A Step-By-Step Guide To Planning a Funeral

Planning a funeral can be an overwhelming experience, especially when you are in the middle of the grieving process yourself. A funeral is a way to honor and remember the person who has passed away, but it’s also much more than that — it’s about celebrating their life, offering support to their loved ones, and helping people come to terms with their loss. This guide will walk you through everything you need to do to make your loved one’s funeral into something they would have been proud of and will help your family members and friends in the process.

Compile information for the obituary

It is the responsibility of the executor or the surviving family members of the deceased person to inform obituary or death notice services about when and where the service will be so they to contact other relatives and let them know. You can search for obituary writers through Google or make your own with information from your loved one's death certificate. Include their full name, date of birth, date of death, the location they died (such as a hospital), cause of death (such as cancer), marital status, and names and ages of children. Be sure to include any hobbies that may not have been mentioned before.  Also, mention any honors or distinctions they received during their lifetime. Finally, list any organizations with which he was affiliated, such as churches, clubs, fraternities/sororities, and unions.

Selecting the Right Funeral Home

One of the most important decisions you'll make is choosing the right funeral home. Remember that different types of funerals require different resources, and certain costs will be higher than others, so pick one that fits your needs. The business should be experienced in handling all kinds of funerals, including cremation and burial services. They should also have facilities for viewing the body after death (viewing rooms) and an appropriate chapel or room for conducting ceremonies. A good funeral director should understand your wishes and desires in advance—and work with you to customize a service to meet them.

Choosing The Right Casket

Caskets come in various shapes and sizes, as well as colors. White is the most popular casket color, and some urns can hold ashes. There are many options when choosing the right casket for your or your loved one's funeral. Some critical factors to keep in mind are a religious preference, budget, comfort level with customs of religion, and intended use of the urn after cremation.

When thinking about choosing a casket, think about whether you want something traditional (wooden) or more modern (metal). If you're looking for an eco-friendly option, consider biodegradable coffins made from bamboo or sugar cane. You should also consider what material is used for inner linings—wool will absorb moisture from a body and shouldn't be used if embalming isn't planned before burial or cremation. Non-embalmed bodies should not be placed in a metal casket without first wrapping them in cloth. When purchasing a coffin, take measurements ahead of time, so you know exactly how much space is needed before they pass away so they don't have to be buried on their back because they won't fit inside any other kind of coffin.

Choosing An Urn Or Memorial Keepsake

One of the first decisions you must make when it comes time for the funeral is what type of urn or keepsake you want. The cost and style will depend on your budget and preferences. You might want an urn that suits your loved one's wishes, but this is not always feasible. For example, cremation takes place so quickly that there is often no opportunity to pick out an urn before cremation. If this is the case, many people choose to purchase their casket in advance. Another option would be purchasing a keepsake after the death occurs. Whichever choice you make will have its pros and cons, so think about what matters most to you and your family before making a decision.

Sorting Through Your Options For Services And Location

Once you've decided on the basics, like a casket and burial or cremation, there are more decisions to make. Some service providers offer online questionnaires that can help you decide on what type of ceremony or visitation you'll want. There is also a variety of places that can serve as your final resting place. Cemeteries typically have large lawns and views, while mausoleums offer more privacy and independence for families with several plots. Be sure to consider how much room you need before making a decision. And consider how often family members will visit the site if they live in town or across the country. If you plan to hold a memorial service at the cemetery, ask about the guest limit and whether food or alcohol will be allowed. Some people prefer to scatter ashes near a loved one's favorite spot (a beach or favorite tree), so talk with loved ones about where they'd like their ashes spread, then arrange it with the funeral home director beforehand.

And finally, choose an appropriate headstone inscription by researching different styles and figuring out which words best capture your loved one's personality.

Planning The Actual Funeral Service

First, you should be sure to have a private meeting with the deceased's family and determine what they want. Do they want an open casket viewing? Should they have guests say something during the service? Are there any memories or stories that should be shared? Next, start working on your ceremony by deciding on readings, songs, and when and where the service will take place. Lastly, figure out how much money is needed for everything, including flowers and food for guests at the reception following the service and ceremony site rental. Once these things are taken care of, planning the funeral is time. Decide who will give the eulogy and reading, make copies of every piece of music being played, prepare hymns and prayers, and choose your officiant. As mentioned before, decide if there will be any speakers and if so, you'll need to work out their travel arrangements too. When selecting music for the processional and recessional, it's important to select pieces that are known but not too recognizable, so people won't think they're in a concert hall! Finally, remember all those details discussed in your first meeting with the deceased's family, such as preferred attire and whether or not there should be live entertainment at the reception.

Figure out details of the service

It's essential to start thinking about what type of service the family would like for their loved one. Whether it be a traditional burial or cremation, many options can be discussed with your pastor, clergy, or funeral director. To arrange the timing of the service and obtain any necessary death certificates (or required license), contact your pastor or another ordained member of your church or religious organization. If no minister is available, find an appropriate person to perform the services. Find out where you want the service by contacting a church in your area. If you don't know where you want the service held, ask friends and relatives if they have any suggestions. Once this has been arranged, call on an experienced funeral director who will work with you to create a personalized program based on the wishes of your loved one, as well as budget constraints and other requirements set forth by law.

Consider flowers or charitable donations

The cost of flowers is an important consideration when creating a budget for your loved one's service. If you have a closed casket visitation, urn, or burial, roses and calla lilies are usually the best choices. For open casket viewings in a church or community center, fresh flowers can be avoided as people may walk through the line. It is customary to bring cut flowers to the funeral home if you would like them displayed at the service.

If you want some part of your loved one's remains buried with relatives or friends, consider a memorial donation in their name instead of buying plants for graveside placement. Many non-profit organizations help families cover funeral costs by offering free services such as cremation, transportation to the cemetery, or grave markers. To find out more about these organizations, contact your local funeral home or search online for free funerals.

Arrange funeral transport

The coffin is frequently driven to the service in a hearse when planning a conventional funeral. Limos carrying friends and relatives then follow it. This can be arranged with the aid of your funeral director. However, just because it's customary doesn't mean you have to reserve a hearse and limos. Many individuals now opt for more intimate funeral transportation, such as tractors, fire trucks, and milk floats. Or you might choose a funeral transportation option that is a little less extravagant. It may be cheaper to ask everyone to travel independently to the service.

Conclusion

Figuring out the last details of a loved one's life and saying goodbye is tough. Planning their final resting place and ceremony can help. Funerals allow you to process the death healthily, give your loved one closure, and honor the memory of your loved one. That's why it's essential to plan and create meaningful ways for everyone involved to participate in the service. You'll need to research what type of service will be appropriate for your loved one and what type of burial or cremation options are available in your area. Finally, you'll need to secure any necessary permits. After that, all that's left is arranging the details with the person who will conduct the ceremony and ensuring everything else is taken care of so you can focus on grieving during this difficult time.