With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, everything seems to be on hold. Vacations canceled, working outside of the home, sports, concerts, and the list goes on and on. But did you know you are still able to safely pre-plan a funeral while maintaining social distancing? In a time of such great uncertainty, it will be nice to feel confidence that your plans will be carried out to your details and that your family will have peace of mind that your wishes are met.
When everything seems like it is out of our control, there are some things we can feel proud of, and preplanning your funeral is one of them, and it’s something we pride ourselves in helping you with. When you decide you want to start pre-planning your funeral, it usually begins with meeting the funeral director.
In this time of social distancing, funeral directors have several ways to work with and support families. You can still converse with them over the phone or via email, or if you would like for it to be more personal, there is an option for a video conference using technology like Zoom or Facetime. When necessary, a meeting can occur at the funeral home following the appropriate social distancing guidelines. A consultation is a great start because it allows you to talk about what you would like, learn about your options, and ask questions you need answered.
In thinking of how you would like your life to be celebrated, it is by no means a morbid occasion. In fact, it is a positive and comforting process to ensure you leave behind joyous memories and no stress for your loved one’s; it is an act of great service to minimize the worry of planning your funeral. Instead of fretting about adhering to your final wishes, they can focus on their feelings of grief during this period of reflection.
With all this free time we all seem to have on our hands at this moment, it’s a good idea to learn about some of the benefits of pre-planning. When it comes to preplanning a funeral, there are many benefits that you may not have previously thought of, that can positively impact aspects of your well-being. Emotionally, you will be relieved to not leave behind stress and ‘what-ifs’ for your loved ones. They will know exactly what your final wishes are, and those will be kept safe in our files until that day comes.
You do not necessarily need to pre-pay for your funeral, but doing so will grant you and your loved ones more peace of mind- they will be able to focus on their grief instead of financial stress. You will also be able to lock in today’s funeral prices, as they may increase as time goes on. It will also allow you the opportunity to begin saving towards your expenses. When your funeral is prepaid, all of your estate will go to your family, it won’t be garnished to pay for your funeral.
Pre-planning gives you the gift of time. The time to talk with your loved ones, and let them know your decisions, the time to learn more about your options and make well-informed decisions. Time is precious, as we all know, and by using this opportunity to plan and document your final wishes, you will feel a wonderful sense of accomplishment.
In organizing your ideas, think about how you would like your life to be celebrated. You can decide what kind of music you would like played at your ceremony, light and joyous, or a bit more somber. You can decide what readings you would like to occur. You can even decide what charity you would like mourners to donate to in your memory. Really, the possibilities for customizing a funeral of your liking is endless-that’s why it’s a good idea to start planning today- you can really tailor your memorial service to reflect the life you’ve lived. While you are thinking about the legacy you would like to leave behind, you can even compile your obituary, leaving one less thing for your survivors to be concerned about.
While it might feel overwhelming, getting started is easy! Begin by compiling a list of ideas and visit the Advance Planning section of our website. There you will find a Pre-Planning Checklist that will help you create your personalized plan. You will also fill out the Get Started information form. Fill out as much information as you like, and we will reach out to guide you through your planning.
Remember, we are here for you, even if you’re not ready to start pre-planning, you can always call or email us with any questions you might have before beginning to plan. As time continues on, albeit slowly, during this pandemic, the safety of you, your family and our staff, and preserving the dignity of you and your loved one’s life are at the core of everything we do, everything we hope to achieve.
If you have any questions we can answer about pre-planning, please reach out to us at 781-595-1492.
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