Funeral planning is not a routine part of daily life, so it's no surprise that very few people who walk into funeral homes in Dayton, WA, know how to plan one. Many are often overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the process.
But that doesn't have to be the case. You only have to follow these steps:
Step 1: Gather the Family
The first thing you'll need to do is gather your family members together. You'll need to have a good idea of —
- how many people will be attending the funeral
- the type of service: burial or cremation, religious or non-religious
- who will be speaking at the service
- date and venue
The more you and your family are on the same page, the closer you are to a definitive plan.
If the deceased left a funeral plan alongside their will, it's better to honor their wishes and move to the next step. If the instructions are too expensive or impractical, create a plan around the ones you can do with the resources available to you.
Step 2: Select a Funeral Home
Once you've got your family on board, find a funeral home. Choose a few candidates, ask around and see what other people say about them. You can also visit their websites and read online reviews from previous customers.
A good funeral home will offer a wide range of services – including cremation, burial, and embalming. Make sure they're right for you before signing anything or handing over any money.
If the deceased was a veteran, when choosing a funeral home, make sure they have military funeral experience too. This is because military funerals often require special paperwork and procedures that aren't covered by standard packages offered by most funeral homes.
Ensure they know how to handle these things before finalizing the arrangement.
Step 3: Figure out the cost and who will pay for it
The price of a funeral depends on your plan, but some of the basic funeral costs may include:
funeral director's fees
paperwork (medical examiner, death certificate, etc.)
burial cost (casket, burial plot, transportation)
cremation (urn, columbarium niche, urn vault)
If the person left a funeral plan, check if the cost is already covered. They may also have a life insurance policy that covers. And if your loved one was a veteran, you can apply for a burial allowance.
Step 4: Arrange the order of service
Finally, decide what will happen on the day. What's the dress code? Bible verses and other readings? What songs will be played? If your loved one had specific wishes, work out how to incorporate them into the service.
What about the reception? Will there be one? Where? It can be in your or the deceased's home, but you can also have it in other locations. Public parks and restaurants are popular options.
These are the bones of a funeral plan. There are a million other details to consider. That's where we come in.
Our Dayton, WA funeral home can take care of your funeral planning. We can also help you arrange a memorial service or celebration of life event. Call us now to speak with our funeral director of your life choices or visit our location now.
