Funeral preplanning is a helpful process to initiate, yet the topic is tricky to broach with aging parents. Follow the tips below to help start the conversation.

Tips for Bringing up Funeral Preplanning

The Benefits

It helps to be conversant with the benefits of funeral preplanning before getting into the details. Thinking ahead about final arrangements helps bereaved loved ones during a difficult time because the decedent has already chosen the type of service, burial, or cremation. The process also ensures that distant family and friends are informed or invited to the service, and that obituary details are accurate.

During the service, music, readings, flowers, and memorial donations are indicated ahead of time. The process of prepayment also locks in a price and provides general peace of mind for the whole family.

Talk with a local funeral director to understand specifics they may offer and how to start the process. Get any paperwork that might be necessary, in case your loved ones are ready to begin planning.

Starting the Conversation

Now that you know the benefits, talk to your parents. An appropriate time to bring it up could be after you or your parents have attended the funeral of a distant friend or relative. Talk about the service and ask your loved one what they liked about the funeral, and about what they might like for their own. Inquire about family traditions or veteran’s services that might be important to them.

Also, be proactive and plan your own funeral. This is a boon to your family and provides a model for your parents. Let them know what you’ve decided and how you made each choice. Let this lead to gentle suggestions and questions about their own decisions.

Ease into any conversation about funerals and end of life, especially if a loved one is ill or suffering. It may take many conversations to arrive at a visit to the funeral home. If it seems appropriate, ask a funeral director, pastor, or other senior relative to help make the conversation easier.

Funeral preplanning is a smart choice for all concerned. Choose Herman-Taylor Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, to assist with all family memorial needs. They offer in-person or online preplanning, plus decades of experience with funerals, burial, and cremation. Call (715) 423-5460 to speak to a preplanning expert, or visit the website to start the process online.