Did you know that around 2.4 million funerals take place every year in the United States? If you are currently planning a funeral we understand that the process and experience can be overwhelming. We put together this short guide on how to plan a funeral to help you during these difficult times.
Keep reading to learn how to give your loved one the proper goodbye.
1. Disposition
First, you will have to choose between cremation vs burial unless you want to choose from a less common disposition such as anatomical donation, green burial, or burial at sea. The key is to choose what is most aligned with your loved ones’ personal values and your family’s personal values.
2. Remembrance Service
The next thing you will have to choose is the type of remembrance service you prefer for your loved one to have. Usually, for those who choose cremation, you can still have a funeral service or even a visitation with the body present before the cremation ceremony takes place.
Opting for a traditional burial it is normal to have a visitation before the funeral service. This gives friends and family a chance to say a final goodbye.
3. Personalization
When you take the time to personalize your loved one’s funeral it will make the experience more healing and also more meaningful. Take into consideration what your loved one enjoyed most and incorporate it into the memorial and funeral service.
For example, if they loved the beach then have a service by the beachside. If they loved a certain type of music, including that music style into their service, is a great way to memorialize them. You can get as creative as you want to capture your loved one’s unique spirit and character.
4. Final Rest Location
One of the last things you have to think about is where you will lay your loved one for their final rest. The most traditional option is a burial plot which can be used for either those that are buried or cremated. If your loved one is cremated, you can opt to scatter the remains in a special place or you can place the remains in a columbarium or mausoleum.
There are some families that choose to keep the cremated remains of their loved one in an urn in their home for a little bit of time. If you opt for this latter option, it is important to still choose a final resting place after a period of time so that the remains are taken care of in the long term.
Now You Know How to Plan a Funeral
We hope that now that you know how to plan a funeral you can make informed decisions during the funeral process. Do not forget if your loved one had specific funeral wishes to honor them.
Did this guide help you out today? Please keep browsing the rest of this section for more helpful guides.