Pre-Planning Checklist

Dealing with the loss of a loved one can be overwhelming to your surviving family and friends, but pre-planning your funeral service can help them better deal with the stress of losing someone.

Pre-planning your funeral service can not only ease the burden on your loved ones, but it helps ensure your final wishes are honored. While some families struggle with making those final decisions after losing someone, your family won’t have to worry with making those hard choices.

• Choose what funeral home and director you would like to use to handle your service.
• Decide what type of service you want (burial, cremation, donation, etc…).
• If you choose a service with burial, decide where you want to be buried.
• Meet with the funeral director and look at your options for caskets and urns.
• If you decide you want to be buried, think about clothing options.
• Look at options for a location to hold your service (funeral home, religious facility, sentimental building, graveside).
• What type of flowers do you want? Do you want flowers, or would you rather donations be given to a particular charity or a charity of one’s choice?
• Who will be a part of your service? You should decide on pallbearers and even ask them personally. You should also decide who you would like to officiate or participate in your service.
• Choose which songs you would like played at your service.
• Write an obituary or make notes about information you would like to be included in your obituary.

Your family and friends want to take part in the process of fulfilling your final wishes, they only need instructions on what they need to do.

• Make sure someone, preferably your executor, has a copy of the will.
• Give a family member or chosen friend a list of important account information that will need to be contacted and handled following your death. Also make sure someone knows your final wishes for your desired service.
• Designate someone to be your power of attorney.
• Have someone prepared to cancel basic utility services and subscriptions.
• If you don't have relatives to handle your arrangements, there are legal ways to appoint someone and the funeral home can help you with those forms.

Making decisions about your funeral service in advance can benefit you and your survivors financially. If possible, pay for all expenses in advance, freeing your family from that financial burden. When possible, pre pay for:

• Cemetery services, burial plot
• All funeral arrangements including casket, urn, flowers, transportation and specialized services