Resources

Grief Support

Things That Helped Me During the First Week of Loss

Drawing from 15 years as a funeral director and personal experience with loss, Caroline Schrank offers unglamorous but vital advice for the brutal first week of grief: reset your body with sunlight and water, ask for real help, tackle one task at a time, and protect your space amid well-meaning questions.

February 15, 2026 Read More

Funeral Planning

Planning Your Goodbye: A Prescription for the People You Leave Behind

Inspired by the regret of losing her father without knowing his wishes, Caroline Schrank shares why documenting your end-of-life plans is a profound gift to your loved ones, easing their grief and preventing uncertainty. Follow a simple 4-week guide to create your goodbye prescription.

February 14, 2026 Read More

Funeral Homes

How to Choose a Funeral Home: Truths, Old Wives’ Tales, and the Questions That Protect You

One of the phrases I remember most from mortuary school was something my teachers (who were funeral directors) said over and over: CYA. Cover your ass. In a profession where every detail matters, this mindset can sometimes leave families without the full picture—Ripple is here to change that.

February 13, 2026 Read More

Cremation

Cremation Options, Clearly Explained

Cremation is often marketed like a single, simple product. In one sense, that’s true: the cremation process itself is highly standardized. But families’ experiences can vary widely based on communication, transparency, and what options are actually offered. Ripple breaks cremation down in plain language so you can make choices that fit your family—without confusion, pressure, or surprise costs.

February 03, 2026 Read More

Funeral Home

What to Say (When You Call a Funeral Home) After Someone Dies

If you're in shock after losing someone, this guide from a licensed funeral director gives you the exact phone script, questions to ask about burial vs. cremation, pricing transparency tips, and empowers you to advocate for yourself when dealing with funeral homes.

January 25, 2026 Read More

Hospital Death

What Happens When Someone Dies in a Hospital

Navigating a loved one's death in a hospital can feel overwhelming amid grief. This guide by licensed funeral director Caroline Schrank outlines the immediate steps—pronouncement, family time, body transfer to the morgue, and coordinating with funeral homes—while emphasizing emotional support and self-care through Ripple's community.

January 22, 2026 Read More

First 24 Hours

What to Do in the First 24 Hours After Someone Dies

The initial 24 hours after losing someone can feel like a blur of shock and decisions. Created by licensed funeral director Caroline Schrank and the Ripple team, this guide offers a compassionate checklist for securing pronouncement, notifying loved ones, gathering essentials, and prioritizing self-care to help you navigate grief with practical steps and community support.

January 20, 2026 Read More

Death at Home

Who to Call When Someone Dies at Home

Navigating the first moments after a loved one dies at home can be confusing and overwhelming. Licensed funeral director Caroline Schrank shares clear guidance on who to call based on the circumstances—hospice, expected, or unexpected—and practical next steps to ease your burden during grief.

January 19, 2026 Read More

Unexpected Death

First Steps After An Unexpected Death

Losing someone unexpectedly can be overwhelming. This guide, created by licensed funeral director Caroline Schrank, offers clear, compassionate steps for the first hours after a sudden death. Learn what to do practically, how to care for your emotional well-being, and where to find community support through Ripple.

January 13, 2026 Read More

Support After Loss

Why It’s Time to Support the Living at Funerals

After the funeral, everyone goes home and the grief really begins. Ripple exists because no one should be abandoned the day after the service. We support the living—for months and years, not just one afternoon.

September 10, 2024 Read More

No Funeral Home Needed

Why You Don’t Need a Funeral Home to Have a Funeral

Modern funerals don’t require chapels, viewing rooms, or $15,000 packages. Ripple proves you can say goodbye exactly how your person would have wanted—without ever stepping foot in a funeral home.

September 05, 2024 Read More

Funeral Wishes

Why Your Funeral Wishes Should Be Known to Your Loved Ones

The greatest gift you can give your kids is a one-page document that says exactly what you want (and don’t want). Without it, guilt + grief + high-pressure sales = thousands wasted.

July 19, 2024 Read More

Home Memorial

Why do we rely on the Funeral Home to organize a Memorial when you can have a DYI one at home?

A licensed funeral director reveals why funeral homes don’t want you to know you can easily plan a far better, far cheaper memorial yourself at home—and shares her exact playbook from her own father’s perfect send-off.

May 05, 2024 Read More

Casket Prices

Why do we spend a fortune on caskets when it’s going in the ground or to a crematory?

Licensed funeral director exposes the biggest upsell in the industry: caskets. Here’s the honest truth about what’s necessary vs. what they want you to buy when you’re grieving.

April 23, 2024 Read More

Alternative Memorials

Why do we put memorials in the hands of funeral directors when there are so many alternatives?

Most funeral directors are not event planners. They want it over fast because it’s convenient for them, not because it’s best for you. Here’s why you should never settle for their one-size-fits-all timeline and outdated rooms.

April 17, 2024 Read More

Secular Memorial

Why are secular memorials roped to traditional funeral homes when they can be anywhere we want them to be?

More and more people are spiritually unaffiliated (the “Nones”). Yet the funeral industry still forces everyone into the same religious-tinged box. Here’s why that’s wrong and how to break free.

April 12, 2024 Read More

Grief Support Gifts

Why do we send flowers when we can send something truly necessary to a person who has lost someone they love?

Grieving people don’t need another Edible Arrangement rotting on the counter. They need meals, cleaning help, childcare, therapy—or just someone to wash their hair. Here’s the new way to show up.

April 07, 2024 Read More

Next of Kin

Who is the person responsible for making decisions after someone dies?

Next of kin and executor are NOT always the same person. Here’s exactly who gets to make decisions about the body, funeral, and estate — and why it matters.

March 13, 2024 Read More

Living Will

What is a living will?

Discover what a living will is, how it differs from a traditional will and durable power of attorney, what decisions you can include, and why having one spares your family heartbreaking choices later.

March 03, 2024 Read More

Grief

What is advanced planning for a funeral?

At every major stage of life, we're surrounded by support. From engagements and weddings to baby showers and retirement parties, we celebrate each milestone with our loved ones by our side.

February 27, 2024 Read More

Appointment of Agent

What is an appointment of agent in the disposition process?

Learn what an Appointment of Agent is, why it overrides next-of-kin in NY, how it works instantly (unlike a will), and why every New Yorker should have one alongside their regular will.

February 16, 2024 Read More

Grief

The Fullest: Guide to Preparing for Your Own Passing

At every major stage of life, we're surrounded by support. From engagements and weddings to baby showers and retirement parties, we celebrate each milestone with our loved ones by our side.

January 04, 2022 Read More

Grief Support

What Not To Say To Someone Grieving During The Coronavirus Crisis

During COVID, grief is already complicated and isolating. Avoid these 11 common phrases that unintentionally cause more pain, straight from grief experts and the bereaved.

March 04, 2021 Read More

Grief

Approaching Death Holistically

At every major stage of life, we're surrounded by support. From engagements and weddings to baby showers and retirement parties, we celebrate each milestone with our loved ones by our side.

June 23, 2020 Read More

Grief

Bespoke Memorials

At every major stage of life, we're surrounded by support. From engagements and weddings to baby showers and retirement parties, we celebrate each milestone with our loved ones by our side.

December 13, 2019 Read More

Grief

Career Reinvention: From Photo Shoots to Funerals

At every major stage of life, we're surrounded by support. From engagements and weddings to baby showers and retirement parties, we celebrate each milestone with our loved ones by our side.

November 05, 2019 Read More