It's unfortunate, but family members need to take on the responsibility of handling funeral arrangements after someone close to them has passed away. The process can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when the person was somebody close to you. With so many big decisions you'll have to make, it's common to have some questions about making the funeral arrangements.
How Quickly Will Funeral Arrangements Need To Be Made? Your first step will be to meet with your funeral director to start making arrangements for the visitation, funeral service, and the burial. This usually happens within a couple days of the person passing away. While you will be encouraged to make your decisions quickly, they will allow you to have additional time if it is needed.
In the US, it's customary to have a funeral within days of the person's passing. That said, funeral directors can work with your specific needs regarding when the visitation, funeral, and burial occur. For example, if you have many relatives that live in a different part of the country, they will need additional time to travel for the funeral. Just remember that keeping the deceased's body at the morgue will increase the overall cost of the funeral.
How Is The Burial Method Determined?
One aspect that is often debated is the burial method. You should take into consideration you're the deceased's spiritual beliefs when possible. If they had a Christian, Jewish, or Dharmic belief, their religions do allow for cremation. Islamic, Bahá'í, and Orthodox Judaism do not allow cremation.
If they were not a religious person, you should consider the immediate family's beliefs or even the cost of one burial method over the other.
Does The Entire Funeral Require Up-Front Payment?
In 2014, a funeral cost an average of $7,181 with a burial and viewing. With the cost being so high, it's possible that you won't have all the cash up front to pay for it. Check with your funeral director about if they will allow for a payment plan. You may also ask for a collection at the viewing and funeral to have friends and family help pay for it.
While planning a funeral is always a tough time, hopefully, the answers to these 3 questions will make the process easier. If you make these decisions with your loved one's family and friends, it will help assure that you are making all of the right decisions.
For a funeral home in your area, contact a company such as Foster-Warne Funeral Home.
Share28 January 2016
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