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Helping Children Cope with Loss as the New School Year Begins

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 19:26:24 GMT

For a lot of families in Cleveland, August means backpacks, new shoes, and that familiar mix of excitement and nerves that comes with a new school year. But if your family is grieving, this season can feel a lot heavier than it looks on the surface. Children and grief back to school don't always mix easily, and if your child recently lost a parent, sibling, grandparent, or another important person in their life, the start of school can bring their grief right back to the surface, even months after the loss.

It makes sense. School is one of the biggest routines in a child's life, and grief has a way of showing up strongest whenever routine changes. New teachers, new classmates, and new expectations can all feel overwhelming for a child who's still working through loss. The good news is that with a little patience and the right support, you can help your child walk into this school year feeling steadier and more supported.

Why Back-to-School Season Can Be Hard for Grieving Kids

A new school year asks children to adjust to a lot at once, and for a child who is grieving, that adjustment can stir up feelings they thought they'd already worked through. A few things we hear from families often:

New teachers may not know their story. Last year's teacher understood what the family was going through. This year, your child may feel like they have to explain their loss all over again — or they may choose to say nothing at all.
"Back to school" traditions can be painful reminders. Things like school shopping, first-day photos, or filling out family information forms can highlight who's missing.
Separation feels different now. A child who has lost a loved one may feel more anxious about being away from the parent or caregiver who's still there, worried something else might happen while they're apart.
Old habits resurface. Trouble concentrating, irritability, trouble sleeping, or acting out can all reappear, even if your child seemed to be doing better over the summer.

None of this means something is wrong with your child. It simply means grief doesn't run on a school calendar, and a season built around change is naturally going to bring some of those feelings back up.

Ways to Help Your Child as School Starts

Talk to the school ahead of time. A quick note or call to your child's teacher or school counselor can go a long way. Letting the school know about your family's loss means the adults around your child can respond with understanding if a hard day shows up in the classroom.

Keep routines steady where you can. Kids find comfort in predictability, especially when so much else feels uncertain. Familiar mealtimes, bedtimes, and after-school routines can offer a sense of stability while everything else, new grade, new classroom, new faces, is changing around them.

Give them the words for what they're feeling. Younger children especially may not have the vocabulary to explain why they feel off. Simple, honest language helps: "It makes sense that starting school feels hard right now, especially without Grandpa here." Naming the feeling helps a child feel less alone with it.

Watch for changes in behavior. Not every grieving child will say "I'm sad." Grief in kids often looks like stomachaches before school, trouble focusing, clinginess, or acting out. Pay attention to shifts from their normal behavior rather than expecting them to talk about it directly.

Let them have their feelings, whatever they are. Some days your child may not want to talk about their loss at all, and that's okay too. Grief isn't a straight line, and kids often move in and out of it much faster than adults do, playing happily one moment, tearful the next.

Lean on outside support if you need it. You don't have to navigate this alone, and neither does your child. School counselors, children's grief groups, and family therapists who specialize in childhood grief can offer tools that are hard to give as a parent who's grieving too.

You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone

Every child grieves differently, and there's no single "right" way to help a child cope with loss, especially during a transition as big as a new school year. If you're looking for more guidance on how children process grief at different ages and what to say (and what to avoid saying), our Children & Grief page walks through age-by-age guidance for talking with kids about death, along with signs to watch for as they heal.

At Brown-Forward Funeral Home, we've been part of the Cleveland community since 1825, and helping families through grief, long after the funeral itself, has always been part of who we are. If your family is looking for grief support for children in Ohio, or you simply want to talk through how to support a child heading back to school after a loss, we're here. Please don't hesitate to reach out to our staff; we're happy to point you toward resources, counseling options, or simply lend a listening ear.

Veterans Funeral Benefits Explained: What Shaker Heights & Pepper Pike Families Should Know

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 19:23:46 GMT

If you're caring for a veteran in your family, whether you're planning ahead or facing a loss right now, you've probably heard that the VA offers burial benefits. What you may not know is exactly what those benefits include, who qualifies, and how to actually get them. That's understandable. The paperwork alone can feel like one more thing on a very long list.

At Brown-Forward Funeral Home, we've had the honor of serving veteran families in Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike , and across Northeast Ohio for generations, and helping families navigate VA burial benefits is one of the most meaningful parts of what we do. This guide walks through what's available, who's eligible, and how we help you get every benefit your loved one earned.

What Are VA Burial Benefits, Exactly?

VA burial benefits are a set of honors and financial allowances provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to recognize a veteran's service. They're not automatic, your family has to apply for them, usually with the help of your funeral director, but once approved, they can meaningfully ease both the emotional and financial weight of laying a loved one to rest.

Depending on your family's choices, VA burial benefits can include:

Burial or inurnment in a VA national cemetery at no cost, including the gravesite, opening and closing, a headstone or marker, and perpetual care of the grounds
A United States burial flag , presented to the next of kin
A Presidential Memorial Certificate , signed by the current president, honoring the veteran's service
A government-furnished headstone, marker, or medallion , even for burial in a private cemetery
Military funeral honors , including an honor guard and the playing of Taps
A burial allowance , which reimburses part of the funeral and burial costs

It's worth noting up front: the burial allowance is a reimbursement, not a full payment of funeral expenses. Currently, it runs up to $2,000 for a service-connected death, or a smaller amount for a non-service-connected death, plus a separate plot allowance in some cases. It helps, but most families will still have out-of-pocket costs to plan for, which is exactly the kind of thing we walk through together during pre-planning.

Who Is Eligible?

Generally speaking, a veteran qualifies for VA burial benefits if they were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Beyond that baseline, eligibility can extend to:

Veterans who served the minimum required period of active duty
Members of the reserve components who died on active duty, on training duty, or who were eligible for retired pay
A veteran's spouse or surviving spouse
Minor dependent children, and in some cases, unmarried adult dependent children with disabilities

Eligible spouses and dependents can be buried in a VA national cemetery even if they pass away before the veteran does, a detail many families don't realize until they ask.

The single most important document in all of this is the DD Form 214 , the veteran's certificate of release or discharge. If your family has a copy tucked away somewhere, keeping it accessible, not just for pre-planning, but as part of an "in case of emergency" file, will save real time and stress later. If you can't locate it, we can help you request a replacement.

Military Funeral Honors

Every eligible veteran's family has the right to request military funeral honors, and there is no cost to receive them. At minimum, this includes a two-person honor guard, with at least one member representing the veteran's branch of service, the folding and presentation of the American flag, and the playing of Taps.

Military funeral honors aren't triggered automatically by a death certificate, they have to be requested. That's one of the reasons families tell us they're grateful to have a funeral home walk them through the process rather than figuring it out alone in the middle of grief.

Burial in a National Cemetery vs. a Private Cemetery

Families sometimes assume VA burial benefits only apply if the veteran is buried in a national cemetery. That's not the case. Veterans interred in a private cemetery, including many of the cemeteries our Shaker Heights and Pepper Pike families choose, closer to home and to the people who'll come visit, are still eligible for the headstone or marker, the burial flag, the Presidential Memorial Certificate, and the burial allowance.

For families who do want a national cemetery burial, the nearest is Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, about 45 miles south of Cleveland. It's a beautiful, well-tended resting place, and burial there includes military funeral honors as part of the committal service. We're glad to help coordinate arrangements there, or closer to home, whichever feels right for your family.

How We Help

This is where our role comes in. Our staff has spent years helping families in Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, and throughout Cuyahoga County complete the paperwork, gather the right documentation, and request every benefit a veteran and their family have earned. You shouldn't have to become an expert in VA forms during one of the hardest weeks of your life, that's what we're here for.

If you'd like to read more about how we support veteran families specifically, our Veterans Services page covers eligibility requirements in more detail. And if you're located in Pepper Pike, we have information specific to families in your community.

Planning Ahead Makes a Difference

If your veteran is still living, the kindest thing you can do is start this conversation now. Confirming eligibility, locating the DD Form 214, and understanding what benefits apply takes the guesswork, and a lot of the stress, off your family later on. We offer pre-planning consultations for exactly this reason, and there's no pressure or obligation involved.

We're Here When You're Ready

Whether you're planning ahead or need help right away, Brown-Forward Funeral Home is honored to help Shaker Heights and Pepper Pike families secure every veterans benefit available and provide a service that truly honors a life of service. Call us at (216) 752-1200 or stop by our Shaker Heights location at 17022 Chagrin Blvd. We'd be glad to talk you through it, one step at a time.

Planning a Meaningful Summer Memorial Service in Northeast Ohio

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 20:39:35 GMT

There's something about a Northeast Ohio summer that makes people want to be outside. The sun is out, Lake Erie is at its bluest, and the parks and gardens around Cleveland are in full bloom. If you're planning to honor a loved one this July, that same warmth and light can shape a service that feels less like a formal goodbye and more like a true celebration of the life they lived.

At Brown-Forward Funeral Home , we've helped countless families find the right way to say farewell, and summer offers some options that just aren't available the rest of the year. Here are a few ideas to help you think through what a meaningful summer memorial service could look like for your family.

Why Consider an Outdoor Memorial Service in Ohio

Not every service needs to happen inside a chapel. For someone who loved gardening, hiking, boating, or simply sitting on the porch with a glass of iced tea, an outdoor setting can say more about who they were than four walls ever could.

Northeast Ohio gives you plenty to work with:

Metroparks and nature preserves. The Cleveland Metroparks system has open-air pavilions and quiet, wooded spots that work beautifully for a small gathering or a larger celebration of life.
Botanical gardens. If your loved one had a green thumb, a garden setting surrounded by summer blooms can feel like the most natural place in the world to remember them.
Lakefront locations. For anyone with ties to Lake Erie, whether through boating, fishing, or just a love of the water, a lakeside gathering can bring a sense of peace that's hard to match indoors.
Backyards and family properties. Sometimes the most meaningful setting is the simplest one. A backyard gathering with folding chairs, string lights, and familiar faces can feel warmer than any rented venue.

Whatever setting you choose, we're happy to talk through logistics like permits, seating, and timing so the day goes smoothly.

Summer Memorial Service Ideas That Bring People Together

Summer naturally lends itself to gatherings that feel more relaxed and personal.

A few ideas families have used to make a service feel truly reflective of their loved one include:

A potluck or cookout after the service. Sharing a meal outdoors, especially one built around recipes your loved one enjoyed, gives people a comfortable way to linger, swap stories, and support one another.

A release of butterflies or balloons. Many families choose a simple, symbolic moment like this to close out a service. It works especially well outdoors, where there's room to gather and watch together.

Planting a tree or memorial garden. A living tribute that grows each summer can become a place the family returns to for years to come.

Music under the open sky. Whether it's a favorite playlist, a live acoustic set, or a few songs sung together, music tends to feel different, and often more comforting, outdoors.

A slideshow or video tribute at dusk. If your gathering runs into the evening, a projector and a simple screen can turn photos and video into a quiet, moving moment as the sun goes down.

These are just starting points. Every family we work with brings their own ideas, and we're always glad to help shape them into something workable.

Personalizing a Celebration of Life in Summer

A celebration of life is really about capturing who someone was, not just marking that they're gone. Summer gives you extra tools to do that: fresh flowers instead of arrangements shipped in from elsewhere, outdoor games your loved one enjoyed, or a display of their favorite summer hobby, whether that was fishing, gardening, or grilling for the whole family.

We go into much more detail on ways to personalize a service, from photo displays and videos to music and readings, on our Personalization page . Many of those same ideas translate beautifully to an outdoor summer setting, so it's worth a look for more inspiration.

A Few Practical Things to Keep in Mind

Planning outdoors in July does come with a few extra considerations:

Have a weather backup plan. Ohio summers can turn from sunny to stormy quickly. A tent, a nearby indoor space, or a flexible rain date can save the day.
Think about comfort. Shade, water, seating, and restroom access matter, especially if you're expecting older guests or young children.
Consider the time of day. A late morning or early evening service can help everyone avoid the peak heat of a summer afternoon.
Confirm any permits or reservations early. Popular parks and garden venues in the Cleveland area can book up quickly during the summer months, so it helps to plan ahead.

We're Here to Help You Plan

Whether you're picturing a quiet gathering at a Metropark or a full celebration of life with family and friends, the team at Brown-Forward Funeral Home is here to help you plan a service that truly honors your loved one. We're available 24/7, 365 days a year, and we'd be glad to talk through your options, indoors or out.

How to Choose Between Burial and Cremation: A Guide for Cleveland Families

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 20:35:18 GMT

When you're planning a funeral for someone you love, one of the very first decisions you'll face is also one of the biggest: burial or cremation? It's a question that touches on faith, family tradition, budget, and personal wishes, and there's rarely one "right" answer. What matters most is choosing the option that feels true to your loved one and gives your family the space to grieve, remember, and heal.

At Brown-Forward Funeral Home , we've walked alongside Cleveland families through this decision for years, and we know it can feel overwhelming when you're already carrying so much. This guide is here to help you understand your options so you can make a confident, informed choice — for your loved one and for yourself.

Burial vs. Cremation: What's the Real Difference?

At the most basic level, burial means your loved one's body is placed in a casket and laid to rest in a cemetery plot, mausoleum, or family burial ground. Cremation, on the other hand, reduces the body to cremated remains, which can then be kept, buried, scattered, or memorialized in a variety of ways.

But the choice goes well beyond that simple definition. Each path opens the door to different kinds of services, different costs, and different ways of creating a lasting place for family and friends to visit and remember.

Choosing Burial

A traditional burial often includes a visitation or wake, a funeral service, and a graveside committal. Many Cleveland families choose burial because it offers:

A permanent, physical resting place. A headstone or marker gives generations to come a place to visit.
Religious or cultural alignment. Many faith traditions have long-established burial customs that families want to honor.
A familiar structure. Traditional services follow a rhythm many families find comforting, with clear steps from visitation to graveside.

You can learn more about what's included in a full Traditional Service on our website.

Choosing Cremation

Cremation has become an increasingly popular choice for families across Ohio , and it doesn't mean giving up a meaningful service. In fact, many families pair cremation with a traditional funeral service beforehand, or hold a memorial service afterward. With cremation, you can:

Still have a full funeral or memorial service. A visitation, funeral, and graveside committal can all happen before cremation, or you can plan a memorial service afterward on your own timeline.
Choose how to keep or memorialize the remains. Families often keep an urn at home, place it in a columbarium niche, bury it in a family plot, or scatter the remains somewhere meaningful to their loved one.
Have more flexibility with timing and cost. Cremation can allow more room to plan a service around when family from out of town can gather.

You can explore the full range of options on our Cremation Services page.

Questions to Ask Yourself

There's no formula that tells a family which choice is "correct." But asking a few honest questions can help clarify what matters most to you:

Did your loved one express a wish? Many people share their preferences in advance, whether through pre-planning documents or simply a conversation with family. If your loved one made their wishes known, that's often the clearest starting point.
What does your faith or family tradition call for? Some religious backgrounds have specific requirements or strong preferences around burial or cremation.
Is a permanent place to visit important to your family? Both burial and cremation can offer this — through a grave, a columbarium niche, or a memorial garden — but it's worth thinking about what "visiting" will look like for you.
What feels manageable for your family, emotionally and financially? There's no shame in cost being part of the conversation. Cremation is often, though not always, more affordable than a full traditional burial.
Do you want to gather now or plan for later? Cremation can offer more flexibility if you need extra time to bring family together.

There isn't a wrong answer here. What matters is that the decision reflects your loved one and brings your family some measure of peace.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cremation cheaper than burial in Ohio?

Generally, yes. Cremation typically costs less than a traditional burial because it doesn't require expenses like a burial plot, vault, or headstone unless the family chooses to add them. That said, costs vary widely depending on the services you select, so it's best to talk with a funeral director about specific pricing.

Can we still have a funeral service if we choose cremation?

Absolutely. Many families choose a traditional funeral service followed by cremation, so you can still have a visitation, funeral, and even a graveside committal. Others prefer a memorial service after cremation. Either way, you have full flexibility to create a meaningful gathering.

What can we do with the cremated remains?

Families have several options, including keeping the urn at home, placing it in a columbarium niche, burying it in a family plot, or scattering the remains somewhere special to your loved one. We're happy to talk through what feels right for your family.

Does our religion require burial or cremation?

Many faith traditions have specific customs or requirements around burial and cremation. If you're unsure what your religious community expects, we're glad to help you navigate that conversation, and we respect and support whichever path your family chooses.

How do we decide between burial and cremation if our loved one didn't leave instructions?

This is one of the most common situations families face. Start by considering your loved one's values, faith, and personality, along with what would feel most comforting for your family. Our funeral directors are here to help guide that conversation with compassion, not pressure.

How soon do we need to decide?

While some decisions do need to be made fairly quickly after a death, you don't have to figure it all out alone or all at once. Our team will walk you through what needs to happen first and help you take things one step at a time.

Funeral Options for Cleveland Families

Every family we serve is different, and that's exactly how it should be. Whether you choose burial, cremation, or a combination of both, our team is here to walk you through every step, answer your questions, and help you build a service that truly honors your loved one's life. We're proud to serve families throughout Cleveland, including those in East Cleveland , with the same compassion and care we'd want for our own families.

If you're not sure where to start, that's okay. You don't have to have it all figured out before you call us.

Ready to talk through your options? Contact Brown-Forward Funeral Home today, or reach out any time — we're available 24/7, 365 days a year, because we know grief doesn't keep office hours.