When someone you love passes away, it can be a very difficult and emotional time to move forward with making plans for your loved one’s arrangements. After you choose a funeral home, you will need to make an appointment to talk with a funeral director to discuss what kind of services you would prefer. Read on to learn what to expect during that meeting, and how funeral professionals can help make your loved one’s service special. 

Meeting With Funeral Professionals

What Will Your First Meeting Be Like? 

The main goal of your first visit with a funeral director will be to determine what kind of service your loved one would have wanted, such as a direct cremation, a cremation with a memorial service, or a traditional funeral service. Additional details about the service, such as musical numbers or video presentations, can also be discussed at that time. You will also want to choose a date which is convenient for you and your family, the funeral home, and the officiant.  

If you already have a list of people who you would like to speak at the funeral, or possible pallbearers, having those names handy can help the funeral director to start preparing an order of service. Also, during the first meeting, you will discuss how the contract will be settled and what method of payment will be used and whether any life insurance money will be funding the event. 

What Should You Bring?  

Since your funeral director will also be the one who completes and files the death certificate it is important to provide the required information in order for him or her to do so. Bring along this important information belonging to the deceased. However, the list below is partial and not all-inclusive. 

• Full name
• Parent’s, spouse’s, and children’s names
• Social Security number
• Mother’s maiden name
• Marital status
• Military service information
• Church affiliation and parish information

You may also want to bring along information about their personal hobbies and interests, work history, and a photo, so the funeral director can include that in the person’s obituary. Please keep in mind that the funeral director is there to help and guide you with your wishes.

When you are ready to start taking steps towards planning a touching memorial service, turn to the team at Willow Funeral Home, LLC. With a commitment to doing everything they can to make families comfortable during the difficult times of their lives, these funeral professionals can help with everything from writing the obituary and planning the memorial service to offering grief support and ordering cremation jewelry. To learn more about how they can help, visit their website or reach out by calling them at (417) 469-3141.