There is no symbol of remembrance more recognizable than a flower resting upon a headstone.

Flowers evoke feelings of peace and tranquility, beauty and joy, growth and rebirth, so they are a fitting – and time-honored – way to honor those we have lost and give life to their memories long after they have passed away.

After a loss, the placement of flowers at a site may help mark significant events – a birthday, wedding anniversary, holidays – or simply be a gift of a loved one’s favorite blooms. No matter the reason, it is a routine that certainly provides comfort and healing to those grieving.

So, what happens if you are unable to give such a tribute to a loved one due to location, lack of transportation or limiting medical conditions?

That’s where Dignity® Memorial makes all the difference.

As North America’s largest provider of funeral, cremation and cemetery services, Dignity Memorial® delivers the kind of compassionate and individualized attention you’d expect to find at a local independently owned establishment.

In addition to its floral placement service – in which flowers of your choice will be placed for you at a gravesite on the months you designate – Dignity® offers an array of services you won’t find anywhere else, and at a value you deserve.

The Dignity® Difference is your added guarantee that compassion is really at the heart of everything Dignity® does to ensure your loved one receives the personalized tribute he or she deserves, and that you and your family have peace of mind.

When a death occurs, the task of sorting out travel arrangements can bring added stress to an already painful situation. Dignity’s® nationwide network partners with global experts who can help you handle those arrangements, allowing you to focus on being with those who mean so much when it matters most.

Dignity® providers know every life is a unique story, and aim to preserve and share that story through the Everlasting Memorial®/Everlasting Moments™ service, which provides a tribute movie, photo gallery and online biography. A personalized hard cover keepsake book is also available.

Providers are committed to that personal touch, and so offer a 100 percent service guarantee should services not meet your expectations.

When you lose someone close to you, the accompanying grief can be overwhelming and hard to comprehend. Dignity® understands this, and has established Guidance Series, a grief management resource library, to support and comfort anyone dealing with these complex emotions.

The Compassion Helpline is also open for 13 months after funeral services and is provided by every Dignity® Memorial provider in North America. The helpline gives those who are grieving unlimited phone access for 13 months to professional grief counselors.

Should you decide to plan ahead for your own funeral arrangements, Dignity® has a personal planning guide to walk you through the process, and once you have that plan in place, it is easily transferrable if you end up moving more than 75 miles away. With more than 2,000 providers in North America, Dignity® can meet your needs wherever life takes you.

Pre-planning also protects your family in the event of an unexpected loss. Should you pass away before your purchased cemetery property is paid for, the Dignity® Family Financial Protection will waive the remaining balance so the burden of cost does not fall to your loved ones. And should you suffer the tragic loss of a child or grandchild,
Dignity® will provide complimentary funeral or cremation services up to the same level as your plan through any Dignity Memorial provider nationwide.

Experience the Dignity® Difference yourself by calling Greenlawn Memorial Park, Oleander Memorial Gardens and Coble-Ward Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, (910) 799-1686.

Patrick Kelly is Family Service Manager for Dignity Memorial®, which cares for more than 300,000 families each year through its network of more than 2,000 providers throughout North America. Learn more at www.dignitymemorial.com or call Greenlawn Memorial Park, Oleander Memorial Gardens and Coble-Ward Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, (910) 799-1686.