Have you ever considered planning your funeral? That might seem like the biggest dilemma in life, but it isn’t. Planning your funeral ensures your wishes are honored. For example, if you prefer an eco-friendly send-off, you can leave detailed burial instructions for your loved ones on how to do it. If you’d prefer your grave to have headstones, your loved ones won’t have to worry about cremation memorials. Planning your farewell can also personalize the ceremony by ensuring it reflects your values and preferences.
After losing a loved one, one of the practical responsibilities that must be fulfilled with immediacy is planning for a funeral. Leaving funeral and burial instructions can help ease the planning burden on your loved ones. With a plan in place, your loved ones will concentrate on grieving and healing, which can provide relief and a much-needed break. Even more, they don’t have to concern themselves with the financial burden of a funeral.
To plan a funeral, you may need answers to basic questions such as: are funeral homes open on holidays? You may also need to know where to find the basic services of funeral directors and staff. This short guide covers some of the most essential funeral planning elements.
When you have had a loved one pass away, you will need to make a lot of burial choices for them. You will have to plan a funeral service and find a basic funeral home to have the event. You will have to notify everyone that the person has passed so that they can attend the services. You will also have a lot of questions about how the funeral and burial arrangements will go.
Can you be cremated without a coffin? In general, most funeral homes will not do this, so you will have to purchase a coffin. However, many people who are having a loved one cremated opt for the most basic coffin for this purpose. It’s helpful to look through the catalog models that the funeral home has in order to choose the right one. If you are choosing burial, you may want a coffin that is more elaborate.
The size of the services that you plan will have a lot to do with how large the person’s circle of friends and family was. Some people have very simple services with just a few people while others need a larger venue that will accommodate a much larger number of people.
If you’re considering planning your own funeral, you aren’t alone. Statistics gathered from a recent AARP study found that 25% of those surveyed have paid for their funeral in advance. Considering that, it’s understandable if you’re ready to begin funeral preparation as soon as possible. In this post, you’ll learn how to begin planning your own funeral.
Early Stages of Funeral Preparation
One of the first things to consider is what will happen with your body. You’ll have two main choices to make which is either burial or cremation services. Statistics gathered from the NFDA Cremation and Burial Report found that 45.4% were buried and 48.5% chose to be cremated. Cremation services provide your loved ones with an urn containing your remains.
After determining this, it’s time to think about the type of service you’ll want. You don’t need to work out the finer details during this stage. Simply give yourself a way to jot down ideas and begin thinking about your preferences. You might consider the mood of your funeral service. One person might prefer a somber affair while others want something more uplifting.
Determining the Details of Your Service
When you’re ready, you can begin to think about further details of your funeral service. For instance, many people wish to have certain songs played during their funeral. It’s important to determine if you would rather have recorded music or a live band. You’ll can also choose to have one or several songs played during your service.
Another important detail to consider is which pictures you’ll want displayed. It’s generally recommended to present pictures that feature you at various ages. You’ll find that family members and friends might want to include pictures they have of you before your service.
Requesting the Help of Others
Next, it’s time to request the help of other people. You’ll want to decide if there will be a religious element to your funeral. If you’re not a religious person, this will not apply to you. However, those who are religious will need to speak to a leader of their faith. In turn, this will help ensure your funeral is handled properly according to your chosen beliefs.
It’s also important to determine if you want anyone to speak at your funeral. If so, you’ll want to reach out to them as soon as possible. Eulogists deliver speeches at funeral that talk about treasured memories or funny stories about you. That being said, certain people might not feel comfortable with such an important task. Therefore, you’ll need to be prepared to possibly deal with a few understandable rejections.
In closing, there are many steps to planning a funeral. Therefore, it’s completely understandable to want help with these matters. With that in mind, consider enlisting the help of a funeral professional. A recent Harris Poll found that 82% of those surveyed felt funeral professionals provided valuable services. It’s important to take your time in order to find a professional a trustworthy funeral service provider. These professionals take care of nearly all phases of funeral preparation. Whether you’re wanting cremation services or a burial, ensure that you’re partnering with a funeral professional.