Losing a loved one is an extremely difficult time. It takes time to get through the grieving process. In the meantime, you are trying to plan a funeral, arrange for flowers, figure out the music and much more. One of the main things that many struggle with is what to do with all of the flowers following the memorial service. To make sure nothing gets left behind and the flowers are put to use, consider the following ways to best use them.

Donate them.

If you are looking for a home for a few flower arrangements or hanging baskets, why not consider taking them to a nursing home, hospital or religious organization? There are plenty of people in nursing homes and hospitals who never have anyone pay them a visit, let alone bring them flowers. That basket of flowers could bring a smile to their face and brighten their day. A little act of kindness in the wake of a tragedy can go a long way for someone who might be alone.

Leave them at the gravesite.

Many families take the flowers, wreaths and grave blankets to the gravesite and have them left on their loved ones grave. Some will even have certain flowers buried with their loved one as a memento of their connection with that individual. You can pick and choose which ones you want to go inside of the gravesite and which ones you want to remain on top by their headstone.

Give the flowers to the funeral home.

If you don't want the flowers to go to the gravesite and you don't want to take them home with you, there is always the option of leaving them with the funeral home. They can take the arrangements and spread them out around their facility to help give it a little color and a fragrant aroma. The arrangements can also be used to decorate a room where the individual might not have gotten any arrangements delivered. Ask the funeral home if they can use them. You might be surprised at how many different uses they have for the flowers.

Regardless of whether you got 10 arrangements delivered or you had 100, there are plenty of different uses for the flowers. Spend some time deciding if there are certain ones you want to keep, certain ones to donate and certain ones to leave. It's up to you how you want to disperse them.

To learn more, contact a funeral home like Linnemann Funeral Homes.