When you’re grieving, the last thing you need to be doing is planning a service. Pre-planning allows you to make only two decisions when death occurs: what day and what time the service will be held. Everything else can be arranged in advance, giving you the space to honor your loved one while processing your grief.
We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster, and we recently spoke with Greg Cannon, who has more than 45 years of experience in the funeral profession, including as a funeral director. Greg shared his expertise on planning ahead for a loved one’s service, offering eight essential tips that can make all the difference during a difficult time.
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Full Show Notes
Additional Resources Mentioned
End of Life Service Worksheet here
Takeaways
Tip 1: Choose a Funeral Home
Select a funeral home that will meet your needs. This choice may be based on location, previous experience with them, or their reputation.
Tip 2: Decide on Burial or Cremation
This fundamental decision shapes many subsequent choices.
If choosing burial, consider:
For cremation, consider:
In both cases, you’ll need to decide what clothing the person will wear. Greg advises bringing a complete set of clothing, including undergarments and outerwear. Shoes are optional and often difficult to put on, but can be included if they’re meaningful.
Tip 3: Decide on the Type of Service
Funeral services have evolved beyond the traditional.
Traditional Service (for either burial or cremation)
Memorial Service
Green Burial
Direct Cremation or Direct Burial
Tip 4: Choose a Location
The location for the service could be:
Tip 5: Prepare the Obituary
Rather than writing the complete obituary under time pressure, prepare by:
Tip 6: Create a Notification Tree
Decide ahead of time:
Tip 7: Plan the Service
Consider these elements and include your care receiver as much as possible:
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