When someone we love dies, it is a difficult time for everyone. One of the most important things to do during this time is plan the funeral. Planning a service allows friends and family to come together and mourn the loss of their loved one. It can be an elaborate event or as simple as you like – it’s up to you! In this guide, we will outline what you need to know when planning a funeral.

What is a Funeral?

A funeral is a gathering to remember and celebrate the life of someone who has died. It is an opportunity for friends and family to come together and share memories. There are many different aspects to a funeral, such as flowers, music, and a eulogy.

You can choose what to include as a part of a funeral service when you make a pre-plan for yourself. If planning for a loved one, check to see if they made a pre-plan with a funeral home.

It’s a good idea to talk with your friends and family when deciding how to plan for someone who did not prepare for end-of-life. If you’re in a situation where an individual dies suddenly, you can usually determine the details together with your close family and your funeral director.

To prepare if a loved one has a terminal illness, find a time to discuss how they would like to handle this part of their end-of-life planning. Their input can help you decide what to include in the service.

Once you have a basic idea, you can start to plan the details with the funeral home. Funeral homes can help you with all aspects of the funeral, from the casket to the flowers. They can also help you with items such as scheduling your service time in their on-site chapel or publishing an obituary.

When a loved one dies, there are many things to consider. But with a little bit of planning, you can create a beautiful and meaningful service for your loved one.

Importance of a Funeral

Planning a funeral is an essential step in the grieving process. It allows friends and family to come together and share memories of their loved one. Being together during deep mourning can help families grow and find healing together.

A funeral emphasizes the importance of loved ones and their connections with each other. At a funeral, family and friends can talk out loud about their loss with others who understand how they feel.

Planning a funeral can be daunting, but it is integral to the grieving process. Because funeral homes understand how important mourning is, they make it easier for you to do everything you must get done.

How to Start Your Plan

Now that you understand what a funeral is and why it’s important to plan one, you may wonder how to do so. Starting a funeral plan can feel insurmountable, but with some help, the service you design can be a beautiful and meaningful way to honor your loved one and bring together family and friends.

The first step is to decide what you would like to include in the service.

Are there particular readings or poems that you would like to include?
Would you consider a green burial?
Is cremation right for your loved one?
Do you want to have a casket and viewing before the funeral?
Will you choose a visitation the night before?
Do you want to plan a funeral or a memorial service?

Don’t worry if you don’t have answers for everything. You can work with your funeral home director to iron out the details of your planned service. Funeral home directors understand the logistics of what to think about. They have experience creating beautiful and memorable occasions to honor a loved one’s life. Working with the experts, you can easily create the service you envision for your loved one.

Plan the Funeral Step By Step

When someone dies, it can be a confusing and challenging time. There are many things to do and decisions to make. Step by step guide to planning a funeral consists of these steps:

Step 1

The first step is to contact a funeral home. They will work with you on all aspects of your planning, including getting the death certificate.

Step 2

Choosing a date for the service is best done with family present. Often you can bring several family members with you to meet with a funeral director and iron out the details together.

Step 3

Write the obituary or ask a family member or loved one to do it. You can even hire a service to write an engaging obituary for your loved one if you like!

Step 4

The next step is to choose what you would like to include in the service. However, not knowing the answers is okay. You can always discuss this with your family and your funeral director. Consider these items:

Flowers
Music
Readings
Poems
Pictures
Video or pictures set to music? Many funeral homes will help you prepare this.

Step 5

After choosing what you would like to include, the funeral home will help you with logistics, such as selecting pallbearers and planning the order of service.

Step 6

If you choose a burial, you’ll need to talk with the selected cemetery about buying a burial plot, vault, and burial marker. A funeral home with a crematory can handle it all for you with a cremation. You need only choose an urn or decide where to scatter ashes.

Step 7

After the funeral, there may be a reception or meal held in honor of your loved one or graveside service. You can plan this with your family and friends. Or someone may decide to throw a reception for your loved one at a church or community center.

Once you and your family finish planning, you will all attend the funeral. Try not to worry about the details if your service is at a funeral home. Their experience handling all aspects of greeting and taking care of details lets you be present at the funeral and grieve along with everyone else. A funeral or memorial service is a time for you to mourn your loss, not worry about how to greet others or play host.

We Can Help

At Renaissance Funeral Home and Crematory, we work with families to create beautiful times of remembrance. Your family and friends need time together to cherish the individual who passed on.

We help you each step of the way. Our on-site crematory makes it easy to plan whether you choose burial or cremation. We make it easy to pre-plan your own services to ease the burden on your loved ones and give everyone a chance to say goodbye. By planning well, your funeral helps everyone find the closure they need as they grieve together.

Whether you have lost a loved one or are making a pre-plan for yourself, call us today. We can help you plan every detail of a funeral service and take care of all the logistics so you can focus on what’s essential – grieving and celebrating your loved one’s life. Contact us today and find out how we can help.