Many individuals are choosing to take control of their own funeral arrangements through the help of preplanning services. This process prevents the weight of decisions from falling onto your loved ones down the road, as well as ensuring your wishes are met. However, funeral planning involves a variety of steps and considerations. To help you make the right choices for your needs, follow these steps.  

Checklist for Funeral Planning

1. Disposition

One of the biggest choices you face is deciding between burial and cremation. Both options offer benefits, but there are key differences between the two. You'll also need to determine your receptacle preferences, such as a casket or urn. There are a variety of vessel choices for both burial and cremation, so it's important you review your options carefully.

2. Final Resting Place

Along with disposition, a decision is needed regarding your final resting location. With cemeteries, the most common choices are in-ground plots and above-ground mausoleum placements. For the latter, you have the choice of burial in a private or community mausoleum, depending on your circumstances. With cremation, you can choose to have your ashes placed in a single urn or separated into multiple containers for your loved ones.

3. Service Style

Another valuable aspect of funeral planning is choosing a service style. Traditional funeral services incorporate a religious text or poetry reading. Modern variations also allow close family members to speak. For a more uplifting celebration, many individuals are choosing a memorial service that focuses on celebrating their life.

4. Atmosphere

During the preplanning phase, you also have the opportunity to set the atmosphere for your service. Consider the type of attendees you want present. You may want to limit visitors to close family and friends with a private service or open it to the public. As part of the funeral planning process, flowers, music, and visual presentations, like slideshows, are all chosen as well.

Completing funeral planning ahead of time provides peace of mind that your decisions will be honored. For valuable assistance with this process, turn to the team at Eackles-Spences & Norton Funeral Home in Jefferson County, WV. The respectful team strives to make planning a stress-free process with unmatchable support and compassion. Get started with your selection today by filling out their preplanning form online, or schedule a consultation at (304) 724-6500.