Settle-Wilder Funeral Home and Cremation Service

07/31/2026

Friday Funeral Fact:
When composer Frédéric Chopin died in Paris in 1849, he asked that his heart be removed and returned to his homeland of Poland. Today, it rests sealed in a pillar of Holy Cross Church in Warsaw—a quiet reminder that even in farewell, love of home and country can shape how a life is honored.

07/28/2026

Pre-planning Isn't Just for the Elderly
A common myth is that pre-planning is something to handle "later." But documenting your wishes—at any age—is a gift to the people who would otherwise be left guessing.

When you're ready, we're here to help start the conversation.

07/24/2026

Friday Funeral Fact:
During the Victorian era, widows were expected to wear "mourning weeds" for a full year and a day—black crepe dresses, dark veils, and jewelry carved from jet, a deep black gemstone. Each detail reflected the depth of grief expected at the time. While the formal rules have faded, traces of the tradition still appear today in the dark clothing many wear to services.

07/21/2026

Supporting Someone Grieving This Summer
Summer gatherings, holidays, and milestones can feel especially heavy after a loss. Empty chairs are harder to ignore.

An invitation, a check-in text, or simply saying their loved one's name out loud can bring real comfort. Grief doesn't pause for the season—and neither does the love behind it.

07/17/2026

Friday Funeral Fact:
At President Kennedy's funeral in 1963, a riderless horse named Black Jack walked behind the caisson with empty boots reversed in the stirrups—an ancient symbol of a fallen leader. Black Jack would go on to serve in more than 1,000 military funerals, becoming one of the most recognized horses in American history.

07/14/2026

Writing a Meaningful Sympathy Note
When the words feel hard to find, simple is best. A few gentle starting points:

• "I was so sorry to hear about [name]."
• "I'll always remember [shared memory]."
• "Please know I'm thinking of you and your family."

A short, sincere note often means more than a long one. Just being thought of helps.

07/10/2026

Friday Funeral Fact:
The first modern cremation in the United States took place on December 6, 1876, in Washington, Pennsylvania. Dr. Julius LeMoyne, a physician and abolitionist, built the country's first crematory after becoming concerned about the impact of burial grounds on local water sources. His quiet act helped shape an option that families across America turn to today.

07/07/2026

July Is Bereaved Parents Awareness Month
The loss of a child—at any age—is a grief unlike any other. For many parents, the weight is carried quietly, long after the world around them has moved on.

If you know a bereaved parent, simply remembering their child's name, sharing a memory, or sitting beside them in silence can mean more than words. You are not alone in this.

07/04/2026

07/03/2026

Friday Funeral Fact:
When the Marquis de Lafayette—France's beloved ally of the American Revolution—died in 1834, his coffin was covered with soil his son brought back from Bunker Hill. As America marks 250 years tomorrow, his story is a quiet reminder that the bonds forged in the fight for independence have carried across centuries—and across the ocean.