The tragic loss of a loved one is a burden that no one wishes to go through. Unfortunately, you are thrust into the decision making process before you’ve had the chance to grieve. Understandably, this can be overwhelming, especially when there are no pre-arrangements to determine what your loved one would have wanted. That’s why we’ve created this guide to make planning a memorial service a little easier during this difficult time.
Contact the Deceased’s Legal Representative
Contact the deceased’s legal representative to access their personal information. If your loved one wrote out a will before they passed, it would clearly state everything you need to know moving forward. Sometimes, there are funeral pre-arrangement plans based on what the deceased wanted.
You won’t need to handle all affairs until after the funeral, such as the deceased’s assets like their estate, financial matters, etc. However, you must discuss matters with their legal representative before planning the funeral to ensure you follow your loved one’s wishes.
Select a Funeral Home
Meet with different funeral home directors to find the right one for you. If your loved one has made no arrangements prior to their death, then you have to discuss how the deceased will be cared for, what type of ceremony to have, and whether you’ve chosen burial or cremation.
Once you’ve selected a funeral home, look into the services they offer. If you click here, you will find what services a funeral home provides in Forsyth County, Georgia. Funeral homes guide you every step of the way with everything you need to plan a funeral. You can even make arrangements online for convenience; this is helpful if a loved one passed away suddenly.
Choose a Form of Disposition
As mentioned above, you have to decide what to do with the remains. Choose a form of disposition that you believe your loved one would have wanted. If there are no pre-arrangements, you can ask their legal representative or other family members if they prefer ceremonial Asian funerals or a traditional burial or cremation.
Decide on a Location for the Service
Planning funeral or cremation services includes deciding on a location to host the ceremony; this can be anywhere you feel would best suit your loved one. If the deceased was considerably religious, opt for a church or other place of worship. You can also use the funeral home chapel for the ceremony.
Moreover, you can always make it a little more personalized by having the service at the deceased’s favorite park or private property, such as a family member’s home or garden. Furthermore, you can always consider a green or natural burial site, cemetery chapel, crematorium chapel, or graveside.
Seek and Schedule a Clergy Member
Seek a clergy member or officiant to be the funeral conductor. Depending on the type of ceremony, the duties of the conductor may vary. For instance, if you are having a traditional religious setting, you may want a religious leader to conduct the memorial service.
If you aren’t going the traditional route, you can discuss how to personalize the funeral with the conductor. Schedule a meeting with them to discuss the role you want them to take at the funeral service and organize things from there.
Choose a Casket
Choosing a casket requires some thought if you have no clear suggestions on what the deceased would have wanted. Include other family members in the decision of what type of casket suits your loved one best.
Search online to view the range of coffins available and find a price point that pertains to your budget. You can buy the funeral coffin independently or through your funeral conductor. Either way, it’s preferential to discuss the coffin with your funeral conductor beforehand.
Write the Obituary
Either choose to write the obituary or offer the task to someone else and send it out to selected newspapers to print. Additionally, you may also want to be the one to prepare a eulogy to be read at the funeral.
Arrange Setup
The last step to consider is the arrangements for where the funeral will take place. Arrange the flowers to be on display; if the deceased had a favorite type of flower, ensure you include them in the service. Moreover, decide what food and beverages will be served at the memorial service and organize the catering.
When you’re heartbroken, it will be difficult to focus on the tasks that have fallen into your lap. But with this guide, you can identify the steps that must be taken to ensure you give your loved one a ceremony representing their life and the love you all share for them.