Doug Familia Discusses Planning a Funeral for Yourself or a Loved One

9 things to consider when planning a funeral service

When planning funeral arrangements for yourself or a loved one, there are many considerations to keep in mind. Planning a funeral is often an emotional process, and it is best to have a procedure in mind that will help you get through it. Having a compassionate funeral director like Doug Familia will help make decisions about what you want to do to remember your loved one or to help others remember you.

Here are nine things to consider for families who need to plan services for a loved one, as well as those who wish to pre-plan their arrangements.

Decide on a Venue

The first decision you need to make is where you are going to have the funeral. In the past, most funerals were held at churches and funeral homes, but with today’s challenging health and safety requirements, the limits for indoor gatherings have been restrictive, however, Funeral Homes have been on the cutting edge of providing safe, socially distanced environments for funeral services.

Live Streaming

You also need to decide whether the service will be live streamed on the Internet. This can enable people who cannot travel due to health and safety concerns to attend the funeral, even if they cannot be there in person. This solution is becoming an increasingly accepted alternative to having a large funeral in person, and it can be meaningful to out-of-town family and friends.

The Celebrant

Everyone planning funerals wants to choose the right celebrant for their service. When planning your own service, you may wish to select a clergyman or a celebrant who is non-religious. A funeral director can also perform the service. You should choose someone who can reflect the values and beliefs of the individual whose life is being remembered. This would also bring another level of personal meaning to the service.

Readings and Speeches

Another decision that you will need to make is who will be the speakers at the funeral. Many people choose a close family member or friend to deliver the eulogy, but this decision should probably be made leading up to the funeral rather than in advance. It is difficult to say which friends or family members will be prepared to take on this task until the time comes. It may be best to consult with clergy or a celebrant in regards to the structure of the services.

Music

Personal music selections are becoming an increasing part of funeral services. It is best to choose music that you or your loved one listened to frequently or music which has a deep personal meaning. If you are planning a friend or relative’s service and do not know what you should have for music, your funeral director will be able to help you select it. This is another important detail that should be planned ahead of time.

Guests

You may choose to have a small funeral with only a few guests invited, or you could choose to publish the details in the newspaper or online and invite everyone who knew the deceased to participate in the service. It is entirely up to you and your comfort level. People who have been active in their communities frequently have long lists of friends who would like to say goodbye properly.

Burial or Cremation

Cremation may be more affordable than traditional burial, but it will often carry many of the same costs, including charges for the casket or urn, gravestone, and service. If you are paying for your own funeral in advance, you can choose whichever option is the best for you. If you are planning a friend or relative’s funeral, try to decide what they would have wanted.

The Reception

Most funerals involve some sort of reception afterward with refreshments. You will need to decide where this reception will be held and what, if anything, will be served. Funeral homes can provide this service, or a family can decide to provide the reception on their own. Many Funeral Homes have dedicated space to host and cater to any type of funeral reception requested.

Pre-Planning Helps

In order to avoid giving family and friends the heartbreaking task of planning a funeral, it is much more thoughtful to make the arrangements yourself if at all possible. If you plan your own funeral, you will be able to set the list of people who will be there, the venue, and all aspects of the service. If you wait and let your relatives or friends handle it, you can’t be sure that it will be handled in the way you would have wanted and the decisions are made in a much more stressful frame of mind.

Experienced funeral directors like Doug Familia are ready to help people plan their own funerals in an effort to take some burden off the surviving loved ones, or they can help a family plan a service in their stead.