When we mention death, none of us enjoys having that conversation centered around them. But that is an eventuality that all of us have to shuffle and think about it and we all need the funeral. One can do some things in advance that will go a long way in helping your family or a close associate during your sendoff by having proper planning in advance. Some persons feel like talking about their funeral as prepping their death, and most in unfortunate circumstances avoid the talk altogether.
Based on statistics from the National Funeral Directors Association, approximately 25 percent of the American population considers having a conversation about their funeral with one of their loved ones. Planning for a funeral doesn’t necessarily mean you must conduct it on your own but instead involve your family member. There are tips and ways to make a smart decision before your death to help those planning your funeral.
Contents
Understand What Is Involved
To successfully plan his or her funeral, it is paramount to understand what goes on during a funeral. Three critical components of burial take place in a specific order. The first step involves preparing a corpse to the required standards. Secondly, burial and funerals involve holding a ceremony during the funeral, and lastly, there is the act of internment or columbarium, which is the final stage. The person planning his funeral has several choices and options to make in all the components mentioned above. There is a possibility of embalming, and others may choose cremation. In which case you may need to consider a columbarium in Cincinnati.
When it comes to the ceremony conducted during a funeral, one can opt for a full service either conducted at home, graveside, or even others have customized services based on their prescription. A person planning his funeral has the choice of dictating who will attend their burial. Also, you can decide whether you want to have your body viewed or not. One can make many choices and decisions in advance, including the option of a tomb or those who opt to get cremated where their ashes will get scattered in a unique, meaningful place.
Don’t Commit To Payment In Advance
Most funeral homes around have crafted funeral plans with better rates when you consider purchasing a package. Professional death care experts advise against such a move and inform individuals to plan their death and funerals with their close family members. Prepaying for your funeral in advance comes with some drawbacks. One of the situations persons who make such a decision, face changes in the plan they had while purchasing the funeral package.
Consequently, the funeral home you purchased your burial package is a business just like other enterprises, and they face similar challenges altogether. There is no guarantee that the funeral home will be in business at that particular time by the time you die. Such a situation exposes you to a rather complicated problem with no one to honor the package you bought.
The best option for individuals planning their funeral should prioritize saving money rather than panic of loved ones when death occurs . Another smart option one can adopt is having a Medicaid plan strictly designated to one beneficiary who will receive money to conduct your funeral when your time of death comes. The Medicaid plan is a regular bank account where you deposit cash, but that money will be available when you die.
Comparison Shop
Based on statistical data collected around the United States indicate that to conduct a funeral successfully, the average cost revolves around $7,500. Hence your funeral demands to get treated as an ordinary large purchase. Like how we conduct a survey when purchasing a car, the same should apply when planning for our funeral. It’s prudent to compare several funeral homes and have a checklist that will enable you to reach various services and the cost involved.
Start your search by calling several funeral homes and enquire about their services; on top, it’s crucial to ask for a quote before ending the call.
Be prepared and insist on getting the prices charged by funeral homes though most of them are slightly reluctant to reveal their costs. As the consumer of the funeral homes’ services, they are obligated and bound by the Federal Trade commission’s funeral rules that have rules and guidance on what gets expected of the funeral homes. One of the requirements is that funeral homes must disclose charges and prices to their clients either by phone or in person. Due to changes and advancements in technology, when one asks for a price sheet, they should get it in email or other online means and platforms.
Discuss With Family Members
It’s critical that when planning, you’re your funeral, you talk it over with a close associate, a loved one. Your discussion should revolve around what kind of funeral you would like to have and consider the price and the cost involved when conducting such a funeral.
At this point, it’s critical to be very precise and specific on the details taking note that your loved one might not be able to provide all that you need to get done during your funeral. It is not the time to dictate what should get done when they die, but rather, it’s the time one has a candid conversation with their close relatives, be it kids or otherwise.
Experts advise that you must make your loved one part of your funeral planning journey. When that is done, you ease the burden of planning and organizing your funeral by allowing your relatives to understand the specifics of your funeral. Such an excellent plan removes the guilt that otherwise would be left to your friends and relatives that they did not accord you the right kind of burial you would have wished to have. Let them understand that it’s ok if plan A fails, there is always a plan B, and they should not feel guilty or burdened by the entire process.
