Funeral Planning
Having previously participated in funeral preparation for a few members of my family there are some things I would notice. Foremost, if the deceased did not say beforehand how they wanted their funeral to be, then it is the decision of the closest family members. Would your loved one desire to be buried or cremated? What type of casket should be picked out?
If it is up to the family members to make the decisions, they must agree on how much to spend on the casket or the urn. This can be a problem if all concerned do not agree. In my experience I have found that it is best not to obligate the family for more than they can afford.
A decision has to be made on where to hold the service. Will it be a graveside service or will it be help in a church sanctuary. Another option is to use the chapel at the funeral home that has been chosen.
Will the casket be included as part of the funeral or will the casket be removed? Would the family desire floral arrangements or would they want donations to their departed one’s favorite charity?
Will the family accept visits from relatives and acquaintances before or after the funeral? Is there going to be a reception and will refreshments be served?
There are questions that need to be answered by the funeral director. These include such things as how the funeral announcement will be announced in the newspaper if this is desired. Also, how does the family apply for a death certificate to use in handling the estate of the deceased person?
I have been fortunate in dealings with my family members when it was our time to plan funerals. We were usually agreed on how it should be handled. This is not true in some families and much dissension can arise at this time.
Today, many people are opting for a different kind of funeral that we were used to in the past. Cremation has become more prevalent in recent years as have memorial services held in place of a traditional church service with the casket present.