Funerals are difficult and emotional occasions, and it can be hard to move from grieving to performing the mundane tasks of daily life. While taking time for yourself is important, you may need to take additional steps to honor both the deceased and everyone who supported you throughout the process. After the ceremony ends, here are essential steps to take. 

3 Tasks to Complete After a Funeral

1. Discuss the Remains With Family

If you didn’t choose traditional burial for interring your loved one’s remains, or ash scattering wasn’t part of the funeral rites, you’ll want to get the input of family or friends before deciding what to do. Some wish to scatter cremated remains in emotionally significant locations, while others prefer to keep them in an urn at home or share them between multiple urns. In still other cases, family members have them pressed into jewelry or keepsakes. If the deceased has been buried, you should also discuss markers or monument design with family and with the cemetery. These may take multiple weeks to create and thus may not be installed until well after the service. 

2. Dispose of Flowers

You may have received flowers or other gifts from friends or acquaintances of the deceased who wish to express their condolences. Don’t feel obligated to handle these flowers in any particular way; what you do with them is entirely up to you. Many people take them home, but others leave them behind at the church or other service venue, hand them out to various family members, ask the funeral director to transport them to the gravesite, or donate them to the community. 

3. Send Thank-You Notes

It’s generally courteous to thank those who helped with the funerary arrangements or provided special care and support during your time of bereavement. No one expects to receive a thank-you card right away — it’s perfectly acceptable to wait until you’re emotionally stable enough to proceed with this task, even for several months if need be. Not everyone who attended the service or sent a keepsake must receive a note, either. Focus instead on those who helped with the details, officiated, ran errands to help minimize your workload, and provided food.

If you’ve recently lost a loved one, the caretakers at Adzima Funeral Home will help handle the details of the funeral for you, allowing you to focus on both mourning and celebrating the life of the deceased. This family-owned institution has over 100 years of service to the residents of Stratford, CT. They offer multiple flexible packages, including pre-planning options. Learn more about them today by visiting them online or calling (203) 375-2200.