10 Tips for Planning a Funeral, Part 1
When a loved one passes away, emotions are running wild. Unfortunately, that’s the time when some major decisions must be made if they didn’t plan their own funeral while they were still living. The impact of losing someone and then planning their funeral within the span of a day or two can be overwhelming. But here’s a brief and simple guide that everybody should memorize so they know how to handle the situation when it does happen.
Gather with the family of the loved one. The children and parents of the loved one will likely be making the majority of the decisions so that’s usually the core group. But in some families, aunts and uncles will also be very close to the deceased. The main thing is to gather together and discuss the decisions in a rational manner.
Consult with a funeral director or clergy. In today’s world, you can’t really have a funeral or bury somebody without the help of a funeral director. There are certain guidelines and regulations that you must meet and they vary from state to state. A funeral director is the best way to ensure you meet these regulations for your particular state.
Decide on the type of burial. This is an important decision. Should you cremate the body or have a traditional burial? Usually, the deceased will have expressed a preference before the die or they may have religious beliefs that help you make your decision.
Decide on the type of service. Do you want to have the service at the funeral home or a church? Does your state allow home funerals? If so, that could be an option as well. Do you want more of a religious ceremony or a simple memorial service? Your decision on the type of service will also be a factor in who you choose to lead the service.
Pick some pallbearers. The pallbearers typically consist of six men who knew the deceased. It could be nephews, son-in-laws or any other family members or friends. Also, decide if you want to have them ride in one of the funeral cars or if they should drive themselves.
Since there is still so much more to cover, I’ll post more tips tomorrow.
Filed Under: Funeral Cars
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