A Guide on Funeral Planning.

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Planning a funeral can take an emotional toll on close friends and family. If you are in charge of planning one, first create a list of what needs to be done before and after the funeral. Do not burden yourself with the task of performing all activities on your own; instead, delegate some of the tasks to close family and friends. In such a way, you have ample time to mourn your loved one. Below are the stages of funeral planning;

Finding a suitable morgue. 

If your loved one died at home, your first order of business should be to get him or her to a suitable morgue. If you require special services such as embalming or cremation, ensure that the funeral home offers such services. 

Do you need a funeral director? 

Decide whether you need a funeral director to assist in funeral planning. Funeral directors have various packages to suit their clients' budgets. If you want to be involved in funeral planning even after hiring the director, ensure that you inform him or her to prevent conflict.  

Informing friends and family.

You can decide to call friends and family or place an obituary in local dailies. Avoid including the date and location of the funeral if you would want a private ceremony. However, if the person was a public figure, you may want to invite the public to his or her funeral. 

Finding a burial ground. 

If the deceased had not directed you where to bury his or her remains, choose a suitable burial spot on their property. Alternatively, you can look for space in a local cemetery. You can also seek cremation services, depending on the deceased's wishes or family tradition. 

Funeral day preparations. 

Below are some considerations to make to ensure you give your loved one a befitting send-off;

  • Choose a suitable location for the funeral mass. If you would want it outdoors, beware of the weather.
  • Guests should have adequate parking. If a lot of people will attend the funeral, have marshals to direct motorists, and seek security services from local law enforcement.
  • Prepare a funeral program detailing when the funeral will start and when it will end. Ask all speakers to observe time.
  • You can have a small reception for close friends and family after the funeral. Preferably, engage the services of a caterer, as it would be difficult for you to prepare food and drinks for your guests on the funeral day.

The main stages of funeral planning are finding a morgue, informing friends and family, finding burial grounds, and making funeral day preparations. 

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11 December 2018

Avoiding conflict at funerals

Funerals can be a tricky time, as people are often on edge trying to deal with their grief. Some people also become argumentative when upset, so it can be a good idea to work with the funeral home to work out how to manage the maelstrom of emotions that are going on. It can often be useful to separate certain members of the family or social groups if you know that they are inclined to get aggressive or very loud when very upset. A great funeral home can help you to manage these sorts of issues to help ensure that the funeral runs smoothly.