A Step-By-Step Guide On Making Funeral Arrangements

Dealing with the death of a loved one can be devastating. Yet in all the grief you’re still faced with the difficult task of planning for the funeral. 

It can be overwhelming especially if your loved one was not willed. But it doesn’t have to be so.

Use the following step-by-step guide to help you plan the funeral of a loved one with ease: 

• Find Any Pre-Arrangement

When you start making funeral plans for a deceased loved one, you should start by finding out if the deceased left behind their funeral instructions. Such instructions are usually contained in a will or funeral plan. Contact the deceased’s lawyer in case of a will or the funeral home that your loved one may have used to make the funeral pre-arrangements. Pre-arrangements can cover some or all of the funeral expenses and also take care of the appropriate plans for the funeral. For instance, the deceased may have bought a funeral plot, paid off funeral insurance, or detailed which headstone from Tegeler Monument, or another supplier, that they wish to mark their resting place. If the deceased left a funeral plan before transitioning, it’ll provide guidance on the direction to take regarding the funeral arrangements.

• Preserve The Deceased

In the event that the deceased did not ask for direct burial or cremation, the next thing to do is to transport their remains from the place where they died for preservation in a funeral home. 

If your loved one died locally, their remains will be transported by land. However, if they died on vacation or on a business trip out of town, arrangements to bring the body back home should be made. It can either be by air, water, or land but still observing the laws of both locations.

• Decide On The Funeral Type And Costs

Depending on religious affiliations, family traditions, or beliefs, the funeral type you choose should honor the deceased. For instance, the burial can be a traditional burial, cremation, or even a green burial. Whatever you choose has to feel right and comfortable for the rest of the family members and the people grieving the deceased.

Funerals can be expensive and the type you choose will dictate the costs you will incur. A funeral director can be resourceful to help you make these decisions. They can take you through costs and processes to help you decide which one to opt for. Costs will include items and services, such as body storage, body removal services, doctor’s fee, burial, transport service fees, embalming, and casket costs.

These costs can be overwhelming for families, which is why it’s important to do your research and shop around before making a decision. This is why many Big D Texans are hiring cremation services for families in Dallas to help them through this difficult time. Saving both time and money, this option provides a dignified and respectful method for honoring the deceased.

• Choose A Casket And Make Cemetery Arrangements

At this point, you are required to purchase the casket that will be used to bury your loved one or an urn to use. Your family members can help with that decision or In Memory Of Life Funeral Directors, or local experts can help you choose the right one.

The location of interment can be a family plot, a public or private cemetery, or a vault. If the loved one was cremated, the ashes can be dealt with at a later date.

• Choose People Who Will Actively Participate

Pallbearers are tasked with escorting and carrying the coffin from the funeral home to the hearse, then from the hearse to the interment site. Often than not, they can be relatives or friends. You should inform them in advance so that they can be prepared.

People who’ll read the eulogy and speak at the memorial service should also be informed beforehand so that they can prepare their speech. If you have ever been to a funeral? Usually, the deceased’s family talks about the life of the person who has died. Find out more here in Forevory on how long should a eulogy be in words at a funeral and the ideal eulogy length explained.

• Put Together A Funeral Program

This is usually in a printed small booklet which is distributed to people who’ll attend the memorial service. It usually contains the photo, name, and other details of the deceased including their date of birth and death, family, career achievements, etc. 

The events of the day are also outlined in the order in which they’ll occur. It has a list of the speakers, songs, poems, and tributes to the deceased. Moreover, it also contains a message of thanks from the family of the deceased.

• Invite Family And Friends 

At this stage, you should send out invitations to extended family members and friends to attend the burial as soon as you finish planning. You can call them directly or send emails.  Let them also know where to send donations, flowers, or gifts.

• Arrange For An Obituary

You can opt to post an obituary in the local newspapers to inform people who may not know about the death of your loved one. The obituary will share details of the deceased and memorial service. 

Conclusion

If your loved one didn’t have the luxury of time to express their last wishes, planning a funeral may be tedious and overwhelming. But with a systematic strategy in place, as mentioned step by step above, funeral planning doesn’t have to add up to the misery and stress that you might be experiencing right now.