Archive for the ‘Funeral Planning’ Category

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Choosing a Casket

Thursday, May 10th, 2012

Choosing a CasketOne of the first decisions you’ll make if you opted for traditional burial as part of your funeral planning efforts is which casket you’d like. Some funeral homes offer burial packages, and you choose a casket from a select number of options in that package.

You can also choose a casket based on personal preference or even buy one through a third-party vendor (which funeral homes are then legally obligated to use). For more in depth planning guidance, download our guide, “7 Insider Tips You Need to Know Before Funeral Planning.”  One of our 7  tips covers the upsides of having the funeral home order your casket.

In most cases, the decision of which casket to use is based on how they look or the materials they’re made out of. However, there is more to them than just aesthetics. If you’re selecting a casket for a loved one or for your own pre-planned funeral, here are a few considerations.

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Choosing a Cemetery Plot: A Checklist

Tuesday, May 8th, 2012

Choosing a Cemetery Plot: A ChecklistOne of the most important decisions you’ll make while funeral planning is which cemetery plot to choose. Although it is possible to move buried or cremated remains after they have been interred, it is a very expensive and lengthy process. The final resting place you select should reflect the ideal location for this and future generations.

That’s why it’s important to take some time to explore your options and make the right choice for your family. And here are a few things to consider throughout the process.

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Working with Hospice to Plan a Funeral

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012

Working with Hospice to Plan a FuneralMost people associate hospice with issues related to end-of-life care, not funeral planning. After all, hospice is supposed to be about coping with terminal illness as a family and enjoying whatever time is left together.

However, because hospice exists to make the transition to death easier, it’s actually quite common for organizations to offer support and resources for funeral planning. The better prepared you are for the aftermath of death—including the social, emotional, spiritual, and financial ramifications—the easier it is to say your goodbyes while you still have time.

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Types of Cemeteries

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

Types of CemeteriesThere are several different types of cemeteries to choose from if traditional burial or cremation interment is part of your funeral planning efforts. In the United States, most people have a choice of four cemetery categories. Each one has its own pros and cons, and the cost of each one varies depending on location and cemetery organization.

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Should You Have a Memorial Service Instead of a Funeral?

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

Should You Have a Memorial Service Instead of a Funeral?Most people use the terms memorial service and funeral interchangeably—and with good reason. During the funeral planning stages, the differences between the two often become blurred, and your focus is on your grief rather than the semantics of the funeral industry.  For more in depth guidance, download our guide, “7 Insider Tips You Need to Know Before Funeral Planning.”

However, if you’re looking to save money on funeral costs, or if you are hoping to understand more about funeral planning (especially if you’re opting for a funeral pre-plan package), it’s a good idea to know what the differences are and how they can affect your decision-making process.

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How to Choose a Funeral Service Provider

Saturday, April 21st, 2012

How to Choose a Funeral Service ProviderThere are no laws in the United States that require you to choose a funeral home for all your funeral planning needs. Technically, you could coordinate the entire interment on your own (or under the guidance of a licensed provider), as long as you adhere to all the legal requirements in your county and fill out all the appropriate paperwork that accompanies death.  For more in depth guidance, download our guide “7 Insider Tips You Need to Know Before Funeral Planning”

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Eulogy Ideas

Thursday, April 19th, 2012

Eulogy IdeasIf you have recently lost a loved one or are planning a funeral for the first time, you might be intimidated at the prospect of writing a eulogy or giving a funeral speech. After all, this is your one chance to let everyone know in words just how important the deceased was to you and how he or she affected your life.

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Maintaining Privacy at a Funeral

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

Maintaining Privacy at a FuneralFuneral planning can be stressful under the best of circumstances. Any family conflicts, unresolved arguments, or issues related to privacy that arise tend to make matters much worse than they need to be, often interrupting private grief and taking the focus away from where it should be—celebrating the life of the deceased.

Because death notices tend to be made public, it can be difficult to keep a funeral private and restrict attendance, especially if the deceased was a popular figure in any way. Here are a few tips to keep a funeral a small, intimate affair without hurting the feelings of those who aren’t invited to the funeral.

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Tribute Videos and Funeral Planning

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

Tribute Videos and Funeral PlanningIf you’re planning the funeral of a loved one, you may come across a pamphlet or advertisement for a tribute video. Funeral videos are a way of creating an audio-visual tribute to the deceased through a series of photographs, images of favorite items, captions or titles, and music. Popular in recent years because of the blurring of the lines between the funeral industry and technology, video tributes are also a unique and beautiful way to provide a touch of personalization to the memorial service.  For more in depth funeral planning guidance, download our guide “7 Insider Tips You Need to Know Before Funeral Planning”

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How to Officiate a Funeral

Monday, April 9th, 2012

How to Officiate a FuneralNine times out of ten, funeral plans call for a religious official or funeral home director to oversee the proceedings at a memorial service. Although there are no rules about who can or can’t officiate a funeral, it is usually best to have someone who can provide comfort without breaking down in the face of such a sudden loss.

However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t opt to officiate a funeral on your own. If you would like to feel a deeper connection to the funeral planning process, or if you have a history of public speaking and would like to ensure that the funeral has a personal touch that everyone can connect to, you may wish to be in charge of the service yourself. If this is the case, here are a few steps for planning the ceremony.

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