How to Achieve Peace of Mind through Pre-planning a Funeral
Pre-planning can help reduce the cost of a funeral, and our Colonie, NY funeral home does it for free. In the event of an untimely death, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to proceed. It’s a stressful situation that most of us hope to never find ourselves in.
However, by taking proactive measures now, you can reduce the stress that comes with final arrangements during a time when loved ones are already mourning.
The process of pre-planning your funeral and final disposition is known as “end-of-life planning” or “pre-need planning.” These terms refer to determining details for burial or cremation before any circumstance that would necessitate them.
Pre-planning your final arrangements is a thoughtful and practical way to take care of the people you love after you’re gone. Here are five tips for achieving peace of mind through pre-planning a funeral.
Share your plan with your family
Find a good time to talk to your family about your plans and why. Determine whether you want to involve them in the process or merely presenting your wishes. It is a good idea to invite their individual contributions.
If you have non-negotiable preferences for the funeral, make a list of things and rank them in order of importance. You may elect not to go into detail at the moment but let everyone know where to find your documented plan in the event of your death.
Determine your budget
Your budget will depend on the type of service you choose and how involved you want to be in the planning process. Keep in mind that funerals can get quite expensive very quickly, especially if you want something elaborate.
Choose your funeral home
You will need a funeral home that will be responsible for the arrangements. Find one with a reputation for being compassionate and caring, or you can ask friends or family members you trust for recommendations.
However, it is not necessary to use the same funeral home if you’re not comfortable with them or if they are out of your budget range.
Choose your services
How much the funeral will cost you and a few other things will depend on the following: what do you want done with your body? Some people prefer to be cremated and have their ashes interred at home, while others want to be buried in a cemetery plot.
What about ceremony options? Several options are available depending on your preferences. You can have:
- Funeral services only
- Funeral and burial or cremation
- Cremation with no service
- Memorial service only
You may also want to go into details like picking out your casket or urn or choosing a memorial.
Find a cemetery
If you plan on being buried, find out whether there is a plot available for purchase at your preferred place. Most cemeteries charge a fee for burial plots, and some even have wait lists. If you know where you would like to be buried, make sure it is available before finalizing any arrangements.
Pay for it
This part is the hardest—funeral and memorial costs can be pretty steep, especially when it’s an unexpected loss.
Prepaying is not compulsory, but it takes a load off of your loved ones when the time comes. Not to mention it can mean that the funeral costs you less in the long run compared to paying in the future.
It may be hard, but try to focus on the positive aspects of pre-planning and how you want to be remembered. Take comfort in knowing that the people you love will be taken care of and that they will not forget this gesture.
Schedule a consultation to pre-plan with our Guilderland, NY, funeral home, or call us today.
