Losing a loved one is not easy and having the duty to manage their funeral can make it more difficult. There are many things to decide on if you have been entrusted with the task of planning the funeral. Even if your loved one was considerate enough to have done some preparation, you will still need to make some important decisions. Here are some tips to ensure that your funeral planning will be successful:
Heed Their Wishes
These days, most people have the time to make plans for their passing. It would be a huge load off your shoulders if the deceased made some of the decisions for you. One main decision that you will need to clear up early is how exactly the body will be dealt with. Will it be a traditional burial or a cremation?
Cremation is a common choice nowadays because of its low cost and efficiency. Many funeral homes offer cremation services in Ogden and other urban areas, so this should be an easy choice to make. A traditional soil burial is a bit more complicated. You’ll need to look into whether the deceased had a plot reserved in a local cemetery and what type of coffin they will be buried in.
Besides how the body is to be handled, there may be other wishes from the deceased. This may include who gets to be invited to the funeral service and other minor wishes such as the music to play or something similar.
Get Some Help
You don’t need to do it all on your own. Funeral homes offer funeral planning help in the form of a funeral director. They should be able to work with you to clear up a lot of your planning tasks. Their main job is to ask you questions about the funeral that you want so that you can get the type of service you want.
They also help handle all the small details that you shouldn’t worry about. This can range from the flowers to the refreshments for the service. Having a helper can remove a lot of burden from your shoulders.
Be Prepared
A well-planned funeral will have contingencies ready in case of an emergency. This can range from an overly emotional mourner to running out of refreshments. Work with the funeral director so that you will have something ready for whatever happens.
Don’t worry too much, though. Have a general contingency plan ready so that you can feel prepared. Micromanaging everything will stress you out.
Know When to Back Off
You will also need to give yourself a chance to mourn. The funeral director is there to handle the rest of the things that you don’t have the time for. They are professionals, so they don’t need someone looking over their shoulder. This is when you should back off and let them handle it, so you can have some time to process your grief.
A funeral is your final farewell to a loved one. That is why you will want it to be as well planned as possible. You don’t want it ruined by something missing or similar other missteps. With the tips above, you should be able to ensure that your last goodbye is going to be a good one.
