Whether a loved one’s passing is expected or unexpected, emotions arise. There is confusion about what to do next, what the deceased’s funeral wishes might have been, and, of course, sadness and grief at the loss.
Preplanning funeral arrangements isn’t as hard as it might seem to be. Clearly, there is an emotional toll to talking about the eventual passing of a loved one, but quite often it is much easier to do beforehand than having to figure everything out after the person has passed away, with your emotions high and your strength drained.
When I use the word “preplanning”, it doesn’t have to be sitting down with a funeral director and talking about options. The first place to start would be to have a conversation with the person whose health may not be the best or who is nearing the end of their life. This is a serious topic, so it can be a hard but important conversation to have. This can save you from the mental drain of wondering if the funeral you plan is what the person wishes for.
Funeral directors can take a much more serious approach to the subject and can also offer ideas you may never have thought of. We write your loved one’s wishes down on paper so there is never any question about what they have in mind for themselves upon their passing. We gather statistical information, such as date of birth and Social Security number, for death certificates, which are used to handle everything in the deceased’s name, such as bank accounts, cars, real estate, pensions, etc.
We also discuss whether the person would like a church service or a service at the funeral home, or neither. If the person is a veteran, we would discuss the benefits the Veterans Administration provides to those who served our country. We can talk about different options, such as cremation, burial, or even green burials, which are growing in popularity every day. More people are curious about returning to the earth naturally, and there are many options that are not well known if you don’t talk to a professional. We help write an obituary for your loved one or at least give you a starting point to write all about what that person loved to do, groups they were a part of, and topics they held dear to their heart.
No matter what, discussions about death are important. We are all going to pass away one day, whether we like it or not. When the time actually comes, and you are planning your loved one’s funeral, will you have everything together? Start by having a conversation with your family. They will be the ones handling your funeral arrangements after you pass away, so it would be best to let them know your wishes now, while you are still here with us.
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