Funeral arrangements must often be made during a time of confusion, sorrow and grief. This can make decision regarding the arrangements for a funeral overwhelming and difficult for many people. You may find that you are feeling ill-prepared for these decisions or that you cannot possibly begin to decide upon them. However, the process of making arrangements for a funeral can be made less overwhelming by breaking down the process of making funeral arrangements and explaining what you will need to do in order to arrange for the funeral of your deceased loved one.
Location
When arranging for a funeral, the first decision that needs to be made is choosing a funeral home. The funeral home that you choose should be one where you feel comfortable, regardless of location. If the funeral home in your local area makes you feel uncomfortable, unpleasant or uncared for, you should look for another funeral home where you feel comfortable making arrangements for a funeral. You should consider what services the funeral home provides before deciding on one: for example, are you looking for a funeral home which will perform embalming services on the body of your loved one in addition to hosting a funeral service at the funeral home itself? Or will you be hiring a separate mortuary to do the embalming, hosting the viewing service at your own home, and are only looking for a funeral home which will take care of burial services? It is important to ask about what services are provided before choosing a funeral home.
Making Funeral Arrangements with the Funeral Director
Once you choose a funeral home, then you will need to arrange for an arrangement conference with the funeral director. This is sometimes done right at the funeral home itself or at your own home or even over the telephone or, more recently, through internet email exchanges. A funeral director will typically provide you with a price list which explains the pricing for all of their services or other merchandise for a funeral, such as flowers, wreaths, music, refreshments, etc. If the funeral home provides their own embalming, casket, and/or burial services, you will also be provide pricing for them. After you have made your decisions about what services you wish to use and what, if any, merchandise you wish to purchase, then an itemized payment statement will be sent to you. Typically, agreeing to this itemized statement is considered a legal contract which will legally contract you to pay for the cost of the funeral and any items you have agreed to include on the statement.
The typical cost of funeral arrangements will depend on the funeral home chosen as well as what services and merchandise you decide to choose. The more complicated the funeral arrangements, the more likely that the price will be higher. Many funeral homes may charge additional fees for embalming or hosting visitations and viewing services, as well as charging for caskets and burial. For example, if you decide to choose a viewing service, you will likely also be required to choose en embalming service, which will raise the total cost of the funeral arrangements overall.
If you are concerned about the pricing or descriptions of any services or merchandise provided by a funeral home, it is important to air these questions with the funeral director, who will work with you and help you make decisions during an overwhelming time.
If you suffered a loss and are planning a funeral, we have many valuable resources.
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