People plan funerals for loved ones all the time, but what happens when the deceased is someone you don't know very well? If you have a long-lost relative and you are the next of kin, you may be given this responsibility. Instead of panicking and becoming befuddled, the best thing to do would be to follow this advice.
Go Through Their Things
One way to get a clue into the type of person the deceased was would be to take a look at all of their personal items. If they have no instructions left on how things should be handled, this is a quick way to try to get to know them. While most aspects of the funeral you plan will have to be based on speculation, there are some things that are likely to be spot-on. For example, browsing through their belongings can clue you in on their favorite color, and this can dictate which casket should be purchased.
Give The Responsibility To A Friend
Generally, people try to get in touch with the relatives of the deceased, but there are sometimes people that are much closer to them. If you find out that there is anyone who was particularly close to them, you should consider passing on the responsibility to them. In some cases, they will be more than happy to take the reins in order to ensure their friend has the best possible ceremony. Even if they choose not to handle it on their own, you can still talk to them in order to get some ideas on how the funeral should be planned.
Allow The Funeral Director To Take Charge
Many people do not realize this, but funeral directors sometimes plan entire funerals on their own. In the event that you are truly perplexed when it comes to making funeral plans, talking to them can be quite helpful. Explain to them that you are not very familiar with the deceased and you will need a great deal of help when it comes to figuring out which direction to take. While having a more hands-on funeral director can result in a more expensive funeral than you had hoped for, it will certainly lift a huge burden off your shoulders.
Planning a funeral for a long-lost relative may seem like the most difficult task in the world, but this advice will make things more bearable. Even though you don't know them, it is your job to make sure that they are given the respect they deserve. Talk to experts like Suess Bernard Funeral Home Inc. for more information.
Share23 March 2015
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