5 Mistakes To Avoid When Planning A Funeral

Even though every funeral is different, most services often follow a similar funeral planning checklist. While common steps like selecting a casket, purchasing flowers, or choosing a burial plot may seem easy, there are also many common funeral planning mistakes people make during this process.

In the 48 hours following a loved one’s death, your family will have to make more than 70 decisions when planning a funeral service. With so many things to consider and decisions to be made, it’s natural to make a mistake or two. When you add in the stress and emotional difficulty of losing a loved one, it can make a tough situation even more challenging.

That’s the great thing about preplanning a funeral. In addition to relieving your loved ones of this task, you and your family will have peace of mind knowing that everything is taken care of. As you work through the planning process, it’s possible to still make mistakes but they can be easily corrected.

To help make sure you avoid making a mistake, here are some common funeral planning mistakes to avoid.

Waiting Until A Death Is Likely To Occur Soon

Many people will wait until their loved one contracts an illness or is expected to die soon before they begin making funeral arrangements. Waiting until then can create added stress for family members when they should be focused on comforting their loved one and preparing to say goodbye. By preplanning a funeral before any diagnosis, your family will not have to worry about this later on.

Not Communicating With Your Family

Although you will make your funeral arrangements with a funeral director, it’s important to talk about it with your family first. Not only should your loved ones be made aware of your plans, but they should also know who to contact when a death occurs. It’s also important to listen to their input and make sure that the service you plan will help provide them with the closure they’ll need afterward.

Failing To Clarify Your Final Wishes

When you meet with the funeral director to begin your arrangements, make sure that they understand everything you want the service to include. There are many options to consider so it’s very important you sit down with your funeral director and make sure everything is planned and accounted for. This includes things like deciding between cremation or burial, if there will be a visitation, what type of service you want and much more. The last thing you want is to put your family in the difficult situation of making a last-minute decision in the days before the service.

Failure To Ask Questions

As we’ve said, there are a lot of decisions to make when planning a funeral service. A common funeral planning mistake is just assuming things or being afraid to ask questions. If you’re unsure about anything, ask the funeral director to clarify it for you. They’re there to assist you and would be happy to do so. Feel free to ask as many questions and you want to make sure that your wishes will be followed and everything is accounted for.

Not Sticking To A Budget

When people wait till a loved one has passed away to make funeral arrangements, they often end up overspending. For many people, they end up selecting more expensive items and services because that’s what their loved one would’ve wanted or deserved. By preplanning a funeral service, you can establish a budget and avoid emotional overspending.