Planning a funeral can be a daunting task that can take an emotional toll on anyone involved, especially the one planning it. We’re here to help.
Planning
Select the funeral home
The first step in planning a funeral is to select a funeral home. It’s best to choose one that offers all of the services you’re looking for, has a good reputation, meets the potential religious needs of the family involved, is close by home, and within your budget.
Choose a location
When choosing the location for a funeral, there are many options. It can be done at a church, a cemetery, or anywhere that had meaning to the deceased.
Find the right casket
This can usually be done at the funeral home that is chosen. From there, the service can have the casket open or closed.
Add-ons
Extra items can be added to the casket such as clothing, jewelry, or other special articles. If it is chosen to have an open-casket service, makeup and hair will be discussed with the funeral director.
The Service
- Write an obituary
- Choose speakers who were close to the deceased
- Gather meaningful items for a display
- Select appropriate music and flowers
Final steps
- Arrange where in the cemetery the casket will be buried
- Choose the gravestone
- Schedule visitations
All in all…
Funerals can be a time of great sorrow and emotional burdens. When planning a funeral, the last thing needed is more stress. We hope this list helps with the basics of what is needed to plan a funeral. Starting with the right funeral home, the location to hold the service, finding the right casket, accessories, details of the service (writing the obituary, choosing speakers, making a display, choosing music and flowers), and the final steps such as arranging the cemetery where the burial will occur, choosing the gravestone, and scheduling visitations should put you on track for a smooth and meaningful service with family and friends.
Keep in mind, it is best to start the planning process about one to two weeks after the death. If you choose to hire the assistance of a funeral home, less time is needed to get everything prepared. The most important thing to remember is that the big decisions should lay in the hands of the relatives of the deceased. It is an emotional time for everyone involved so don’t forget to keep loved ones in mind when making decisions for the funeral service. These relatives will usually make decisions that would be in the best interest of the deceased.