Background: Mr. Danny Gary Tsitouris has been associated with Peninsula Funeral Home since 1983. A native of Newport News, he is a Certified Pre-Planning Consultant and holds a license in Life and Health Insurance. He worked for Riverside Funeral Home in Newport News while a student at Warwick High School, and subsequently served his apprenticeship there. Danny graduated from Warwick in 1979. He then attended Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Atlanta, Ga., graduating in 1982. While in Atlanta, he was employed by H.M. Patterson & Son Funeral Home. Danny is delighted to continue his ..read more

Making your wishes known can be challenging.  Figuring which documents from healthcare plans to financial documents can be hard to keep track of and making sure they are accurate and update.  These documents will help ensure your final wishes are carried out in your preapproved manner. As you are working to get your affairs in order, making sure that your healthcare documents are in order.  One of the healthcare documents you should have in place is an advanced healthcare directive.  An advanced healthcare directive is a form stating how you want to be taken care of in the ..read more

The death of a loved one often leaves us feeling lost and not sure what we can do. It is natural to feel this way. Here are some helpful suggestions to give you insight into how to comfort those who are grieving. Upon learning of a death, intimate friends of the family should visit the home to offer sympathy and ask if they can help. You may prefer to visit the family at the funeral home. This setting may be more comfortable for you and the family, as they are prepared for visitors. After the difficult and busy days surrounding the death, the family is faced with the challenge of trying to re ..read more

Preparing and preplanning for death is never an easy task to tackle.  No one wants to think about death or the life either. The truth is death normally occurs unexpectedly and will throw anyone for a loop. You want to first gather property deeds, vehicle titles, official certificates and the contact information for your attorney, insurance broker and doctor.  Gathering all this information will make it easier for yourself and loved ones as you begin the preplanning stages for your final wishes. A will is one of the most important preplanning documents you can have in place.  The ..read more

The death of a loved one is always a difficult time. But when someone from the Jewish faith passes away, it can be incredibly confusing for those unfamiliar with the customs and traditions associated with Jewish funerals and memorial services. In this blog post, we’ll look at some of the most critical aspects of Jewish funeral traditions, so you can be prepared for what to expect if you ever find yourself attending one. Traditions for a Jewish Funeral A Jewish funeral is typically held within 24 hours of death because it is believed that the body should be buried as soon as possible ..read more

The funeral service industry has been evolving and changing rapidly in recent years. Cremation rates are rising, and traditional burial services are becoming less common. Here are some of the latest trends in funeral and memorial services. A growing number of people are choosing to forgo traditional funeral services altogether. This could be for financial reasons or because they prefer a more low-key send-off. Many options are available if you are considering alternatives to conventional services. One trend becoming increasingly popular is holding memorial services in nontraditional locations ..read more

Choosing readings for memorial or funeral tributes are essential to the funeral planning process, making your loved one’s service more memorable.  You can choose from many readings – poems, resolutions, bible readings, and more.  To choose the best readings, decide what kind of service you want to plan. Based on that, choosing a reading becomes more manageable.  Here are three popular types of readings we suggest here at Peninsula Funeral Home.  Bible Readings  Bible passages and verses can be an excellent option to add to your loved one’s memorial service. The Bible ..read more

People would rather talk about many other things than the daunting and awkward “m” word: money. It’s scary to talk about money with aging parents.  The topic can cause disagreements and tension among families. But the critical thing to keep in mind when discussing money, especially with aging parents, is to approach the conversation with concern, respect, and a plan. While the conversation can be challenging to navigate, experts can offer guidance on how to do so in a way that both adult children and parents can express their opinions and everyone involved can come to an agreeable decisi ..read more

When a loved one passes away, the family or a close relative will likely organize an event that honors and pays tribute to their memory and life. Unlike a traditional funeral, which occurs within a week or two of the beloved’s passing, a memorial service is held without a casket or a body present. It can be held for weeks or even months afterward.  While it is not uncommon to have the loved one’s ashes present in an urn, a memorial service will have similar elements to that of a funeral in that you can expect there to be a eulogy read, there may be songs or prayers given, and there may b ..read more

There’s no manual on how to cope with loss and indeed no right or wrong way to go through the stages of grief that might come from it. Mourning is an intimate and unique experience for each of us. If you or someone you love are going through a loss, the new emotions may feel overwhelming and confusing.  There are at least five emotions associated with grief. Feeling this way is natural and even necessary. These emotions are forward steps in the healing journey, even when it doesn’t feel like it now.  Healing from a loss is possible, but it does take time and patience. Even ..read more