Planning a funeral is not a fun task for anyone. Sorting through the emotions involved in losing a loved one can be difficult enough, and needing to plan a funeral on top of that can really complicate things. Still, it needs to be done, and unfortunately, it needs to be done sooner rather than later. You may be feeling like you're in a fog and unable to make decisions, but things may be easier than they seem. Organization is important to make sure you don't forget anything. If you are unsure on where to start, then having some of the most commonly asked questions answered can help a lot. Here are some things you may or may not be wondering about funerals.
Pre-Arrangements
When people get older or know their time is coming, they may make some arrangements for their own funeral. They may have shared wishes for what they want their funeral to be like, and they may have already paid for all or part of it. Finding this out first can be beneficial for several reasons:
- It can save you the stress of planning everything.
- It makes your loved one's wishes known.
- It can save you a great deal of money if some things have been paid for already.
If you don't know anything about pre-planned funeral arrangements, talk with some of your close family members just in case. You don't want to pay for something twice or do something your loved one wouldn't want just because you didn't have all of the information upfront.
Embalming
There are many who may not be familiar with embalming. Embalming is a process that helps prolong the body and prevents it from beginning to decompose. Since the funeral will most likely be several days after the person has passed, embalming is important to help keep the body preserved as long as possible. It is pretty common for there to be a viewing of the body. This can help bring people closure and help them accept the reality of what has happened. For this process, embalming is important.
Cost
The cost of a funeral can vary widely and is dependent on many different factors. If money is tight, you may be stressed about the prices you are seeing when you visit your local funeral home. However, if needed, you can do the most basic of funerals. Your loved one would understand, and there's nothing shameful or embarrassing about it. These will typically run you about $1,000. Instead of holding the funeral in a funeral home, you may choose to have a memorial service in someone's home instead. This might even be the preferred option if you are wanting a more private and intimate setting.
Burial or Cremation
Cremations are slowly on the rise. Not only can this choice be significantly cheaper, it may be seen as the more environmentally friendly option. Some cemeteries are running out of space, so some might opt for cremation instead. However, if this is something you or the one who has passed did not feel comfortable with, then a traditional burial is best.
Life Insurance
If your loved one had life insurance, this can be a way to help pay for the funeral, a benefit to families that are struggling financially. Usually, the life insurance policy is signed over to the funeral home, and then the remaining balance will be returned once the funeral and burial is complete. Make sure you are the one making the decisions though, so you aren't shocked by the amount of money taken for the funeral.
Planning a funeral can be difficult, but once you have made a few key decisions, things get easier. Try not to let the planning overwhelm you as you sort through your grief.
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