A Funeral Planning Checklist: Everything You Should Know and Do

funeral with pallbearers and casket

There’s nothing easy about planning a funeral. In fact, due to the stress and emotion surrounding the event, it’s one of the hardest things that anyone could ever have to do. For this reason, at such a difficult time, it’s good to be prepared.

Are you responsible for planning a funeral? Need a little assistance in doing so? Here’s a funeral planning checklist to help keep you organized.

Consult with Family

The death of a loved one creates strong emotions in family members. For this reason, you’ll want to ensure that everyone is on-board with the funeral arrangements. If you can, get everyone together in one room so that you can discuss the arrangements at length.

Note, however, that your deceased loved one might already have plans designated in a will.

Find an Appropriate Funeral Home

First, you need to find an appropriate funeral home. Call around to various homes throughout your area to see which one can best accommodate your plans and budget. Different funeral homes provide different services, so it’s a good idea to inquire about what’s included in the cost.

Obtain a Burial Permit

In order for your loved one to be buried in a cemetery, you must obtain a burial permit. These permits are issued by local registrars, meaning that you’ll have to contact the officials with your municipality.

Create an Obituary

Whether you’re writing it yourself or are handing the task off to someone else, an obituary is customary after the death of a loved one. Collect necessary information and deliver it to the proper channels.

Find a Burial Spot

Many individuals designate the area in which they want to be buried before they die. However, if your loved one didn’t, it’s up to you and those close with your loved one to make the choice.

Of course, you’re not obligated to bury your loved one at all. You could also choose to have him or her cremated.

Choose Clothing for the Deceased

You’ll also need to pick clothing for the deceased. There’s a chance that the deceased has designated a clothing choice in his or her will. If not, it’s best to stick to a suit or a dress.

Find Photos

The majority of funerals contain photos of the deceased. You’ll not only need to find these photos but figure out a way to present them as well. Photobooks and posterboards are two of the best methods for presenting photos at a funeral.

Make Arrangements for a Grave Marker

If you plan on having your loved one buried in a cemetery, you’re going to have to establish arrangements for a grave marker. You’ll likely have to contact an inscriptionist to label the marker as well.

Call Up a Florist

Flowers are customary at most funerals. If the funeral home you choose doesn’t handle the flower duties for you, you’ll have to call up a florist. Depending on your preferences, flowers could be needed for both the funeral and the viewing.

Arrange Spoken Word Literature

Most funerals include some sort of spoken word literature. If you’re religious, this might include Bible verses. If not, this might include poetry.

You’ll also need to find someone willing to speak. Religious funerals are usually lead by pastors or priests. Secular funerals might be lead by a friend of the family or maybe even someone belonging to the family.

Build a Music Playlist

It’s usually a good idea to play background music during the funeral as well. If the deceased was a fan of a specific type of music, you might consider playing that type of music at the funeral. If not, sentimental piano or guitar instrumentals might be the best choices.

Make Food Arrangements

It’s usually a good idea to have food available at viewings and after funerals. Food not only helps the grieving family to stay nourished, but it also gives close friends and family members an opportunity to convene together after the funeral has ended.

Create Funeral Programs

At most funerals, programs are handed out to attendants to inform them of what will occur. While the funeral home might take care of this responsibility for you, it might fall into your lap.

Order Memorial Cards

It’s customary for memorial cards to be passed out to the friends and loved ones of the deceased. These cards are typically laminated, containing a photograph and some information about the person being memorialized.

Establish Funeral Transportation

While you might have everyone in your family drive themselves to and from the funeral, you might also consider establishing formal transportation. Some families choose to rent limos so that everyone can be together on their loved one’s final resting day.

Arrange a Eulogy

Every funeral needs a eulogy, a personal account of the deceased which helps those in attendance to remember his or her life fondly. When planning the funeral, make sure to find someone who will give this eulogy. Close friends and family members are the ones to ask.

Select Pallbearers

When it’s time to put the casket in the ground, pallbearers will be needed to transport it from place to place. Make sure to formally select pallbearers before the funeral has begun. Male friends and family members are generally the ones asked to perform this task.

This Funeral Planning Checklist Will Serve You Well

Whether it’s expected or not, the death of a loved can be a shocking and traumatizing experience. And though it will do nothing to take away the pain you feel, this funeral planning checklist will be a big help in getting you and your loved ones through a tough time.

Looking for more miscellaneous information? You can find it right here at our website. Peruse some of our other articles now.

More Interesting Facts, Tips, and News