Saying goodbye to a cherished loved one is never easy. But those mourning someone who lived a significant distance away can face some additional challenges in the process of planning a funeral service. Below are a few tips to help you manage this logistical task.

3 Tips for Long-Distance Funeral Planning

1. Report the Death

The first step to planning a funeral is to report the death to the proper authorities. If your loved one died in a hospital, nursing home, or in hospice care, place a call to the facility to ask if they reported the death and to inquire about any additional steps you may need to take. If your loved one died at home, contact a local funeral home to collect them. Your chosen funeral home can give you the phone number of the appropriate authorities who will issue a death certificate.

2. Consider the Deceased's Wishes

You may have previously discussed with your loved one what type of funeral service and burial or cremation they wanted upon their death. If not, the deceased individual may have left their funeral wishes in writing as part of their will or estate. Or they may have already gone through funeral pre-planning with a local funeral home. Before making any plans, consider all previously-stated funeral preferences or plans already put in place. Consult their caregivers, surviving family, and lawyer to see if any express wishes have been left. Honoring these will help you plan the type of funeral your loved one envisioned.

3. Work Closely With the Funeral Home

Many funeral homes are well-equipped to handle long-distance funeral planning. Keep in regular touch with your contact at the funeral home, either by phone or email, and they will guide you through the experience from start to finish. Funeral homes often offer all-inclusive options in which you pay one price for all funeral-related services, including the cemetery burial, flowers, and catering. This can make long-distance arrangements much easier so you don't have to pay a number of individual vendors.

These tips will ensure that planning a funeral service from a distance is a manageable and streamlined process. For over 50 years, Ritchay Funeral Home has helped people near and far plan funerals in the Wood County, WI, area. They provide funeral, burial, and cremation services tailored to your needs, budget, and the wishes of your loved one. To learn more, contact them by calling (715) 423-1414, visit them online, or message them on Facebook.