Posted on September 1, 2023 by jhcadm
Planning Your Own Funeral: 7 Practical Steps
Thinking about one’s own funeral planning may feel morbid or depressing, but it can actually be empowering. Taking charge to arrange your own final farewell gives you control, eases burden on loved ones, and ensures your wishes are honored. With some thoughtful preparation, you can craft a meaningful funeral.
One of the best ways to make arrangements in advance is with a prepaid funeral plan. The caring staff at James H. Cole will happily answer any questions you have, walk you through funeral planning costs, and finalize every detail.
Seven Key Steps to Planning Your Own Funeral:
- Determine burial wishes: Do you want cremation or traditional burial? Do you have a plot picked out? Share this info with loved ones.
- Select a funeral home: Research reputable local providers and pre-plan arrangements.
- Pick funeral elements: Specify music, readings, officiants, clothes, flowers based on what resonates with you and your family. Create a written list for loved ones to help guide them through the arrangement and funeral planning process.
- Make a contact list: Give your list to family members with an accessible list of contacts to notify of the passing and to share funeral service details.
- Assign roles: Select pallbearers, speakers, officiants, and share choices so they can prepare when the time comes.
- Write an obituary: Outline biographical info, survivors, awards, career, hobbies for a printed or digital obituary or use a service like Be Remembered.
- Share your plans: Provide loved one’s copies of your funeral plan and location of related documents and accounts for ease of execution.
What Does Planning Your Own Funeral Feel Like?
Confronting mortality is never easy, but planning your own funeral can provide comfort and closure. While emotionally heavy, the process allows you to transform end-of-life anxiety into positive action. When you map out details like services, burial, and costs, it brings a sense of order and containment to an otherwise difficult topic. Opting for a prepaid funeral plan with James H. Cole will help ensure your final wishes are fulfilled and will alleviate financial stress from your loved ones. Rather than dread, planning can evoke gratitude for life and loved ones.
What Should You Keep in Mind While Planning Your Funeral?
- Reflect on your values and beliefs: Begin by examining your personal values, cultural practices, and spiritual inclinations. This introspective step will serve as the foundation for planning a meaningful and authentic funeral service.
- Communicate your wishes clearly: Openly discuss and document your desires with your loved ones. Share specific requests regarding burial or cremation, music choices, readings, and any unique elements you would like to include. Ensuring your wishes are known will alleviate future uncertainty.
- Consider the financial aspects: Estimate funeral costs and evaluate your financial situation. By understanding the expenses involved, you can make informed decisions about allocating funds. Prepaid funeral plans will ease the financial burden on your family. For more information about a prepaid funeral plan, check out this blog post.
At What Age Should You Start Planning Your Own Funeral?
It’s never too early to begin contemplating your funeral plans. In fact, we’ve put together a funeral planning checklist to help guide you. In your 20s and 30s, consider what type of service aligns with your wishes and values. By your 40s, you may start jotting down specifics regarding burial, readings, music, and more. It doesn’t have to be anything formal; it could simply be your own funeral checklist with a few rough ideas. In your 50s and beyond, share your plans with loved ones and set aside savings to fund costs. Update details as years go by. Having a framework in place early, even if it’s your own funeral planning checklist, gives you time to refine details as your life evolves.
Why Do People Plan for Their Funeral While Alive and Healthy?
It may seem counterintuitive, but making funeral planning arrangements while still alive and well has many benefits:
- Alleviates stress on grieving loved ones
- Ensures your specific wishes are followed
- Prevents disagreements between family members
- Allows time to shop around for the best option that suits your budget, personalized preferences, and proximity to your area.
- The younger and healthier you are the lower your rate will be when pre-paying for funeral services and getting general life insurance
- Gives you control over your own legacy
- Provides closure and peace of mind
By tackling logistics like budget, guest list, and burial style early, you spare loved one’s difficult decisions during an already painful time. The act of planning can provide comfort knowing your wishes will be fulfilled.
Funeral Planning: Proactively Providing Peace of Mind
Planning your own funeral may seem like a somber task, but in reality, it can be an enlightening chance to reflect on life’s joys and blessings. By proactively outlining your wishes, you gain peace of mind knowing you’ll receive a meaningful farewell that honors your legacy. With organization and open communication with loved ones, you can craft a memorable sendoff that provides closure. As one of the leaders in Michigan funeral planning services, the staff at James H. Cole Home for Funerals will help you make decisions that align with your vision and values.
Posted in Funeral Industry