How To Choose a Funeral Home
by Antonio Robertson
Have you thought about your funeral? Planning your funeral can give your family members peace of mind and adequate mourning time once you pass away. An essential aspect of your funeral is the funeral home. A good funeral home will not only handle your remains but also help your family prepare for your funeral. The excerpt below discusses the various considerations you should make when choosing a funeral home.
Location and Services
The facility should be located close to your family home or burial ground. It ensures your family has an easy time organising wakes and viewing your body. The funeral home should have sufficient amenities. Check the parking space, level of security and washrooms.
Services
Do you want your body cremated, buried or donated for medical research? Do you want your family members to perform cultural or religious rites before burying your body? Check what each service entails. For example, if you're on a budget, you may opt for direct cremation, where your body does not need embalming. The funeral home should also provide transport services from your place of death to the funeral home and your burial site.
The Funeral Director
The funeral director will work with close family members to prepare the funeral. He or she will:
- Guide your family members on how to obtain the death certificate.
- Provide counselling services to your immediate family.
- Help your family in organising the wake and funeral.
The director might also provide event-hire services such as audio-equipment, tents, chairs and catering services. The funeral director should be a people person with excellent communication skills. Further, his or her services should be reasonably priced.
Paying for Your Funeral
Most life insurance covers will cover your funeral expenses. You could also open a joint bank account with your spouse or close family member. Once you die, the funds will become available to him or her.
Funeral plans are a form of insurance policy that covers your funeral expense once you die. Check the type of plans the funeral home provides and examine their terms and conditions. For instance, is it a one-off payment or can you pay in premiums? What are the exemptions on the plan? Will you get a refund if you opt out of the policy or if the funeral home closes down?
Choosing a funeral home could not be any easier. Choose a conveniently located facility providing a wide range of services. Also examine the director's experience and determine how you will pay for the funeral.
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About Me
Funerals can bring forth such a range of emotions: melancholy, grief, regret, relief and nostalgia. As an assistant at a funeral parlour, I am privileged to help people with organising their loved one’s final journey. I have learnt that a good funeral parlour can make the occasion truly commemorative. When I attend funerals for friends, I am saddened to see that so many ceremonies are traditional and joyless. I later find out that the family members simply weren’t aware of options such as a graveside memorial service. I love the fact that one of my tasks involves showing family members various venues and demonstrating what can be done. In this humble little blog, I hope to make it my mission to share some of the ideas – big and small – from the best funerals I have seen. Perhaps it will give you some inspiration at a difficult time. Bless.