When families grieve the loss of a loved one, they often don’t know how to start planning a meaningful ceremony. The compassionate directors of the Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home of Ranson, WV, offer the following advice on how to make arrangements and what to expect during the funeral planning process.

The First Call

After your loved one has passed, the first thing you need to do is call the funeral home to make transportation arrangements. Someone from the funeral home will arrive to take your loved one into their care.

The Appointment

Within a day or two, you and your family will meet with the funeral director to begin the funeral planning process. To prepare for this appointment, gather some of your loved one's personal items such as clothing, shoes, dentures, jewelry, and a recent photograph that shows their preferred hairstyle and makeup.

During this meeting, share biographical information and personal anecdotes about your loved one. Consider also bringing along memorabilia like photographs, letters, and videos to share. The funeral director will use this information to plan a personalized service.

Your funeral director will then take you through the different types of services available, including cremation and memorial services, as well as items like caskets and urns. Once you decide on the ceremony that will best honor your loved one, the funeral home will coordinate with churches, service venues, cemeteries, crematories, and any relevant government agencies to make the other necessary arrangements.

Write the Obituary

An obituary can be difficult to write—how do you sum up an entire life in just a few minutes? Funeral directors will often help collect information about your loved one to include in the obituary and official notifications.

If desired, your funeral director will also be able to help you place the obituary online and in your local newspaper.

Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home is a full-service funeral home that has served West Virginia’s Jefferson and Berkeley counties and the surrounding Tri-State area since 1889. For more guidance on funeral planning, visit their website or call (304) 725-7068.