Pre-Planning Funeral & Cemetery Needs
Lester Robert Bittel said, "Good plans shape good decisions." You can shape a good decision for your loved ones after your death by planning now. Preplanning your funeral, and those tasks and events around it, will relieve your family of many burdens that add to the stress, anxiety and sorrow that they are feeling.
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Take Inventory
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Start a journal and record your thoughts and decisions. Collect important papers, wills and deeds and place copies of each in your journal. List the items you own. If you haven't already, get your will, power of attorney and living will completed, signed and witnessed. Make of list of your accomplishments, noting those that you're particularly proud of. Make of list of friends and family and how to reach them, noting why each is important to you. Record important events in your life. You may wish to share your earliest memories.
Research
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You'll find that you have many decisions to make. Look over your options. You'll find resources on the Internet, at the library and at the funeral home. Be sure to consider the cost and how to pay for the funeral. If you haven't already put together a financial plan, complete with life insurance or equivalent savings, do so now. Research and understand The Funeral Rule, so you'll know your consumer rights when meeting with the experts later.
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Get Family Involved
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Funerals are for the living. You'll want to cater to the wishes of your loved ones. Of course, you may choose to skip this step in some cases. Nobody likes to talk about death, especially the death of a loved one. Make the conversations light and factual. Ask about their preferences. Should you use the funeral home back home or the one nearest your home? Perhaps you'd like to forgo flowers but your daughter's penchant for growing lovely orchids might mean a compromise.
Go to the Experts
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Preplanning requires the expertise of those in the industry. They will help you with the details. Take along your journal. You'll be ready with most of the answers to the questions they will ask you since you've already researched the topic and discussed this with your family. You'll be faced with a number of decisions, which could include whether you should have a funeral, what music will be played during the service and who will deliver the eulogy. Other issues that may need to be addressed could be should the flag be folded or draped and will there be a 21 gun salute (if you are burying a veteran).
Beyond arranging the actual ceremony, an expert will also aid you with casket selection, locating your final resting place, an urn (if you will be cremated), memory cards and guests books.Also, and this is rather important, the experts will help you with the decision to pay for the funeral now, saving your loved ones the hassle later.
Get It Together
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Look over your journal again. Now collect the important points and record them on the first page. On the inside cover, record important information, such as your parents' names, your social security number, your birth date and other information your loved ones will need.
Celebrate
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You'll want to keep your journal with you, as you need to update it. You should record new events, such as the birth of your first great-grandchild. However, be sure that your family knows where to find the journal. Above all, don't let planning for death become a sad process. Like your funeral, make it more of celebration of your life and wisdom.
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