Pre-Planning Your Funeral

PREPLANNING YOUR FUNERAL

There is one conversation that many people avoid, and that is talking about their funeral.  Would your family know what to do when they get that inevitable phone call that you have died?  Have you ever talked about a funeral with your family?  This is something that is very difficult for many people to think about, let alone, discuss.  But the fact is, that one day, everyone is going to die and their family will need to go in to the funeral home and have that discussion with the funeral director. Having that conversation with your family ahead of time will empower them to have a healthy grief experience. Will the decisions that you make regarding your funeral help your family to transition into a world without you in it, and help them begin to heal? 

That is why it is so important to make your funeral prearrangements ahead of time.  By putting an intentional plan in place before you die, your family is not left to wonder what to do next.  Many urgent tasks and decisions that could be a huge burden to your family at the time of your death are handled now.  This leaves your family the opportunity to spend more time together, share memories, and be of support to each other, rather than having to deal with decision making.

When you meet with a prearrangement counselor to preplan your funeral, there are several things that they will help you with.  They will gather all the vital statistics that are needed to complete your death certificate and obituary. They will need to have a copy of your discharge papers, cemetery information and life insurance policies. You will select your type of service. 

It is also possible to pre-pay your funeral, locking in the prices on many parts of the funeral expenses at today’s costs, not what they will be at the time of your death.  Prepaying can also protect your assets and help you qualify for Medicaid if you are going into a nursing home.

The more things that you can take care of ahead of time, the easier it will be for your family as they begin to cope with a world that you are no longer a part of. If you have an intentional plan in place, your family will be able take the time to pause, reflect and properly nurture their grief.

Sharon Rickaby, CPC

Certified Preplanning Consultant

Anderson Funeral Home, Adrian

Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield