Prearranging your funeral is a gift you give your loved ones. It allows them to concentrate on remembering and healing instead of making decisions at a time they will be under great stress.

It can be as simple as choosing your funeral home, service type, casket and vault (if needed). Or you may complete the arrangements by choosing the church readings and music, flowers you prefer, prayer card verse, funeral luncheon location, and supplying obituary notice information. The funeral home will record this data to keep on file, ready when needed.

A number of people feel that once they have chosen and/or purchased their cemetery property, that all is done. As you can see from the above list, all is far from done. It is best to see your funeral director first.

Reduce the stress

If the funeral is prearranged, your family can focus on the special things they would like to have done at the visitation or funeral ceremony to personalize it for you rather than worrying "Did I choose the right casket?" Those little things that personalize a service such as bringing family pictures for display, music to be played during the visitation or fraternal organization services will help your survivors feel better about their final time with you and ease their pain.

The pre-arrangement may also be paid for in advance to reduce financial stress at the time of death. The prepayment is established in a funeral trust in either a bank/credit union or insurance policy.

This pre-arrangement form will help with some of your decisions.

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