More and more people realize the importance of proper funeral planning. It’s a solid emotional and financial decision that will allow you the most choice with the least amount of stress. But what are the decisions you will need to make? And what are the most common choices available?
Taking the time to think about these things ahead of time will make the process even smoother.
Choice of Undertaker When Funeral Planning
A major part of your funeral planning revolves around where the service will be held. Maybe there is a certain company that has served your family or community for a length of time. Or perhaps you’ll need to go over some recommendations before you decide. Your church or other organization may have a certain home that is generally used. If there are no preconceived ideas or options, take a good look at the staff of each home and the clientele they have served in the past. Those two things should give you a good feeling for whether a certain home will be the right choice.
Choice of Cemetery Location and Plot
Sometimes this selection can be done well ahead of the time when funeral planning takes place, but often it’s part of the whole process. You’ll be asked to choose a certain cemetery location and then purchase the plot you would like. The plots can be bought in single units, as a pair for spouses and even as a family plot with three or more together. This is an important decision that will have a lasting effect long after you’re gone, so choose well. Geographical locations as well as geological traditions play a role in this decision.
Choosing Between Burial and Cremation
Along with your choice of cemetery plot, you’ll need to decide between having a burial or a cremation. This decision will be based on your personal feelings about each option and religious traditions can come into play. There are economical differences between the two, although the service for either a burial or cremation is essentially the same.
When you opt for burial you’ll need to pick a casket and follow the standards laid out by the funeral home. Open or closed casket is another choice specific to that option and a combination of both is possible.
When cremation is chosen you can still use a casket, but often an urn is also chosen for display or memorial purposes. These are the small decisions that funeral planning takes care of and that can be made with a clear, level head and all of the important options considered.
Choosing the Style of Service
Once the larger, static decisions are made, such as where the ceremony will be held, where the plot is located and whether burial or cremation will follow, the time for smaller choices has come. This includes things like music and speakers at your service, length and time of day it should be held and any other personalized choices that will truly make the time a reflection of you and a celebration of your life.
Feel free to be expressive and unique, a good director or funeral planning consultant will guide you through the process and answer all of your questions.
Making all of these decisions ahead of time and spending time talking it through with your family is an important part of the process. You’ll not only have better choice and an ability to pay for the best options, but you’ll also be saving your family from emotional stress later. These decisions will help to shape the optimum service and experience for each of the survivors and pre-arranged funeral planning is something anyone can do.
Author Resource:
About the author: Convenient Pre-purchase is a useful source for learning everything you need to know about making cemetery pre-arrangements. From information on funeral planning to finance options. Visit the Convenient Pre-purchase website at http://www.convenientprepurchase.com.