Planning a loved one’s funeral service can be a challenging, heart-wrenching task, which is why many funeral directors encourage you to consider pre-planning your own funeral. You can save your friends and family the added grief of funeral planning while making your wishes known. Here are some factors you will need to consider.

Pre-Planning Funeral Decisions You’ll Need to Make

1. What Kind of Service to Have

You have many options for planning a funeral service, including not to have one. Typically people either have a memorial or funeral service where the body is either present or not. You can pre-arrange a minister to oversee the service and request specific music or songs to play. Both types of services have a visitation, which allows mourners to gather and share condolences with the family before the ceremony. 

2. Burial or Cremation

Choosing burial or cremation is a personal decision you should make known to your loved ones before your death. While both are popular, it comes down to your personal preference. If you’re uncertain, you can discuss the pros and cons of each with a funeral director. 

3. Resting Place

Along with burial or cremation, you will need to decide where your body or ashes will rest after death. You can select from a variety of caskets or urns, and choose a cemetery for your final resting place. If cremated, you must also determine if someone should receive your ashes or you want them housed in a niche.

4. Obituaries

An obituary is a common method of announcing a person’s passing. Some are pre-written before death, or you can leave a list of details you’d like included. A funeral director can guide you through the format and help you collect the appropriate information for the piece.

Whether you’re making arrangements for yourself or a loved one, Brater-Winter Funeral Home in Cincinnati, OH, understands the difficulty of funeral planning and has a compassionate staff ready to help guide you through the process. From cremation to memorial services, they offer a variety of funeral planning services. Call (513) 941-1940 to request an appointment, or visit their website for more information about their funeral pre-planning.