The immense pressure of handing the last rites is unexplainable. It could be one of life's most trying and draining phases. Therefore planning and having a strategy to execute the funeral services helps handle the overwhelming situation and makes it a calm and memorable one as it is meant to be.

The below steps would help in managing the emotional situation in a sequence:

Make a list of pre-arrangement requirements.

The critical point to find out first is the funeral plot. Mostly in traditional funerals, the disposition burial is chosen, requiring a funeral plot. The family must get information about the funeral plot of the loved one who had made any arrangements earlier, or they should do it. Usually, the religious community offers funeral plots to the members. The family could find out if any funeral plot is available or contact the funeral home to make arrangements.

Create an Obituary

As a service provider, you must ensure that everything goes according to the family’s wishes. Yet as they usually are unsettled in the stressful situation gathering contact details of close relatives, including spouse, children, and grandchildren, birthdate, and date of death, work details must be done carefully. You could mention the date, timing of services, and location in case you plan to invite everyone. Try to make it a memorable one.

Look for a funeral home.

Today there is a growing need for funeral service providers because they will complete all the services and arrange the ceremonies ideally without any glitches. Although it is unconventional since the family members would be mourning the death, focusing on performing all the rites perfectly would be difficult. Find references or check directories and see who fits your budget and goals.

Plan on how to perform the funeral.

Whether or not you are considering a funeral home, you must decide on the type of funeral service. The service can be performed in traditional burial, direct cremation, or green burial. Contacting the funeral home will allow you to get an idea of the types and the costs involved for them. Also, other questions can be answered like open or closed caskets, whether the ashes will be scattered or deposited in an urn, or whether any charitable contributions are offered.

Finalise on casket or urn

It might be surprising to many, but many different types of urns and caskets are available in the market. You can decide on the design, material, finish, or cast of the cremation container.

Planning the service

The service includes many aspects:
  • Prayer representative: Calling the pastor to perform the prayer and the sermon. The pastor will complete all the services you may choose, like the visitation, burial, memorial, etc.
  • Music: the arrangements must include music for the ceremony, especially the memorial service. The family can plan for videos, photos, and songs to play at the ceremony in memory of the loved one.
  • Clothing: if you bury the loved one, you must decide on the clothing. The family can plan to bury any heirlooms, jewellery, photos, etc., with the loved one.

Post-memorial service requirements

Usually, after the memorial service, the family hosts a reception in memory of the loved one. Food preparation and planning is a big task in such situations. It would be best to hire a caterer for it. Catering service reduces stress as the caterer plans the meals and makes necessary arrangements like seating arrangements, service, etc. If you still need to, you must adequately plan the number of guests and menu and get into all the details, which may be emotionally challenging.

Eulogy

You could decide on the relatives or friends who are emotionally attached yet can hold their thoughts together and speak about the loved one. The eulogy part of a funeral is an important part of the speaker's job, but it can be stressful and can be difficult to learn how to face the crowd, conjure a good eulogy, determine the length, and avoid tears. In Forevory we can help you to navigate how long should a eulogy be to make it special, heartfelt, and memorable.

Consider a funeral service planner who would ensure this memorable ceremony will be graceful. Keeping these points as a checklist will help in balancing emotions.