Planning a funeral when a loved one passes is never easy. You need to arrange so many things while you are still processing grief and other overwhelming emotions. Most of them will be negative, but many times happy memories about moments you spent together will surface as well. Follow these funeral planning tips to learn how to honor your loved ones and create one last memory at their service.
- Deal With Legal Issues First
The first thing you need to do when planning a funeral is to take care of legal procedures. Getting the official death certificate from a medical professional, obtaining a burial permit, and arranging for the transport and embalming are just some of the things you will have to think about. And if the deceased didn’t leave specific instructions for it, you will need to decide about the form of disposition as well. The sooner you deal with these formalities, the better, so you and the funeral home have ample time to plan a memorable funeral.
- Include Friends and Family
The whole funeral planning process can be a lot easier if you don’t have to do everything yourself. Getting family and close friends to help you will make you feel less isolated, plus they might remind you of things you’d otherwise forget. They can help you choose the funeral home, the type of service, and the venue and compile information for the obituary. Oftentimes, a close person will lead the service, or at the very least perform the eulogy. Also, if you plan to make a personalized service or a celebration of life afterward, family and friends can help you collect information and memorabilia for that as well.
- Learn About Every Cost Involved
Sometimes the most memorable funerals don’t cost much, especially if the body is cremated. With traditional funerals, you will have to factor in the costs of preparing the body and the casket. If you opt for cremation, you can save a lot of money, and you will have the cremains present in an urn at the memorial service. Whichever disposition form you consider, you should always ask the funeral home for their individual pricing list. This way, you won’t have to pay for an entire package that contains services you won’t need at all.
- Choose the Funeral Home
In this unfortunate situation, apart from your family and friends, you can get a lot of support from a funeral home. The funeral directors will handle preparing the body and every other detail you are unable to, so it’s important to choose them wisely. Finding the ideal funeral home is never easy, especially if you live in a city as large as Perth. But even if you require professional funeral services in this area, you will be able to find a company that can deal with a funeral as sensitively as possible. This way, you can focus on being there for your loved ones and paying them the respect they deserve.
- Personalize the Service
Any funeral can be memorable if you make it a reflection of the person you are honoring. You can show everyone at the service how the person lived and how they impacted all the lives around them before their passing. Gather memories, stories, or photos to include them in the eulogy. This will make the service more meaningful and engaging for the audience, even if they didn’t know the deceased very well. You can even offer little takeaways, such as remembrance cards or stones for the attendees.
- Plan a Celebration of Life
If the passing was so sudden that you can only put together a small service at the time, don’t worry. You can always plan a large gathering later to celebrate your loved one’s life. An event like this can be a good reason for the family and friends to get together. Sharing the music or any hobbies your loved one enjoyed or planning a party with a unique theme can all be a great way to celebrate their life. Plus, this is usually a more informal event than a service, so the guest will be more likely to share positive memories and thoughts instead of solemn eulogies.
One of the easiest ways to deal with mourning is to honor the departed by recalling pleasant memories at their funeral. Planning a funeral with as little stress as possible will help you find peace and accept their passing. However, to do that you will need help. Whether it comes from family and friends or a funeral home, a helping hand can only make this process easier for everyone.