The demise of a loved one brings you face-to-face with the harsh reality of life – that which has a beginning must come to an end. But this reality is what makes life so precious.
Once the person has departed, you are thrown into a chaotic phase emotionally – and materially – as now you have to plan for their funeral.
Depending on whether you choose to go with a cremation or burial, you may have to buy a casket, urn, memorial plaque, tombstone, etc.
Here is an easy checklist that you can follow when planning a funeral.
Report the Death
Reporting the death to the necessary authorities is the first, most essential step.
Once all the formalities are completed, you will be able to obtain a Death Certificate.
You should make several copies of the death certificate, as you will require it for most of the subsequent tasks, like settling financial matters of the deceased person.
Check Everything before Moving Forward
Before contacting any funeral service, you should check whether any pre-arrangements were made by the deceased.
In many cases, the person will have already secured the necessary arrangements for their funeral.
If that is the case, contact the funeral company and ask for all information pertaining to the type of services chosen and paid for.
You should also check whether the deceased had agreed to donate any organs before proceeding.
Get in Touch with the Funeral Director
The funeral director can take care of most things, such as transportation and preparation of the body, arrangement of services, procurement of documents related to the disposition of the body, etc.
At this point, you should decide and let the director know if you want a burial or cremation.
If you face any budget constraints, just remember, a direct cremation service will cost you significantly less than a traditional burial service with a funeral.
Decide on the Type of Service You Want
There are various types of services available for you to choose from.
This decision will depend upon two factors – your preferences and your budget.
For example, you may want a wake before the burial or only a memorial service after cremation.
Get the Required Merchandise
In most cases, your funeral home will provide the necessary merchandise with the package or contact third-party vendors to acquire them on your behalf.
If you choose a traditional burial funeral, you might need the following things, among others:
- A viewing casket
- A burial vault or grave liner
- A tombstone or memorial plaque
Alternatively, if you opt for cremation, you might need a cremation casket, usually made of wood and burned with the body.
You will also need an urn, which your funeral home can provide.
You can also choose to use a custom cremation urn that best represents what the deceased meant to you.
Selecting an urn requires time, as it is most likely the last thing you will do for the deceased.
It is also the place where the person’s remains will forever reside. In general, people like to choose an urn that resonates most with the deceased’s character in terms of design, patterns, colors, etc.
You should also decide what you want to do with the urn in advance.
There are many possible ways you can go with this. Some such options are:
Home decor – Get an urn with intricate designs that can be showcased at your home, perhaps on the mantle, adding to your decor.
Water burial – You can also get water-soluble urns that make it possible for you to scatter the remains of your loved one in the water in an eco-friendly and safe manner.
The above types aside, there are also scattering urns, burial urns, ceramic urns, and many more types of urns.
Just look it up online to figure out which type of urn will suit your needs best.
Always remember, funeral companies often sell packages that include multiple things that you may or may not need.
As per the law, you can ask for an itemized list of services that they provide, along with their related prices, and select only those you might need.