When is the Best Time to Plan Your Funeral? Before You Need It.

By: Batchelor Brothers Funeral Services
Sunday, February 11, 2018

Can you imagine planning a wedding in just a few days? Or any major celebration for that matter? Why leave the ultimate celebration of your life to the last minute?

By planning your service in advance, you can design and specify the exact type of service you’d like, so that your friends and family can celebrate you as you would like them to. And by letting your family know how you'd like your funeral or memorial service to be, they'll have fewer complicated decisions to make during a difficult and emotional time. It’s a selfless gift your family will be sure to appreciate.

Making funeral arrangements can require as many as 125 decisions. That’s no small task for people who are grieving and under extreme emotional stress. Pre-planning allows you to personalize virtually aspect of your funeral or memorial service, if you wish, or you can simply provide guidelines for creating a service that feels special to you. When planning the details of your service, think about the way you’d like it to look, feel, and flow. Many people want their funerals to be celebrations of life rather than sad affairs, so they opt to include uplifting music, colorful flowers, and inspirational readings. Other people prefer their funerals to highlight their personal interests and achievements, and so they request the eulogists to speak on specific topics or to choose readings that reflect personal philosophies.

Many elements of a funeral or memorial service can be planned in advance. Some of the things you might make decisions about include:

  • Whether you would prefer to be buried or cremated
  • Having a viewing, visitation, or wake before your service
  • The type of service (funeral service, graveside service, or memorial service)
  • The service location
  • Who you’d like to officiate your service
  • Who you’d like to serve as pallbearers
  • People to deliver eulogies
  • Readings, prayers, or poems for people to read
  • Music, hymns, or songs
  • The type of flowers or decorations you’d like to have
  • Having a post-service reception or gathering, and planning that event
  • The guest list for your service
  • If you want guests to donate to a charity in your name, and coordinating with the charity or setting up a foundation

Pre-planning enables you to have a truly personalized service that reflects your styles and desires, creating a very memorable celebration of your life, just as you would like it to be. And of course, planning your service ahead of time will bring tremendous peace of mind to your loved ones. Your thoughtful gift of a pre-planned funeral will ease their pain, enable them to find closure, and move them towards healing.

Leave a comment
Name*:
Email:
Comment*:
Please enter the numbers and letters you see in the image. Note that the case of the letters entered matters.

Comments

Please wait

Previous Posts

Your Guide to Visitation Etiquette: Eight Basic Rules Everyone Should Know

By mastering funeral visitation etiquette, you can ensure that your presence brings comfort at a difficult time. Knowing the expectations and protocols can help you navigate these delicate situati...

A Labor of Love: How to Choose Burial Clothes for the Departed

When preparing for a loved one’s final goodbye, the choice of burial clothing becomes a heartfelt expression of reverence. The loss of a loved one is often a deeply emotional time. Amid grief, man...

Looking to Add More Produce to Your Diet? Try These Ten Simple Solutions

Take the first step towards a healthier you by learning how to effortlessly add more produce to your diet. Incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet goes beyond just meeting the dail...

The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Cremation: Seven Useful Facts Everyone Needs to Know

Understanding cremation begins with separating the facts from the misconceptions. Cremation has become increasingly popular in recent years as individuals seek alternative end-of-life options. Des...

Traditional Funeral Flowers Not For You? Here Are Six Clever, Eco-Conscious Options

As we become increasingly aware of environmental concerns, the impact of traditional funeral flowers on our planet has come under scrutiny. Amid grief and loss, funeral flower arrangements have lo...

Winter Heart Attacks Are More Common Than You Think. Here’s How to Reduce Your Risk

Amid the serene beauty of frosty settings, winter heart attacks are a chilling reality for many people. Winter is a picturesque time of year with its snow-covered landscapes and crackling fireplac...

How Heartfelt Condolence Messages Can Ease the Pain of Grief

Condolence messages are often a source of great comfort to those who are grappling with loss. This simple gesture lets you express your sympathies and lets the bereaved know they are in your thoug...

Five Inspiring Ways to Celebrate Martin Luther King Day 2024

In the United States, Martin Luther King Day is observed annually on the third Monday in January. The day commemorates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a Baptist minister and pr...

The Causes of Pneumonia: Five Surprising Facts Everyone Should Know

The lesser-known causes of pneumonia involve some unexpected factors that go beyond the usual suspects. Did you know that, together with the flu, pneumonia is a top cause of death in the United St...

Funeral and Estate Planning is a Smart New Year’s Resolution. Find Out Why.

This New Year, go beyond the surface-level resolutions and delve into the power of funeral and estate planning. The journey through advanced funeral and estate planning may not be fun, but it is a...