Are you trying to figure out how to prepare for a funeral? Read this article to learn more about getting ready for a funeral.
All throughout life, we, as humans, participate in rituals with our friends and family to celebrate significant events.
From birthday parties and anniversary celebrations to baptisms and weddings, these traditions are woven into the fabric of society.
So, it seems only natural that many of us choose to hold a final ritual when a loved one passes, typically in the form of a funeral.
Not only is it a celebration of a life lived, but funeral practices can be an important part of the healing process.
But, do you know how to prepare for a funeral? Keep reading to learn more about the process of preparing for a loved one’s funeral and why you should consider pre-planning your own.
Planning a Loved One’s Funeral
No matter how much you try to prepare yourself, losing a loved one is a gut-wrenching experience. And, everyone experiences grief differently.
In the days after their death, you may find yourself in a bit of a fog, unable to concentrate on anything. Or, you might cope by going into overdrive and keeping yourself as busy as possible.
In addition to dealing with your own grief, you may find yourself needing to offer extra support to other family members who are also grieving.
And, on top of that, you’ll need to start the funeral planning process to honor who has passed.
It’s a lot to handle all at once.
When you’re faced with planning a funeral, here are a few key things to remember.
Communication Is Important
Most likely, when you’re planning a funeral, you’ll be working with other family members and friends in the process. Emotions are at an all-time high right after the death of a loved one, and people might be more on edge than usual.
This can lead to hurt feelings if one person feels like they don’t have input on the service. Talk things out with everyone involved so that you can all be on the same page about what the funeral should include.
Leave Some Work to the Professionals
There are a lot of decisions to be made following death and that includes choosing a funeral home to hold the service. Find a funeral home that can help present you with choices to make the planning process easier for you.
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis, some funeral homes have shifted their operations accordingly. Find out more about what they’re doing to help families during this unique time.
With a team of professionals on your side, you can take some of the pressure off of yourself to handle everything.
Personalize the Service
While a funeral is undoubtedly sad, it’s also a time to memorialize the person who has passed. Instead of holding a generic service, find ways to personalize it to truly honor your loved one.
You might do this by choosing music they loved or by sharing some of your favorite memories of them.
Write Down the Details
In the aftermath of a death, there are so many decisions to be made that it can be hard to keep everything straight. Write down all the funeral details in one place that’s easy to access.
This way, you’ll know where to look if someone asks you questions without having to wrack your brain to remember.
Accept Help
You may feel like the funeral preparations all fall on your shoulders. However, if other friends or family members offer help, accept it.
Just like you’ve surely supported others in their times of grief, let them support you when you need it.
Planning Your Own Funeral
While it may sound a bit morbid, more and more people are choosing to plan their own funerals, sometimes even as early as in their twenties.
Whether you have specific plans in mind for your funeral service or you just want to lessen the burden on the loved ones you leave behind, consider the following when pre-planning your funeral.
Document Everything
As you start to make decisions about your funeral service, make sure you document the details. You can do something simple like write out a list and store it in a safe place.
Or, you can use online pre-planning tools that will prompt you with questions to answer to help you plan everything. Whatever you choose to do, make sure that your loved ones know how to access your plans once you’ve passed.
Consider Pre-Paying
When you’re thinking about your funeral, you might decide to pre-pay for some or all of the costs involved. You can arrange this by working with a funeral home on the details.
Not only does this ensure that you get exactly what you want, but it takes the financial burden off the ones you leave behind.
Think About the Details
When you imagine your funeral, what do you see? Think about all the details for the ceremony, including:
- A location for the service
- Flowers you want
- Any readings or music you’d like
- Guests you want to invite
The more details you can provide, the better equipped your family will be to put together exactly what you want.
Decide on What Happens to Your Remains
Perhaps one of the most important decisions to make is what to do with your remains. Think about whether you want to be buried, cremated, or donated.
If you want to be buried, what kind of coffin do you want? Where do you want your final resting place to be?
If you want to be cremated, do you want your ashes scattered or held in a specific place? Do you have any specific things you don’t want to be done with your remains?
You get to decide what happens to your body after you die. Pre-planning your funeral ensures that you get what you want.
Now You Know How to Prepare for a Funeral
Knowing how to prepare for a funeral – whether your own or someone else’s – can make a difficult and stressful time a little bit easier.
Read through our other articles for more helpful information about how to make life easier.
