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Funeral Arrangements
Method of disposition
Probably the biggest decision is choosing between a traditional burial or cremation.
Of course there are a number of other methods such as water cremation, entombment, or eco friendly burials.
If you’re not entirely sure, we suggest you take some time to read some of our expert guides.
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Relavant guides:
- Burial or cremation: The pro’s and con’s of both choices.
- The cremation process: Everything you need to know when planning.
- Cremation costs: Will give you an idea of how much to pay.
- Direct cremation guide: A very basic and affordable option.
Choosing a funeral home:
After you’ve chosen a suitable funeral director, they will help you go through some important decisions.
- Deciding on burial or cremation (See above)
- Deciding where the service and/or ceremony will be (Also time and date)
- Deciding on a casket or cremation container
- Whether to use embalming (Required for an open casket
- Choosing a cemetery and plot (If interment is chosen)
- Purchasing a grave marker for the cemetery
- Charitable donations to organizations
The Ceremony & Service
- Crafting an appropriate service (Religious, spiritual, end of life celebration, etc)
- Choosing a family member, religious leader, or celebrant to run the service
- Family viewing and visitation
- Choosing funeral music, scriptures, prayers, and readings
- Organising transportation- for family and the deceased
- Organising flower arrangements
- Writing an obituary and submitting it to newspapers (If desired)
- Choosing a speaker for the eulogy
- Deciding on pallbearers
- Organising a wake or ceremony after the service (Location and catering)
- Create memorial cards and programs for the service
- Choose photos, videos, clothing, mementos for the service
- Create a memorial register or guest book
Thank you for this nice list. My dad passed away last night, so having something like this helps immensely. He wanted to be cremated, so I definitely have to find a funeral home that can do that for him. I’ll be sure to find some photos, videos, clothing, and other mementos for the service as you mentioned.
You made a good point that deciding between burial or cremation is the first step to finding the right funeral home. I’m considering to get a memorial plan for myself someday so that I wouldn’t have to make my family worry about it when my time comes. Perhaps being cremated would be better in the long run since my remains would also require less space when buried.
my sister passed away yesterday and i would like to suggest to my nieces an arrangement for her funeral. it would be traditonal. thank you for your perfect list , very helpful for a long distance communication like ours.