Gay & Ciha Funeral & Cremation Service

Glad you asked...

Ways to Personalize an Obituary

Often times obituaries follow a similar outline in which basic information is included to notify family and friends of the death of a loved one such as dates of birth and death and the details of f...
By Adam Ciha
In Glad you asked...
Wednesday, November 9, 2016

The Importance of Saying Goodbye

When the death of a loved one occurs in life, one will often immediately feel a sense of shock and pain. As the first few days go by and you are beginning your grieving process, the funeral or memo...
By Adam Ciha
In Glad you asked...
Friday, October 21, 2016

Unique Memorials from Around the World

Every culture has their own unique way in which they honor their loved ones at the end of a life. There are many different traditions and beliefs that are tied in to perform a funeral and memorial ...
By Adam Ciha
In Glad you asked...
Tuesday, October 18, 2016

What is the Iowa Veterans Cemetery

In Eastern Iowa many families and veterans are aware of the near-by national cemeteries; Rock Island and Keokuk, but often when discussing these options with families many are not aware the State o...
By Adam Ciha
In Glad you asked...
Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Managing Social Media and Email After a Loved One has Passed

With the demand and inclusiveness of social media in today’s world of staying connected either personally or for business, it is more than likely that your loved one has many social media accounts ...
By Dan Ciha
In Glad you asked...
Friday, September 16, 2016

Can I Have a Cremation and a Visitation?

The common misconception about cremation is that it is not possible to have a visitation, wake or more formal services. Visitations are not only allowed before a cremation; they are a popular and a...
By Dan Ciha
In Glad you asked...
Friday, July 29, 2016

I Am Next in Line, What Do I Say?

Waiting in the receiving line at a funeral or wake can be stressful for many. It’s often difficult to come up with something meaningful to say on the spot. Being put on the spot is frustrating for ...
By Dan Ciha
In Glad you asked...
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
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Previous Posts

How to Help a Friend Through the Grieving Process

When someone we care about loses someone that is even closer to them, such as a family member we’ve never met, or a good friend we’re not familiar with, it’s hard to know what to say. The bereaved ...

Selecting a Final Resting Place after Cremation

With the passing of a loved one, there are many difficult emotional and psychological challenges ahead. But the one thing that needs to be addressed in short order is whether there is to be a buria...

What if Death Occurs away from home?

Always call your local funeral home. Always. They will make all of the arrangements no matter where the death occurs. Overall, it’s less trouble and imparts fewer burdens on the family. It is also ...

Do you offer Reception Facilities to your families?

Yes, we do. We have facilities here that can comfortably accommodate 75 people. We work with all the local caterers and have them come in and cater for us. It simply allows families to have a recep...

Evening Funeral Service

We recently attended an evening funeral service at your funeral home and appreciated the atmosphere surrounding the service. Is this something new? Yes. More families are finding that they like th...

Ask any questions you may have...

The funeral home industry is a bit of a mystery for most people. We don’t think it should be. In this column Dan Ciha, funeral director and owner, answers your questions. Look, if you’re thinking ...

Traditional Urn Alternatives

Question: My dad loved to fish; can I bury his cremated remains in his favorite tackle box? Answer: Yes, you can. When you talk to families about that possibility, all of a sudden people ar...