How to Plan a Funeral

When a loved one dies, grieving family members and friends are often confronted with dozens of decisions about the funeral, all of which must be made quickly and often under great emotional duress. What kind of funeral should it be?

Should you bury or cremate the body? What are you legally required to buy? What other arrangements should you plan? Just a few of the many decisions include gathering vital statistics, services, merchandise, flowers, music, obituaries, clothing, luncheon, cemetery arrangements etc. And, as callous as it may sound, how much is it all going to cost?

Each year, Americans grapple with these and many other questions as they spend billions of dollars arranging more than two million funerals for family members and friends. The increasing trend toward pre-need planning - when people make funeral arrangements in advance - suggests that many consumers want to compare prices and services so that ultimately, the funeral reflects a wise and well-informed purchasing decision, as well as a meaningful one.

There are two stages to arranging a funeral. In the first stage, work with your local preplanning consultant or funeral director to explore the options. Once you've made your choices and arranged the ceremony, the second step to arrange is the financing.

Planning a Funeral Ceremony

1. Determine the type of service.

• Traditional ceremony
• Creative expression
• Large or small ceremony

2. Determine the final resting place. Do you want a cemetery plot? Mausoleum? Do you want to be cremated? If you choose cremation, what do you want done with the remains?

Weighing the options in advance is better than making a rushed decision on this personal topic. What best fits your lifestyle and feelings?

With the help of your family owned funeral home funeral director or funeral preplanning consultant, you can create a funeral that will be a personal and dignified tribute.