A memorial service and funeral should be meticulously planned. Funeral planning can help your family and friends to grieve more effectively. You should write down your final wishes in your estate planning documents so your funeral can be thoughtfully planned and personal. Many people don’t want to think about funeral planning. They know it’s important but avoid getting it done.
Some Lessons on Funeral Planning
Be clear about your wishes
Make sure your loved ones know exactly what you want. Is it cremation or burial? Will you want a religious ceremony or perhaps no ceremony at all. Some want a full funeral, others just a memorial service. How would you like your friends and family to celebrate the life you lived? Include personal touches such as music you would like played and who should do the eulogy. Is there something specific that you would like read? If you want a tombstone, what would you like to be on it? Should it include dates and your full name?
Don’t forget the finances
Funerals are expensive. Determine ahead of time how much your funeral could cost and how you will pay for it. The cost of funerals rises annually. Because of this, many are now choosing cremation over burial. You can also look into prepaid funerals with your funeral home or through a life insurance policy. There are advantages of life insurance for seniors over 85. Nowadays, there are plenty of options for the elderly as insurers are coming up with solutions to help them.
Don’t leave anything to chance
If you should forget important details about your funeral or memorial service, these decisions will be made for you by someone else and may not be what you would have wished. Many families are left hurriedly planning and making decisions after the death of a loved one. Save your family having to do this and make sure you have everything pre-planned. To read further on funeral planning, click here to find out what Nora Ephron can teach you about planning a funeral.
