To ensure their wishes are clear and in a position to be carried out, many older people are taking elements of their after-death planning into their own hands. Making those types of decisions, such as where you would like to be buried or put your ashes, will let your family focus on remembering you instead of getting stressed and confused with logistics. Here’s a guide for how to decide where to have your headstone placed. 

3 Suggestions for Selecting a Place to Be Buried

1. Reflect on Your Values

When trying to determine your final resting place, the first move is to take a step back and think about what’s important to you. If you have served in the military, perhaps a military cemetery would be a good option, or you could plan to honor your service with a marking on the headstone. If faith is extremely important in your life, it may make sense to choose a cemetery with a religious affiliation. And finally, it’s valuable to consider where your family has traditionally been buried, and if you would like to continue that legacy. 

2. Consult With Your Family

Once you’ve done some preliminary thinking, share your early thoughts with your family and see how they feel about the situation. It’s much better to talk through your values and ideas while you have the chance then have them be thrown for a loop after your passing. They can help you make the decision, and offer support while doing so.

3. Take Steps to Pre-Plan

After solidifying a plan, it’s worth pre-planning at least a few elements of the funeral so your family doesn’t have to execute the details while in grief. By going through that formality, you can also be assured that your wishes will be fully honored. You can specify anything from the plot of land you’d like to buried on to the type of headstone that appeals to you most. 

To take control of your own planning process, get in touch with a respected headstone company like McGee Monuments in Rochester, NY. The local, family-owned company has been in business for over a century and offers more than 100 different marker and monument designs to choose from. You can set up a consultation by calling (585) 546-4602. Learn more about the company by visiting their website.