Losing a loved one is never easy. Add the pressure of planning for a funeral, and you’ll likely feel more than overwhelmed. Cincinnati residents who need help simplifying the funeral planning process turn to Neidhard Minges Funeral Home. These experts have been providing services that honor the lives of the departed for over 150 years.

Here, they’ve put together a checklist to help you reduce the stress associated with funeral planning:

• Determine Who Will Be Making Decisions: Determine a primary decision maker early on in the funeral planning process to alleviate stress and confusion. This person is usually the deceased’s spouse or next of kin. They are often in charge of making the final health care decisions and burial arrangements.
• Obtain Important Documents: There are several important documents associated with a death, including a death certificate, disposition permit, and burial transit permit. Additionally, you’ll want to locate the deceased’s last will and testament and organ/body donor registration information if they have it.
• Contact Family & Friends: Depending on the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death, it’s probably a good idea to contact close family members and friends shortly after their passing to notify them.

• Decide Between Cremation or Burial: If it’s not stated in your deceased loved one’s will, you’ll need to make the decision to either have a traditional burial or have their body cremated. This can be a difficult decision, so discussing it with other family members may be helpful.
• Place An Announcement Or Obituary: To notify others of the death of your loved one and to share funeral service details, consider sending out an announcement or placing an obituary in your local newspaper. You can also send out personal funeral invitations if you wish to keep the event more private.
• Prepare For The Funeral: Finally, it’s important to prepare for the funeral service. This could be completed personally, or you can choose a person to plan the ceremony for you. Consider the flower arrangements, who will be the pallbearers, what items to dress your deceased loved one in, whether or not you will be providing catering, and who will be giving the eulogy.

While these are some of the most important tasks to complete after a loved one’s passing, there may be other considerations and decisions to make. To learn more about the funeral planning process, contact the experts at Neidhard Minges Funeral Home by calling (513) 661-3022. This Cincinnati funeral home is open 24/7 and is ready to assist you during one of life’s most difficult times. To learn more about Neidhard Minges Funeral Home and the services they provide, visit their website.