Pre-Planning
Plan how you or your loved ones want to be remembered, ensuring final wishes are respected and your family is supported.
What is Pre-Planning?
Pre-planning involves organising your or your loved one’s funeral in advance, allowing you to personalise every detail and relieve your family of the emotional stress. While the thought of planning ahead can be difficult, embracing it now can bring peace of mind and offer future relief.
The Traditional Features of a Funeral
Funeral services begin with the arrival of the body, followed by eulogies, prayers, songs, and readings. Many families today add personal touches, such as memorial videos or slideshows, to honour their loved ones. After the service, the body is taken for cremation or burial, in line with the family’s wishes or pre-planned arrangements.
Plan Your Budget Thoughtfully
Pre-planning your funeral or that of a loved one helps set a realistic budget, covering all expenses from burial and funeral services to additional costs like headstones or receptions. By planning ahead, you can ease future financial burdens for your family.
Choosing the Right Location
Funerals are often held in religious venues, funeral homes, or chapels equipped to support the service and its arrangements. If you have a specific location in mind, you can discuss it with the venue to see if it aligns with their policies. While services for paying respects are generally allowed, hosting is ultimately the venue’s decision.
Choosing a Funeral Home
Selecting a funeral home is a personal decision, and asking the right questions can help guide you. Start by researching funeral homes near you, narrowing down your options, and reaching out to each one. Here are some questions to guide your conversations:
- Is your funeral home locally owned, or part of a larger national chain?
- What licences and professional qualifications does your staff hold?
- Are you or your staff members part of any professional associations?
- What services do you offer, and are there customisable options for memorials?
- What funeral packages are available, and what do they include?
- Do you collaborate with third-party crematories, and if so, which ones?
- Can your staff assist with pre-planning at my home, or do I need to visit your office?
While some homes offer home visits, visiting the facilities in person is often helpful. This allows you to review price lists, casket or urn options, and other details, ensuring you are well-informed.
Funeral Service Then a Burial
After the funeral service, the body is carefully transported with a hearse to the cemetery for burial. In keeping with pre-planned wishes, a brief service may take place and you may choose to keep it private, with only immediate family members present. The officiant may offer additional readings or prayers as the body is laid to rest.
Every Detail Matters
When pre-planning, every detail matters, big or small. Each one plays a significant role in the experience. A funeral professional will be your trusted guide, helping you navigate these decisions. Their experience will ensure the service reflects your wishes and helps avoid any potential issues. They can also explain the benefits of pre-paying for funeral expenses.
Post-Funeral Gathering
As part of your pre-planning, you may wish to arrange a gathering after the interment. This could take place at a funeral home or another location that feels right for you and your loved ones. You might also want to plan for food and drinks, whether provided by family or community members. Including this detail in your plans ensures that your wishes are respected and helps offer comfort to those who have come to pay their respects.
Write Everything Down
Once everything has been decided, keep all the details in a safe place. Consider providing a copy to your chosen funeral home, as they will take care of the arrangements when the time comes. While pre-planning may feel difficult, it can offer great relief to your loved ones, sparing them the stress of organising a funeral during an already challenging time, particularly as funeral costs can be significant.
