Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio -- I've become very familiar with the names of funeral homes within the various neighborhoods scattered throughout. I've even attended services at many of them. I'm sure that you probably find yourself in a similar situation wherever you happen to be from. You would think that because these funeral homes are so present in our communities, it would be very simple for any one of us to know what to do when the time comes to plan a funeral service. We all know the reality. It's just not easy to plan a funeral service.
While everybody's experience in planning a funeral service will be a different one -- and this post will come nowhere close to sharing every single detail of what to do, I thought I'd offer a few helpful tips:
1. Plan ahead.
It sounds so simple to-do, but end-of-life planning is something that most of us completely put off. If you're in that camp, know this -- it's never too late to do some planning. A few days ahead of time is better than nothing....a few months is better than a few days...a few years is better than a few months. Find out from your wife/husband/partner/friend/etc ahead of time what is important to them when it comes to their funeral. When the actual event takes place, you will know that what you've planned is what they actually wanted in the first place. There are even services like My Sendoff and My Wonderful Life that let you store what it is you want in your funeral, so you can share with your loved ones.
2. Know your options.
There is typically more than one funeral home in a given community. In fact, there are twelve funeral homes within two miles of where I live in Lakewood, Ohio. Is every single one of those funeral homes the same? Will every single one of the Funeral Directors at each of the homes connect with your family in a similar way? Probably not. Everybody is different, and it's important to understand what each funeral home has to offer. Certainly, price can be a factor, too -- as each funeral home charges different fees for their services. This doesn't mean that the cheapest is necessarily the best. But it does make sense to consider multiple factors (including personality, price, and service quality) when making a decision on which funeral home to work with. Certainly, we try to help families stay informed on these factors at eFuneral, but the important thing to take away is that every provider is different -- and you should know your options ahead of time.
3. Involve friends and family.
When the time comes to plan a funeral service, remember that there are others that are also grieving and may have an interest in helping with some of the planning. You might feel that the responsibility is yours -- but taking on all of the planning could pose a couple of big problems. It could cause undue stress on you, while making others feel like they were cut out of the process. Don't be afraid to ask for (or receive) help. In the end, it could end up bringing you closer with others who were involved in the planning process, too.
If you have other thoughts or input, let me know. I'd love to include them in future posts.
