Call Now Available 24/7 (318)357-8271
For Assistance, Call Now (318) 357-8271
Reducing Stress When Planning a Service
When planning the service of a loved one, having a high degree of stress makes everything more difficult. Pellerin Funeral Homes can offer some tips to help you.
If you are getting ready to make arrangements for a loved one, you may be dealing with a lot of stress. It can be difficult to make these preparations but there are ways to relieve stress. Here are some of the tips that directors of funeral homes in St. Martinville, LA want you to remember when getting ready to start planning a service.
Take the time to rest. People who are dealing with grief are working with a tired mind and body. You do not have to lie down and take a nap. All you have to do is take a few minutes to yourself somewhere quiet so that you can breathe and just sit. Something as simple as that can make a difference in how you handle the arrangements. Many times, people end up ill from exhaustion and stress, so you want to avoid that by resting.
It can be crucial to have other people helping you as you make arrangements. It is not easy to deal with grief and do everything on your own, so be sure to consider that when making plans for a service. By delegating tasks, you can ensure that you can focus on the most important things and that you do not overwhelm yourself.
You want to try and find relief from the grief. Think about the things that allow you to reduce stress and to feel calmer. If you are someone who loves to jog, why not take a few minutes each day to jog? Physical exercise is well known for reducing stress and helping with emotional issues. If you do not want to do something physical, you can sit and read a book or watch a movie. It is important to find these pockets of relief so that you do not get overwhelmed with what you are feeling.
Let the funeral director help you with the arrangements. This is something that can also make a difference when dealing with stress. They will be able to guide you through the process and that means that there will be less stress on you. It can be a huge help, so do turn to professionals for help as you plan your loved one’s service.
As you start making the arrangements for a loved one, finding ways of reducing stress and making the process easier is essential. You need to be certain that you ask for help from loved ones and from the provider of funerary services, and you also want to take some time to rest. The last thing you need is to exhaust yourself. By reaching out to as many people as possible and taking time for yourself, you can make the right arrangements. You can learn more about this by reaching out to a St. Martinville, LA funeral home like us. We have years of experience, and we can ensure that everything you want for your loved one is done correctly. Call us right now or visit us today to get started with all of the arrangements you want for your loved one.
Jim is originally from Orange, Texas and attended Northwestern State University while on a golf scholarship. Jim graduated in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
After graduation, he returned to Texas, where he started a family and worked for an industrial transportation warehouse.
In 2002, Jim received a degree in Applied Sciences from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Sciences and returned to Natchitoches. He has been professionally employed as a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer since obtaining this degree.
Jim joined the staff at Blanchard-St. Denis in March 2008 and became General Manager in 2017. Jim’s level of care for the families he serves is shown everyday by his strong work ethic and his compassion for others at one of the most difficult times in their life.
He is married to Laura Flores and together they are owners of a local restaurant. In his spare time, Jim enjoys spending time with his family and occasionally playing golf with his son, Joe.
Dawn Slaughter has been a resident of Natchitoches since 1994. She moved to Natchitoches from Bossier City to attend Northwestern State University, but South Louisiana will always be “home”. Her dad spent 23 years in the Air Force, during which time she was fortunate enough to live abroad for 3 years and traveled to several countries. She met her husband Jason, at NSU. They have three beautiful daughters, Madison, Morgan, and Mikayla. In 2011, she graduated from Northwestern.
She was a stay-at-home mom for many years. Her husband has subcontracted for cemetery service for the funeral home for over 20 years. She began working at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in November of 2018 as the office administrator and received her funeral director’s license in July of 2019. Dawn takes pride in helping the families of Natchitoches during some of their most difficult times, and helping them prepare their final arrangements to lessen the grief for their families.
Dawn is very active in her church, teaching her little third graders in Sunday School and singing in the choir at Christmas time. She is a member of the Les Amies Service Organization and enjoys volunteering in the community. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and quilting. She is her daughter’s biggest fan in all of their pursuits.
Hunter was raised in Many, Louisiana, he graduated from Negreet High School in 2013. He then obtained an associate degree in applied sciences from Dallas institute of Funeral Service to practice Funeral Directing and Embalming.
In December of 2022, Hunter joined the staff of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Through Hunter’s 10 years of service in the funeral industry he learned how much he loves helping families through the toughest time of their life. Hunter takes pride in treating each family he cares for like his own.
Hunter has two children, Anniston Kate and Lawson. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, hunting, watching any kind of sport, but most of all spending time his children and family.
Tommy started his career with Blanchard St. Denis working part-time. He joined our funeral home full-time in 2011 after retiring from the United States Postal Service with 37 years of service.
Tommy is a lifelong resident of Natchitoches where he graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1970. He furthered his education by receiving an associate degree from Northwestern State University.
He is married to Lisa McClellan. They have 4 children between them and are fondly known as Pepaw and Nana to 8 wonderful grandchildren. Tommy loves the game of golf and plays every chance he gets. He is also a wonderful cook and enjoys doing so for his family.
Tommy is passionate about caring for and seeing the needs of others. He takes pride in helping the people in his community during one of the most difficult times in their life.
Steve was born in Natchitoches and raised in Montgomery. When he graduated from high school, he attended NSU and studied mechanical arts.
He began his career with Gifford Hill and Company, a major construction supply company. While working full-time Steve attended the Shreveport Beauty Academy at night and received his license for makeup and hair styling. After 30 years he retired from Gifford Hill as Regional Manager for the Southwest region.
Steve began working for Blanchard St. Denis in 2012. His new endeavor with our firm gave him the opportunity to work in funeral service, a field he had always wanted to be a part of. Steve loves working side by side with the team at Blanchard St. Denis and helping families after the loss of a loved one.
Steve is married to Phyllis Kinkle Stroud, they have 3 wonderful daughters and 6 beautiful grandchildren.
Anthony lives in Natchitoches. He was born and reared on Cane River and went to school at St. Joseph Elementary and St. Matthew High School in Melrose.
He is married to Janet and they have 2 sons, 6 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
Anthony retired in 2006 from L&L Automotive which he co-owned with his brother. He then opened Anthony’s Auto, selling used cars. He also helps Janet with her catering business, Tatae’s. Anthony joined the team at Blanchard St. Denis in 2020.
Anthony Loves traveling with Janet, spending time with family and talking about cars with his sons and grandsons.
