Arrangements, plans, and preparations you make in advance so that everything will happen in an orderly way but funeral arrangements may be done in a short time.
Post-planning vs Pre-planning:
Post Funeral Arrangements are made at the time of death, usually by surviving family members or by a trusted friend on behalf of the deceased. Making Funeral Plans at the time of death is particularly difficult because the emotions are high as survivors are dealing with their grief. Not only is there much planning to do, but there are also imminent financial concerns as well.
Pre Planning Arrangements are the funeral plans that people make in advance. Pre-Need funeral plans can be made at any time and it offers many advantages. Funeral Homes, cemeteries and other funeral service companies can help you preplan a funeral for yourself, your spouse or parent. Also, how-to guides, planning worksheets, and interactive tools are now readily available at websites and can help you create a funeral plan. Planning online is a convenient way to plan and it puts you in control of the process.
Reasons to Pre plan your Funeral:
- To ease the burden on your family.
- To assume the financial responsibility for your funeral
- You want your family to have the benefit of a meaningful funeral
- You want your final wishes to be followed
- You want to be self-reliant and have your affairs in order at the end of your life.
Funeral Planning Tips:
- Pre-planning Funeral Advice
- Casket Caution
- Rentals save money
- Speakup and ask for funeral planning advice
- An urn can serve for the viewing.
- Know the rules when planning a funeral
- Request a plain metal or plastic containers when picking up cremains.
Steps of Funeral Planning
- Pre-Arrangements
The first thing to do when a loved one passes away is to determine if any pre-arrangements have been made. Sometimes, the deceased may have taken it upon themselves to pre-plan their services by making certain decisions regarding the burial and selecting funeral items in advance. The purpose of these pre-arrangements is to help relieve the logistical and financial stresses from those left behind. However, sometimes families only record their wishes and never prepaid their funeral arrangements. If pre-arrangements have not been made, the family will be responsible for making all the decisions surrounding the funeral arrangements.
- Funeral Services
After pre-arrangements have been addressed, it’s time to meet with a funeral director to make service arrangements. First, you must decide on the type of services you would like. A Traditional Funeral with visitation, the celebration of life service, memorial service with a gathering of friends or no services at all. Depending on how the death occurred, families may elect for a private visitation for close family and friends rather than a public visitation. After determining the type of services then you will need to determine the type of disposition either burial or cremation. The funeral home will also gather other important details needed for the funeral to go as smoothly as possible.
- Memorial Items
If cemetery property has not already been purchased, family members will meet with the officials of their selected cemetery to purchase a plot, crypt, or niche depending on their wishes. Families moving forward with a burial should be advised that pricing will largely depend on the location of the space and the size and style of the plot.A prepaid funeral plan is a secure and cost-effective method of ensuring that your funeral is arranged and paid for in advance of your death, ensuring that there are no financial or practical concerns for remaining family members or executors. It also means that any wishes you have for the funeral arrangements will be carried out under your instructions.