Funeral Planning 101 & The logistics of picking a funeral home
By M. Kotch
Funeral planning, whether for yourself or a loved one, need not be as overwhelming as it sounds. Thanks to modern technology, more funeral home choices can be considered than ever before. The best way to begin planning is to take the word “funeral” out of it, then consider what you would look for with any other major purchase; value and convenience are paramount. Here is a breakdown of important criteria when picking a funeral home.
Location: If you live where you grew up, you will most likely choose a location that’s close to home, one that’s convenient for friends and family to get to. Maybe you moved across the country after college and would like to be buried where you were born. Decide on the place and plan from there.
History: Next, you’ll narrow down funeral homes by making a few calls or asking friends and locals for their advice. As you look into a particular parlor, ask how long it has been in business, what its typical procedures are and even look up the establishment on the Better Business Bureau Web site (www.bbb.org).
Price: Traditional funerals can cost a lot (the average is $8,000), but comparing prices and asking for a breakdown of expenses will help you better understand what is right for your situation. If you are working with a smaller budget or concerned about money, it will help to approach this in the same way you would any other large purchase (such as buying a car for example). Shop around, and don’t be embarrassed to ask questions.
Attention to detail: What exactly do all the fees cover and what are a particular parlor’s services? Here’s what you should be asking:
• If the funeral home will transport the remains from a hospital or home to the parlor
• Will the funeral home rent a hearse to move the remains to the burial site and how much that will cost
• If the home can take care of all the paperwork (obtaining death certificates and any licenses on your behalf).
• Will the funeral home print a memorial
• How many hours of service you can expect on the day of the wake
Tradition: Has a particular funeral home served your family in the past? The desire to have a service at a familiar parlor may trump all other considerations. If that is the case, your selection can be an easy choice to make.
Religious services: You may forgo a religious service at a church, synagogue or other place of worship in favor of a religious reading during the memorial (your pastor can say a few words during the service for example). Ask the funeral home for help with this if you need it, and confirm that the parlor allows whichever kind of service you choose.
Make things easier when approaching the difficult task of planning a funeral and picking a home; one way is to print this page out and check things off as you go down the list. Another is to ask friends or family members to share the research and break it up that way. Start and end your process with figuring out what your priorities are, and pick the funeral home that can accommodate your needs.
