through the death of a loved one, and the shadows of grief that follow, while employed at funeral homes in Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota, Texas, and Arizona.

“This community needs another choice, and our focus is on customer service,” Naomi said.

The customer service measures she speaks of center on bringing a warmth, kindness, and compassion to her interactions with families. It also makes its way into the details of personalization that are incorporated into the funeral and memorial services that she oversees.

Bradbury Memorial Center has a display wall for a family’s memorial memorabilia and extra shelving displays to accommodate floral arrangements, photos, and treasured belongings. All hinges upon the comforting setting of our Remembrance Room. The seating is easily customizable for a more formal setting or it can be enjoyed in its casual and cozy setting. Nearby, is our quaint coffee bar.

Naomi’s attention to detail surpasses expectations during the most simple and elegant of services to the most elaborate service imaginable. Furthermore, her compassion is showcased well beyond funeral and memorial services with her homegrown aftercare and grief programs.

Bradbury Memorial Center hosts a child grief program as well as art grief classes. The art grief classes vary from journaling, crafting, painting, and essential oil mixology. Both grief resources offered at Bradbury Memorial Center were developed and forged over time, and solely built upon Naomi’s experiences of helping families throughout the years. They are organic in nature, so to speak, and we offer the classes with the utmost sincerity and intention of providing an outlet where healing can begin.

Bradbury Memorial Center family-owned by Naomi Bradbury-Marchand and her husband Charles Marchand. We also are proud of Charles’ service in the U.S. Navy. Both Naomi and Charles have owned a home in Lake Havasu City for more than a decade.

Bradbury Memorial Center is located at 3317 N. Highway 95, in Havasu. For more information, call 928-466-9111.

www.bradburymemorialcenter.com

Bradbury Memorial Center is co-owned by Military Veteran Charles “Chuck” Marchand

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:47:15 GMT

Charles A. Marchand served with the U.S. Navy at the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class in squadron VA-196, which was located at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. He served there from 1984-1988.

His squadron was assigned to the USS Constellation for two 7-month cruises and one 3-month cruise. Each time, the squadron was flown to San Diego, Calif., to board the “Connie” at her home base. The cruises led Charles to seashores and ports in Hawaii in the U.S. and in several countries around the globe such as the Philippines, Thailand, Australia, Kenya, and the island of Diego Garcia, among others.

Charles’ job classification was an AE2, or Aviation Electrician, that placed him on the flight deck as a troubleshooter during flight ops. It was the A-6 attack aircraft and the KA-6D tanker aircraft that commanded his attention for 12-14 hour shifts that spanned seven days each week during his cruises. Anything electrical with wiring and cockpit instruments was his specialty.

In 1985, there was an F-14 Tomcat that crashed into the “Connie” while attempting to land on the “Connie” at sea in the Indian Ocean.

“I heard it when it hit,” Charles said. “It crashed into the back of the ship and ripped the landing gear off. He got it back into the air, but the engines were damaged. Both of the air crew ejected, and the plane went into the ocean.”

Charles was in the berthing area, or sleeping quarters, of the ship when the incident occurred and recalls it sounding “like an airplane hitting the ship” on that day. He also recalled the ocean’s 60-foot swells, which most likely caused the miscalculation. The aircraft’s technology simply could not keep up with the ship’s shifting motion.

The USS Constellation’s flight deck, on a typical day, sat roughly 60-feet from the surface of the water. As many as 30 or 40 aircraft were on the flight deck and another 30-40 were in the ship’s hangar bay down below. In all, there were about 80 planes aboard.

In the wake of his military service, Chuck spent 5 ½ years working for Boeing before moving to the Midwest where he met his bride, Naomi Bradbury-Marchand.

“And, the rest is history,” he said.

According to web sources, the “Connie” was decommissioned on August 7, 2003, at the Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, Calif., after 41 years of service. She was stricken, or formally removed from the Naval Vessel Register, for reasons against the expenditure of maintenance costs.

In the end, the USS Constellation was scrapped at Brownsville, Texas beginning in early 2015. The scrapping was complete on May 10, 2017.

Charles said he learned of it shortly afterward as he had closely followed the final steps of her fate following her decommission.

The Passing of the Torch: Our new sign is up!

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:37:05 GMT

It was all about ‘time marching on’ at Bradbury Memorial Center today as our new sign was installed. We thought it to be a good time to tell the story of our building and how it hooks into the history of Lake Havasu City.

We are located at 3317 N. Highway 95 in Havasu, in the old Continental Land real estate building – you may have seen this in our print ads. Our building was built in 1999 as a home for Lenny Matzdorff’s work as a Real Estate Broker and business owner.

It was Lenny and his wife Amy Matzdorff who originally opened its doors, as Lenny already had taken over his father Lyle Matzdorff’s real estate business in 1995.

“When we located out there, there really was nothing out there,” Lenny Matzdorff said.

Lenny recalls some improvements being completed on the property in 2008 followed by an expansion of offices 15 years ago. The most recent addition onto the west side, or the back of our building, houses Bradbury Memorial Center’s new hi-tech crematory, prep room, and garages. The project began in late 2019.

The Matzdorff family has roots that reach far into Havasu’s history. For example, Lenny’s father, Lyle Matzdorff, owned the very first real estate office in Havasu. It was opened 57 years ago, in 1963. However, there is more.

Before that, Lenny’s grandfather, Chet Chenoweth, was within a nucleus of investors who created today’s Crystal Beach, north of Havasu. It is the reason why Lyle, who was Chet Chenoweth’s son-in-law, moved out to Havasu in the first place – to help at the Crystal Beach real estate office location. Lyle was married to Chet Chenoweth’s daughter Stellene for 58 years upon her passing, in Havasu, in September 2018.

Chenoweth Drive, in Havasu, bears Lenny’s grandfather’s namesake simply because he owned property along that stretch of roadway, Lenny said. Chet Chenoweth originally began his own real estate company in Van Nuys, California, and moved to Havasu 62 years ago, in 1958.

Lenny’s father, Lyle, also once occupied the current Mohave County Sheriff’s Office sub-station building, which remains nearby our current location on Highway 95. It, too, was built as a real estate office back in the day.

A few years ago, Lenny crossed paths with Naomi Bradbury-Marchand amid her search for property for her pending funeral home project, Bradbury Memorial Center. At that time, it largely existed only on paper, in emails, and in hope.

Opportunity knocked for Lenny, who was ready to relocate after 20 years in this building.

“I handed it off to her in a good way,” Lenny said. “It was the right opportunity, and it was a good fit for her to take over. What I saw was good and I am really excited for her. She has a good group of people and I have always had confidence in her. I thought it was a good fit and good for the community.”

From those of us here at Bradbury Memorial Center, Lenny, we thank you! We are delighted to be part of your story!

Lenny has moved his businesses of The Flagstone Yard, Graceland Portable Buildings, and 1st Continental Realty and Investment, to his new location at 2945 Maricopa Avenue, in Havasu.

Visit us at www.BradburyMemorialCenter.com on the web or stop in at 3317 N. Highway 95 (the old Continental Land building), in Havasu, for a front-of-house tour!

Our new funeral home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:37:03 GMT

Bradbury Memorial Center is a new funeral home in Lake Havasu City. We are proud to provide the community with another option when it comes to pre-arranged services, funeral services, memorial services, merchandise, and more.

We have a cozy Remembrance Room for Celebration of Life services complete with our nearby charming coffee bar. Our new state-of-the-art Crematory’s sophisticated technology is designed to help protect the environment during processing. Furthermore, we are Arizona’s only funeral home involved with a Greener Funeral.org. As a provider of eco-friendly products, we offer a selection of beautiful urns and caskets that help keep the earth healthy.

The Arizona Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers approved Funeral Establishment licensing for Bradbury Memorial Center during its meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. It was a celebratory moment here at Bradbury Memorial Center. This two-year project has presented an array of challenges along the way, as we would guess that any project of this magnitude would. That said, we are thrilled to officially begin this journey of helping families.

Our Mission Statement

Bradbury Memorial Center’s dedicated team is committed to providing the community and its surrounding areas with the finest, most unique, and personal services when it comes to your end-of-life and funeral needs.

We consistently strive to meet and exceed the expectations of the families we are so privileged to serve. We achieve this through the trusted and traditional values of honesty, respect, compassion, and competence.

Bradbury Memorial Center is co-owned by Charles Marchand and Naomi Bradbury-Marchand, both of Havasu. Anyone is most welcome to stop in to see us for a front-of-the-house tour! We are located at 3317 Highway 95 North, in Havasu. Our telephone is 928-466-9111.

Urn Ark

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:36:58 GMT

Showing off our Urn Ark at Bradbury Memorial Center

Our new Urn Ark is a perfect fit for families ready to personalize an urn during a funeral or memorial service. The Urn Ark is a wood and glass display box designed with brass handles on each side. Those handles allow pallbearers to ceremoniously carry the urn either for placement into our hearse during a service, or to carry from the hearse to a graveside service.

Bradbury Memorial Center’s Urn Ark has an opulent cherry finish. For a visual, it is about the size of a typical storage tote or storage bin. More specifically, the hinged-top glass case measures roughly 27 inches wide, 19 inches tall, and 18 inches deep. The urn is secured within the glass case. The case rests upon the base, which is 43 inches by 23 inches.

The 40-inch brass pallbearer bars are affixed lengthwise on either side of the Urn Ark base. The glass case allows for personalization alongside the urn, such as photos, flowers, jewelry, military or religious medals, trinkets, or other memorabilia that tells the story of a well-lived life.

We have put together some collections of our merchandise within our Urn Ark to demonstrate and inspire the personalization of which we speak. No cremated remains were used in our photo collections.