A Guide to Planning a Hassle-Free Funeral

There is nothing more difficult and stressful for any family than losing a loved one. To add to the stress, you’ll need to worry about arranging the funeral and the costs associated with it can also be astounding. While some people avoid this by buying a funeral plan before they pass, most people don’t and the responsibility falls onto their loved ones. Nevertheless, if you want to remember your loved one and give him a proper ceremony and burial, you will have to go through the motions and arrange the best funeral possible. Certainly, it can be hard to know where to begin and what to plan first. To help you arrange a funeral, here is a step-by-step guide.

Choose a Funeral Director

This step can make a big difference in lifting the load off your shoulders. Once you have chosen a funeral director, all the details pertaining to the funeral will be arranged for you. The primary responsibility of a funeral director is ensuring that the body and funeral service meets personal, legal, and religious guidelines. You will have to provide lots of information so be sure to be as detailed and specific as possible. You can compare funeral directors in your area by going online. There are websites where you can enter your postcode to compare all the available funeral directors in your area.

Disposition of the Body

In some cases, this is already pre-determined according to the wishes of the deceased. Cremation Cost can be comparatively cheaper than traditional burials in most cases, which can make a lot of people want to choose the former option. Moreover, the disposition of the body also impacts other aspects of the service.

Choose an Urn or Casket

Coffins tend to be costlier especially if they are made of high-quality materials. In recent years, there has been a trend in using biodegradable, economically-friendly caskets. When it comes to urns, your major consideration would be whether you will be keeping the urn or scattering the ashes.

Inform Family and Friends

Once you have arranged the date, the time, and the location of the service, the next step is to inform friends and family. Be sure to notify them early so that they can prepare for possible leaves of absence from work or school. If you want to send formal invites, you can look for funeral announcement cards and other personalized stationery like memorial cards, thank you cards, etc.

The Journey to the Funeral

In traditional funerals, the casket is usually carried by a black hearse followed by family members and guests in their respective cars. There are other non-traditional options such as horse-drawn carriages, fire trucks, and the like. This often depends on what the family feels is the best way to commemorate the death of their loved one. When it comes to the funeral procession, the mourners usually follow behind the deceased’s immediate family. The funeral home may sometimes put identifying flags on the participating vehicles.

The process involving preparation and execution of a funeral service can be straightforward and hassle-free if you take time to focus on each of the details. Once you have chosen a funeral director, you won’t have to worry about anything much except making decisions. If you take into consideration what the deceased wants and keep things simple and solemn, saying your final goodbye to a loved doesn’t have to be difficult or stressful.

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