Tips on How To Plan a Funeral
It can be a difficult and overwhelming time when a loved one passes away. Often, you’ll also have to take responsibility for planning their funeral or memorial, which can be especially stressful to handle while you’re grieving.
To make sure you arrange all the necessary details to ensure a smooth service for your loved one’s passing, having a funeral arrangements checklist can be helpful. Read on to learn more.
Contact the Necessary Parties
One of the first things you should do is notify immediate family members and close friends of your loved one’s passing. If they had a legal representative, like an attorney, who helped with estate planning and the like, it’s also best to contact them.
Depending on the nature of your loved one’s death, you may also need to contact the family doctor or the police. This may be applicable if the death occurred at a hospice or if it was due to an accident.
Check for Pre-Arranged Plans
Sometimes, your loved ones may have already planned their funeral beforehand. If nothing has been entrusted to you, check with your other family members or contact the funeral director you know they’ve been in contact with
Once you have the documents with the details of their desired service, simply follow through with the plan. Pre-planning usually covers all necessary funeral arrangements, but if there are any missing elements, you’ll have to make decisions and cover the costs. If there is nothing pre-planned, you will need to decide everything with the rest of the family.
Choose a Funeral Home
As mentioned above, you’ll have to make the funeral arrangements if nothing is planned in advance. To start, you must choose a funeral home. Since there may be a lot of options, it’s a good idea to research the ones around your area and compare prices and services. You may also ask friends or family for any referrals.
Many funeral homes offer different packages with varying prices. So, it’s essential to know your budget and the services you’ll need before deciding.
Decide the Type of Disposition
This is often influenced by cultural and religious beliefs, as well as personal preferences. If your loved one didn’t specify what they want, you can decide with your family members. Common final dispositions are burial or cremation.
If you choose a burial, you’ll need to select a casket, while a cremation requires an urn. Funeral homes have a range of options available with different materials and designs. Both a burial and a cremation may be followed by a memorial service. To learn more about your options or available packages, consult your funeral director.
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Arrange Transportation for the Deceased
Transportation is crucial when planning a funeral, as you’ll need to transfer the deceased to various places. This includes the funeral home where their remains will be handled, the service location, and the burial site or final resting place.
Besides that, additional transfers may be necessary if the death occurs while the deceased is out of town or if the remains are to be brought back to their hometown. Usually, the transportation is arranged by your funeral director.
Select Other Funeral and Memorial Products
Once you’ve selected a funeral home and decided on the type of service, you’ll need to plan the rest of their details. This includes selecting the music, flowers, and other mementos you’d want to include during the service.
In addition, you also get to choose readings or prayers for your lost loved one and decide on any eulogies or speeches during the service or burial. To help you plan, it’s best to have a list of family members and close friends who are expected to speak at the service.
Invite Family and Friends
After all the arrangements are settled, you need to notify others about the funeral or memorial service. This includes extended family, friends, and colleagues who have not been contacted yet. Sending out invitations, messages, or emails will help ensure that everyone who wishes to attend is aware of the service.
Losing a loved one is never easy, and having to arrange their funeral makes everything twice as difficult. With a funeral arrangements checklist, you can better handle the necessary details for a service that best reflects the life and memory of your lost loved one. If you need more information about memorial plans and services, consult a funeral director near you.
