By Wendy Cornett

Proximity. Prior experience. Reputation. Whether individually or in combination with one another, these are the top factors most people consider when choosing a funeral home. This is a practical, and logical, place to start, but there is cause for further exploration.

These days, choosing a funeral provider is more complex than simply calling the nearest funeral home or the one that handled a loved one’s funeral in the past. Many funeral homes that were once locally owned and independent are now owned by large corporations with no local ties to the community. And you need not choose a “traditional” funeral home at all. There are now alternative providers, which offer limited types of funeral arrangements. Even the funerals themselves are changing, as people stray from convention in favor of nontraditional ceremonies.

A funeral is one of life’s most expensive events, with many hitting the $10,000 mark. For that kind of money, it pays to do a little extra legwork to get exactly the service and experience you’re seeking.

Selected Independent Funeral Homes, an association of more than 1,500 independently owned funeral homes worldwide, suggests that you consider the following:

• Is the funeral home comfortable, neat and spacious enough for your needs?
• Is there a private area for family members to gather?
• Is there an area where children can be entertained and supervised without disturbing others?
• Is there ample seating, lighting and climate control?
• Is the exterior well maintained with adequate parking?
• Is there access for disabled persons?
• Is the funeral director pleasant and knowledgeable?

You should feel comfortable asking questions, making suggestions and taking as much time as necessary to discuss things with other family members. The funeral director should be most interested in listening to you. You should not feel pressured into making certain purchases. He or she should ask questions that will help you make decisions that are right you.

Doing it Your Way

Remember that a funeral should be a unique tribute, and a funeral director should be flexible enough to help you plan a customized memorial. George Clarke, executive director of Selected Independent Funeral Homes, points out that, “More and more people are planning really individual, often very creative farewells. For example, a member in Indiana helped a family plan a funeral for a loved one who was a big NASCAR fan. They went out to the track for the funeral, where the casket was placed in a car for one lap around before going off to the cemetery. A good funeral director should be willing to help you plan a very personal farewell to your loved one.”

Clarke adds that, while not every funeral director will have the capacity to plan a trackside funeral, your provider should make you feel he’s doing all he can to help you plan the perfect tribute. Remember, this is one of life’s most important decisions. If one funeral provider just doesn’t feel right, move on.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 1st, 2007 at 9:16 am and is filed under Planning a funeral. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.