10 Important Decisions in Planning a Funeral

The death of a loved one is an emotional time. When death occurs, there are many arrangements to be made including planning and preparing for the funeral. Making these arrangements can often be overwhelming, and many people will have no idea how to begin. To plan a funeral successfully, there are ten things to remember:

1. First, consider whether the deceased will be cremated or not. If the deceased has made this decision before his or her death, it is the responsibility of the family members, or whoever is making the decisions, to honor this wish. If the deceased had not expressed his or her wishes, it is up to the family members to decide whether the body be cremated or not.

2. Where will the body or urn be placed? In a burial plot? In a columbarium niche? Or should the ashes be scattered in a scattering garden or at sea? If the burial site or scattering place had not been decided by the deceased prior to his or her death, the family will have to decide.

3. The date and length of the funeral will also be decided by the family members. Should the deceased be buried after two days, or should viewing time be extended? One way to save money is for the family members to hold limited viewing hours and a short funeral.

4. Where will the funeral be held? This again depends on the family, or the wishes of the deceased. The funeral may be held in a funeral home, a church, a home, or in public places for a public memorial service.

5. Who will be invited? Should the funeral be open only the family members and close friends, or should neighbors and co-workers be allowed to attend? This is something to consider because a large funeral can be very costly.

6. Will there be a reception? This can be costly as well, and sometimes simply cannot be afforded.

7. Will you hire professionals to deal with certain details of the service? If so, what kind of professionals will be hired? The choice of whether to employ the services of a funeral home or not is significant and should be considered accordingly.

8. Flowers and other decorations, the clothes for the deceased, the music to be used in the service all need to be chosen. This is very important in order to give the deceased an appropriate memorial.

9. Do not neglect paperwork. This is very important because various forms - including the death certificate, will, and life insurance policy - must be taken care of in order to deal with the deceased's estate and other issues.

10. Decide whether to prepare memory tokens such as photographs or thank-you cards for the funeral attendees.

Taking time to decide on the important details of a memorial service is very important. By following these tens steps you will minimize the stresses associated with planning the service, and you will arrange a successful and appropriate funeral for your deceased love one.

Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery offers funeral and cremation services in Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Apache Junction, Queen Creek, and throughout Arizona. We know that the death of a loved one is an emotional time, and we understand your needs. Call us at 480-832-2850 or Toll Free at 866-684-1951.

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Holding a Memorial Service After Cremation

When a loved one passes away, and one of their last requests was to be cremated, then you have the choice of whether to hold the memorial service after cremation or before. There are reasons why families choose one or the other and yours may be among them.

One of the reasons that families choose to have a memorial service before the body is cremated is because they want to be able to hold a wake or have a viewing of the body before they have it cremated. Having a casket at a funeral is very important to some families since it allows them to have a sense of closure that they feel they may not be able to get if there is no body available for viewing.

While many might prefer having a memorial service after cremation, there are still many options for the families that want to have the service before cremation. Many funeral homes these days have caskets that a family can rent instead of purchasing. These are used specifically for loved ones who will eventually be cremated, but whose family still wants to hold a traditional wake for their dearly departed.

One thing to keep in mind if you decide to have the body present for the funeral is that you may need to have some embalming or preservation done to your loved one's body so that it is presentable for the viewing. This is an added cost to the family, but if it allows for closure and peace, then it is a cost that is worth it.

For those families that want to have a memorial service after cremation, many of them choose this option because it is less costly and they don't need to have the body present for the service.

When you opt to have a memorial service after cremation, you are given more leeway as far as a timeline and location. If you decide that you would rather have the service for your loved one in a park or some other place different from a funeral home or church, you can do so, because you aren't encumbered by a casket.

Holding the memorial service after cremation also gives you time to pick out the right cremation urn for your loved one. One that is significant and appropriate to you and to their life. When you have the right urn, then you can hold the memorial service with it on display as something tangible for guests to see.

Ultimately, whether your family chooses holding a memorial service after cremation or before comes down to personal preference and there's no right or wrong solution. It's whatever is right for you.

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