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Funeral preplanning allows you control over your final wishes. From burial arrangements to special requests, your life will be honored the way you see fit. Most importantly, preplanning relieves family members from added stress during their time of mourning. When meeting with a funeral director, asking the right questions will help you better understand the process and make these final decisions easier. 

A Guide to Funeral Preplanning 

Can I personalize my service? 

Funeral homes offer extensive personalization options. There are obvious choices, including deciding between burial or cremation, along with related items, such as selecting a casket, headstone, or urn. 

There are also different types of funeral services available. Funeral homes offer gatherings and visitations, as well as traditional funerals and memorial services. 

Funeral homes provide veterans services, such as military honors, which don’t come at an additional cost. 

Personal touches can also be added. An obituary can be written, favorite pictures can be displayed, and favorite songs can be played during the viewing or service. 

What religious services do you provide? 

Funeral PreplanningModern funeral homes provide services for those of many different faiths. Staff members remain knowledgeable about the traditions and will honor each religion’s funeral rites fully and appropriately. 

When is your staff on-call?

Funeral homes should be available 24/7, so preparations can begin soon after passing. During the funeral preplanning, the director will outline how long it will take to arrive after being notified, who will come to remove the body, and what family members can expect. 

Do I need a preplan if I have life insurance?

Life insurance helps surviving family members financially after the loss of a loved one. Usually, it’s used to cover remaining debts and pay the estate tax. 

Depending on the life insurance plan, family members may have to pay for the funeral up front and at the current rate. It will take the insurance company weeks or months to provide the reimbursement, and it may not be for the full expenses of the funeral. 

Instead, many people decide to prepay when preplanning their funeral. By prepaying, you’ll pay the current funeral rate, sparing family members from paying a higher future price. 

Many funeral homes offer lump-sum payments or installments. The money will be deposited to an insurance company or a bank where it will be inaccessible to the funeral home until you have passed, and the home has performed their services. 

 

When you’re ready to make funeral preplanning arrangements, reach out to Robert W. Waid Funeral Home. Since 1900, this family-owned business has ensured that the residents of Meadville, PA, have their final requests fulfilled. Their staff is available 24/7 and ready to accommodate you and your family in your time of need with comprehensive funerary services and grief support. For more information, visit their website or call (814) 724-1021.

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