By 2016, 50% of those who die in the U.S. will be cremated. Thousands of families won't know what to do with their loved ones' cremated remains or how to create a meaningful memorial service.

Hail and Farewell: Cremation Ceremonies, Templates and Tips provides all the answers.

Hail and FarewelL covers everything related to creating a meaningful memorial service with cremated remains: Why it's important to hold some sort of goodbye ceremony. A description of the cremation process, so families know what to expect. Examples of different ways to scatter ashes - more than you'd think! Stories of creative memorial services in different settings to spark ideas. Templates to easily create meaningful memorial services. Sample scripts from actual memorial services to provide inspiration. Suggested readings, music and online resources for a wealth of meaningful materials to weave into a service. Hail and Farewell offers invaluable memorial service guidance and ideas. The best time to learn about these issues is before there's a death in the family.

Gail Rubin, CT, is the author of the award-winning books A GOOD GOODBYE: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don't Plan to Die; KICKING THE BUCKET LIST: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die; and HAIL AND FAREWELL: Cremation Ceremonies, Templates and Tips.

She is a death educator who uses funny films to help start serious conversations. Gail is a pioneer of the Death Cafe movement in the U.S. and is a Certified Funeral Celebrant. In addition to her books, she contributes articles to funeral trade magazines and writes The Family Plot Blog. She is a breast cancer survivor, a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) and the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA).

Earlier in her writing career, she wrote A Girl's Pocket Guide to Trouser Trout: Reflections on Dating and Fly-Fishing. The book was a winner in the Humor Category of the 2004 Book of the Year Award.