Johns Ridout's Funeral Homes

On June 28, 1970, on the one year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, the first Pride marches were held in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Read more about the history of Pride.

Story Map Cascade This story map was created with the Story Map Cascade application in ArcGIS Online.

This Father’s Day, it’s important to recognize the impact losing a parent can have on a child. If you have a child in your life who has lost their father or a father figure, the National Alliance for Children's Grief provides resources, toolkits and support through their Family Portal for children dealing with a loss. https://loom.ly/yC0fFes

Father's Day is a day to remember and honor the father figures who have made an impact in our lives. TAPS offers a 24/7 survivor care team for those who have lost someone in the military. For more information, visit https://loom.ly/wKoVF68

There are all kinds of people who like all kinds of things. You are unique in the world—your family and friends will always remember you that way. Your life story is made up of big events and little details. What are they? What are your values? What are your passions? Who are you and how do you want to be remembered?

Creative Ideas for Documenting Your Life You're unique in the world—your family and friends will always remember you that way. The Dignity Memorial website has ideas for recording your life story.

Every year countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day (WBDD). The event serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood. A blood service that gives patients access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system. https://bit.ly/45lYdLC

A funeral or cremation memorial that celebrates the details that make you unique in the world takes a little thought and planning. Get your free copy of Imagine: A Memorial Inspiration Guide and start thinking about how you’d like to be remembered.

Imagine - A Memorial Inspiration Guide A memorial service that celebrates the details that make you unique takes careful planning. Get your free copy of Imagine: A Memorial Inspiration Guide today.

While Women Veterans Day is currently only recognized in 11 states, there is an effort to have the day recognized at a national level.

Even if you choose to keep a loved one’s ashes at home or scatter them some place special, you can still create a beautiful and lasting legacy in a cemetery. The possibilities are endless—family estates, garden and glass-front niches, benches, pedestals and boulders, ground burial options, custom memorials, and more. Learn more:

What To Do With Ashes | Dignity Memorial When a loved one is cremated, there are a number of things you can do with their ashes. Visit the Dignity Memorial website to explore what to do with someone's ashes.

The Shroud of Turin is an ancient linen cloth that holds a mysterious image of a scourged and crucified man. It's widely regarded as the most scientifically studied artifact in history, yet no one can explain how the mysterious image was formed. The wounds of the Man of the Shroud reflect the Biblical narrative of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.

The most common regret people have when dealing with the loss of a loved one is not knowing what that person wanted for his or her funeral arrangements.

3 Mistakes to Avoid When Funeral Planning Though many of us plan big events like vacations, birthday parties and graduations, we tend to fall short when it comes to funeral planning. Avoid these mistakes.

Congratulations to Lindenwood Cemetery in Fort Wayne, Indiana! The cemetery Arbor Day with a new as a Level 1 , which means the 175-acres of land includes various native and foreign species of , including Paper Birch, Kentucky Coffee and Sassafras trees.

Fort Wayne’s Lindenwood Cemetery celebrates Arbor Day as new arboretum Arbor Day is observed on the last Friday of April each year to encourage individuals and groups to plant trees. This year, Fort Wayne’s Lindenwood Cemetery celebrates Arbor Day as a new arboretum.

On Children's Awareness Memorial Day, we honor and remember the children who have died. The National Alliance for Children’s Grief provides resources to help parents and caregivers navigate their child’s grief. Visit the NACG Family Portal for more information.

Grief Support Resource Library - NACG Grant opportunities made possible by committed funding partners power up grief support for children in communities across the United States.

Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we’ll ever do. Happy Pride Month!

The first evidence of cremation dates back to the Stone Age, around 3000 BC. Today’s modern cremation, is attributed to physician, Sir Thomas Browne, in 1658.

Learning how to grieve healthfully and to mourn so that you can learn to adapt to life in the absence of your loved one, is no simple task. It often requires more work, takes more time and is more impacting than most people anticipate. These 12 insights will help you better appreciate the true realities of your own particular bereavement, respond more effectively to what you encounter in it and have more appropriate expectations of yourself along the way. https://bit.ly/45CQGXM

Many of us will become a caregiver at some point in our lives. The stress and strain of caregiving can take a toll on your health. It’s important to find ways to care for yourself while caring for others. Depending on your circumstances, some self-care strategies may be more difficult to carry out than others. Choose what works for you. Read more: https://bit.ly/3HtWCYC

Let us remember and honor all who died while serving in the U.S. military.

In the weeks between Passover and Shavuot, a plague raged among the disciples of the great sage Rabbi Akiva. On Lag BaOmer, the dying ceased. Now, no weddings or ceremonies are permitted during this time as it is a time of mourning. It's customary to light bonfires on the eve of Lag BaOmer. Learn more about the tradition: https://bit.ly/3rxu9du

In the past, mourners stopped the clocks in the rooms or houses where their loved ones died. This was an especially popular ritual during the Victorian period and was thought to prevent bad luck as well as symbolize the loved one’s passage into a new life without time. It was commonly done in conjunction with covering mirrors, closing curtains and turning over portraits of the loved one.

We had the privilege of attending the dedication ceremony of the newly renovated Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall at the National Infantry Museum Foundation in Columbus, Georgia, on Vietnam War Veterans Day. The wall originally traveled and visited about over 200 Dignity Memorial locations, before retiring to the museum in 2014. The Georgia sun eventually took its toll, so the wall was refaced in a beautiful black granite.
Numerous Vietnam veterans were in attendance. General (Ret) Barry McCaffrey served as keynote speaker, and Colonel (Ret) Gregory Camp spoke about the history of the replica wall that provides soldiers and their families, as well as countless other museum visitors, the opportunity to visit, reflect and heal.
https://loom.ly/ajjPkFw

National Infantry Museum reveals new Memorial in Columbus The Fountain City’s National Infantry Museum has a new exhibit that may bring up some emotional memories.

Did you know TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) provides grief counseling for survivors grieving the death of a military loved one? Learn more:

Grief Counseling for Military Survivors TAPS can connect you with one-on-one grief counseling for military surviving families.

Giving friends and family members a memento or keepsake after a funeral service is a thoughtful thing to do. Many people will appreciate—and cherish—a little something to remember a loved one by. They give a nod to a person’s hobby, passion, defining quality or special skill. Here are a few ideas:

Funeral Favors | Funeral Keepsakes | Funeral Ideas Funeral favors are small mementos for friends and family to take with them after a service to remember a loved one. Read through our ideas for funeral keepsakes.

Our Celebration of Life Event Planner, Susie Sorensen from Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary & Cemetery in Colorado, set up this amazing life story to honor this woman's life.

Giving others a L.I.F.T.: Program helps widows, widowers find joy and meaning after the loss of a spouse
https://loom.ly/kaEdvpE

Giving others a L.I.F.T.: Program helps widows, widowers find joy and meaning after the loss of a spouse - American Press When a husband or wife dies, the surviving spouse remains to navigate everyday life in a manner significantly different than what he or she is accustomed to, in addition to dealing with the grief of loss. Ten years ago, Hixson Funeral Home, under the Dignity Memorial brand umbrella, launched the L.I...

Thank you for your tireless work, dedication, and sacrifice. We appreciate you!

As the name suggests, the Merry Cemetery is filled with wildly colorful grave markers that often depict scenes from the lives of the deceased. The goal is to create a true representation of the departed's life.

Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all . https://www.internationalwomensday.com/

Veterans have made important sacrifices for our country, and they deserve to be honored and remembered for their service. As a veteran, you and your loved one may qualify for burial benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). However, there are many misconceptions about these benefits, so it’s important to understand what they include, who qualifies and how to request them. Here's what you need to know. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/plan-funeral-cremation/veterans/va-death-benefits

Veterans Death & Burial Benefits | Dignity Memorial A veteran may qualify for VA burial benefits. Learn about VA death benefits and how a Dignity Memorial provider can help plan a tribute worthy of your sacrifice.