Experience the peace of mind that comes from knowing your loved ones will not be burdened with funeral decisions during their time of mourning and remembrance.
Ensure that you are able to make all of your funeral and life celebration choices deeply personal, authentic to your own standards, lifestyle, and beliefs.
Financially prepare for your service, getting an accurate estimate on the total cost and beginning the process of setting aside some funds. This is another important way to ease responsibilities for your family and friends.
The pre-planning experience is by no means a morbid one. On the contrary, it is a positive and even comforting step you can take to make sure that all arrangements are made for your service, that those who survive you will be able to celebrate your life knowing full well that the service is exactly as you wished it would be. Pre-planning is an act of service, as well: It minimizes the chance that any planning difficulties, obstacles, or uncertainties will arrive to distract your family members during their season of bereavement and reflection.
Our compassionate and experienced staff members are prepared to offer helpful, empathetic assistance as you seek to plan your service. This is not a complicated or high-pressure undertaking—just a time of reflection, in which you can make sure that all of your wishes are recorded, your plans mapped out. Our staff will guide you through the process; you will have the opportunity to complete a Meaningful Funeral document, which you can then safely store with all of your other important documents. Learn more about memorialization options.
Planning a funeral for yourself or for a loved one requires organization in the midst of grief and sadness. Consult these guidelines on the most important elements of funeral planning that you and your loved ones should know.
When a loved one dies, family members are left with the weighty responsibility of arranging the funeral, and ensuring that the final wishes of their loved one are honored. However, this can be stressful, especially when the deceased leaves behind no clear wishes or requests.
One thing you can do to remove this burden from your family members is to pre-plan your funeral, and to set in process the necessary arrangements. Not only will this help your family members during their time of grief, but it will ensure that your wishes are met, that the funeral service is just what you want it to be.
Consider starting the planning process today, with our help. Get our free planning guide to help you get started.
Contacting the legal representative of a departed friend or loved one is an emotional time, but you need to know what steps are next. You may learn that they had planned on having their funeral arrangements made in advance if so - this will give direction about how these plans should be carried out afterward!
The funeral home is an important part of the process. They help plan and carry out services for you, so it's best to speak with them about timing ahead of time if possible! The death of a loved one is never easy, and if you didn't have Preneed Funeral Insurance, we recommend selecting your funeral home now. A funeral director will help with the planning process as well as carry out services for this very important occasion in life.
When a person dies, their remains are handled differently depending on what you plan to do with them. Burial is the most traditional way of disposing of human remains but if that's not an option then cremation or even just burial may be for your family members who have different preferences about how they want others to look at part of themselves after death has occurred.
Types of services include:
Many people choose a religious location to hold services in honor of their loved ones. You may hold the service at your local church, synagogue temple or mosque-the choice is yours!
Clergy and an Officiant are two different terms for people in the clergy who perform pastoral service. They do not have any religious ties but offer weddings, funerals, or blessings instead of conducting them themselves like a priest would at their temple/church.
If burial was chosen, the type of casket you choose for your loved ones will affect how they are viewed and remembered. The choice between an open or closed coffin depends on personal preference and funeral customs but it's something you should discuss with your family ahead of time so they know what to expect at the event.
Burial vaults are commonly used for the safekeeping of coffins, and they can be found all around us. Burial containers are often made of concrete and enclose coffins so that they can keep their contents safe from sinking.
Arrange clothing, jewelry, and glasses in a specific order. Be mindful of how you want them to look while they're still living so that it's easy for you when the time comes!
Make sure you discuss cosmetology and hairdressing with the funeral director.
If you've decided to cremate your loved one, then select an urn or niche space and a cremation container.
You can arrange for the opening and closing of your loved one's grave at a cemetery.
Endowment care is a type of arrangement that pays for the extensive costs to maintain a grave for perpetuity, or until it runs out. Endowment care is typically purchased with an initial payment, but future costs may be spread out over time at your discretion
Graveside committal service is a funeral ceremony that usually follows the casket out of the church, before being buried or cremated.
The ceremony of committal is a very important and sacred event. The chapel provides an ideal space for this religious ritual that should be done in the presence of family members, friends, or colleagues who have come together to share their memories with you on your day honoring them by giving back life again after death.
A grave marker, also known as a tombstone, headstone, or monument is an upright structure, typically made of stone or metal, generally erected over a burial place.
It is important to choose the right time and place for your family's visitation service. This can be done by understanding what their preferences were in regards to when they would like people to express themselves, as well as how many visitors should attend at one go.
An obituary is an article published in the newspaper upon the death of a person, typically including information about their life.
The deceased person's family and friends should decide who will deliver the eulogy. This speech or piece of writing is meant to praise their life, so make sure it honors them appropriately!
When someone passes away, it is important to share their story with friends and family. It can be difficult for those left behind but there are many ways you could go about doing this! One idea would be through sharing some text that means something special or contains memories from your time spent together."
You can show others what they meant by displaying personal possessions or photographs of them, and it's also an opportunity for you - who have lost someone close-to remember all that was great about this person in front of everyone else!
Decide on the type of memorial video production you would like. This could include photos, music, or even animation to help celebrate your loved one's life and legacy in this world!
Memorial prayer cards are an excellent way to invite guests of all ages and religions into your home. Not only will they sign their name, but many times when people receive one of these cards in church or at work they'll look up from their reading long enough for you to ask them if it's okay with their family member who has passed away before writing something personal on behalf yourself asking that person’s favorite virtue be remembered during this time. That kind gesture can help make someone feel more honored than ever!
Funerals are a time to grieve and celebrate the life of your loved one. Make sure you have everything prepared early so it can be done smoothly on time at the ceremony! Ask friends and family if they can help with anything - like carrying the coffin at their funeral service! Schedule instrumentalists or vocalists so everyone has something inspirational playing during these arrangements. Find a florist who knows what kind of flowers would be most fitting for this occasion.
You are welcome to call us any time of the day, any day of the week, for immediate assistance. Or, visit us in person at your convenience.