Do you have a prearrangement in place? The biggest question we hear about preplanning is simply "How does preplanning help my family?"
The answer is funeral preplanning is a gift to your family. At the time of a death, there are so many decisions to make. If a family has never discussed the final wishes of their parents or siblings or children, all of those decisions need to be made in a short period of time, in a very emotional and stressful setting.
If you have already discussed, considered, questioned and made decisions for your own funeral service in a well thought out manner, pressure is taken off of the grieving family members. In an ideal world, everyone in the decision making process will only think of celebrating a life with joy and honor, but that is not always true. Sadness often overtakes common sense, anger often causes unexpected or unkind words to be spoken and the simple shock of a death interferes with clarity of the tasks needed.
If your funeral is preplanned, you have the opportunity to select your casket, urn, the songs that you would like at the service, and who your casket bearers will be. You can identify important hobbies, pre-write your obituary, select your favorite outfit, and whatever else that is important to you. If you are a veteran, you will learn what benefits you are entitled to receive and how that process is accomplished.
In addition to preplanning, you will also have the option to pre-pay for your services. The reality is that a funeral is a costly event. If you have the opportunity to partially or completely pay for that, it is a blessing to your surviving family. Rather than worry about the expense, or fighting with others over responsibilities, it will simply become an opportunity for all survivors to cherish your memory and honor your life, the way it is supposed to be. They can then move forward on learning how to live without you, which is difficult enough in itself.
Checklist
General
Gather personal information for your obituary, including date of birth, educational experience, names of parents, place of birth, name of spouse, date of the wedding, location of the wedding, hobbies, interests, special groups, and survivors list.
- Choose a charity to direct donations to, if in lieu of flowers is desired.
- Make note of any instructions for your services and final disposition.
- How many certified copies of death certificates will you require?
- Which media sources would you like your obituary displayed?
Funeral Service
- Choose burial, entombment, or cremation.
- Choose locations and types of services.
- Choose floral arrangements and/or specific florist desired
- Select which photographs and memorabilia you’d like to display.
- Consider any customs, traditions, or religious rites that are important to you and your family.
- Choose the clothing you’d like to be dressed in.
- Select a hairdresser if you have a preference.
- Select music and/or genre and hymnals, if desired.
- Choose a theme for stationery at your services.
Participants
- Choose a clergy member or officiant to preside over the service.
- Select any musicians and/or choir you’d like.
- Select active and honorary casket bearers.
- Choose friends or family members to perform the eulogy, read scripture, and/or prepare a speech.
Final Disposition
- Identify the cemetery location..
- Select a burial plot or mausoleum.
- Select a memorial or grave marker and inscription and what company you'd like to use. We are partnered directly with Geneseo Memorials & Bronze.
- Decide who will keep your urn.
- Decide who will scatter your ashes and where. Check local rules for ash distribution.
Affiliations
- Fraternal organizations such as Moose Lodge, VFW, etc.
- Service organizations such as Junior Achievement, etc.
- Union memberships
- Any special recognitions you have
Military Service Information
- Military service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines)
- Branch rank
- Date of enlistment
- Date of discharge
- Name(s) of war/conflict(s) you have toured
Print & Fill Out Pre-Arrangement Form
Fax it to (309) 944-1416 or email it to info@vandemorefuneralhome.com
Click on the graphic on the left to download the file.
Keep in Mind...
There's no need to make all the decisions by yourself. We offer personalized assistance in creating the funeral plan that is perfect for you.
You may call (309) 944-1415 to schedule a one-on-one meeting with our funeral planning specialist, Kathleen.
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