Why Plan Ahead
There’s a lot that goes into planning a funeral, but making those arrangements beforehand gives you time to consider all of your options and make sure that you’re covering all of the necessary details. Still feeling unsure? Here are some of the most important reasons why planning ahead may be the best option.
Reason #1: Your family will be grateful later that you took the initiative to pre-plan your arrangements now.
Pre-arranging your wishes is one of the most loving and caring gifts that you can give to your family. It removes the emotional burden from them during a difficult time and spares them from decisions that they would rather have you make for yourself.
Reason #2: For those who want to pre-arrange their wishes.
Budget-friendly financing is available at all of our funeral homes and cemeteries for those who want to pre-arrange their wishes. Taking care of this today will remove any financial burden that your family might face in the future.
Bottom line; The More you do for your family Now, the Less they will have to worry about Later. Consider the 80 Things that must be done by survivors when a person passes away:
Notify Immediately: Your doctor or doctors, the funeral home/funeral director, the cemetery, your relatives & friends, your employer, insurance agents, organizations (religious, civic, etc.), attorneys, accountant, executor of estate and newspaper(s) to submit an obituary.
Decide and Arrange Immediately: The funeral home, select a cemetery, purchase burial or cremation property, select a casket, clothing for the deceased, select a burial vault, arrange type of service (graveside, military, etc.) and location, select clergy, provide information for eulogy, select flowers, arrange for music and viewing, select memorial, answer phone calls, return messages, drive to the airport and provide lodging for out-of-town relatives, contact pallbearers, check the will for special wishes, and order certified death certificates.
Secure Vital Statistics: Name, home address, phone number, date of birth, place of birth, U.S. citizenship, race, education, surviving spouse’s name, father’s name and birthplace, mother’s maiden name and birthplace, length of residency in county/state, occupation and title, social security number, Veteran’s service number, religious affiliation.
Collect Documents (required for insurance, pensions, social security, VA, etc.): Your will, legal proof of age, birth certificate, Social Security card, marriage license, citizenship papers, deed to burial property, insurance policies, deeds of real property, bank books, checks, Veteran’s discharge papers, disability and pension claims.
Pay For The Following: Funeral home charges, the funeral service, casket, the cremation, memorial book/folders, death certificates, obituary, clergy, musicians, flowers, mausoleum, burial plot or cremation space, endowment care, outer burial container, grave opening and closing, flat or upright memorial, transportation, food, doctor/hospital/ambulance, medical/drug bills, and other current and urgent bills such as mortgage, taxes, estate fees, etc.
We are happy to email, mail, or you can stop by for a pre-planning guide. You can keep a copy for yourself and at our funeral home and it can be changed at any time. This guide will allow you to fill out ahead of time the items that are needed for the death certificate. It also allows you to fill out information on any services or personalization you would like. A lot of families feel good about their decisions for a loved ones service when they see that their wishes were written down. Let us help you do that for your loved ones.
