Page 7 - Direct Publishing - Bereavement Guide

PLANNING AHEAD

• Talk about waht you liked or didn’t like • Allow friends and family to say their last
Preplanning • about the services you saw or attended. • goodbyes.
Provide closure after the loss of a loved
Tell your children or loved ones that
because you care for them so much, you one.
Preplanning your funeral will make certain that Here are some tips that may help you start the don’t want to burden them with difficult • Allow friends to console the family of the
your choices are respected and carried out, advance planning conversation with your loved decisions when you’re gone. Tell them loved one.
without leaving your family to wonder what ones: you’ve made your own final arrange-
your wishes might have been. ments, and give them a written record of So what is a funeral? In general terms a funeral
• Set a time to have the conversation. what they are. is a gathering of family and friends after the
When you’re ready to make a real plan, send us Schedule it as an appointment with your • Make your funeral and cemetery plans death of a loved one that allows them the
an email and we will have one of our advanced loved ones, whether you want to share with us and then wrap a copy of your con- opportunity to mourn, support each other and
planning consolers call you to set up an your plans with them or ask them to make tract and wishes in a gift box, and present pay tribute to the life of the deceased. It often
appointment. their plans to share with you. it to your children. consists of one or more of the following com-
• Tell your parent or loved one that you • Make it a family affair. Schedule an ponents:
There are many different ways to begin the want to ensure their final arrangements appointment with your chosen funeral
advance planning conversation. You know your are done according to their wishes, and home or cemetery provider and invite
family and how your loved ones might best you need their help to make that happen. your children along to participate in the Burial Plans
respond to the topic. For some families, it • Ease into the conversation. Questions selection of services, funeral merchan-
might be a casual conversation over dinner or such as “Have you ever thought about dise and cemetery property. When considering final arrangements for your-
another family gathering. For other families, a where you would like to be buried?” or self or a loved one, one of the first decisions
formal meeting might be better suited. “What type of funeral would you like to Whether you’re sharing plans for your own you might make is whether you prefer burial or
have?” may open the discussion to more final arrangements with loved ones, or encour- cremation. This decision often influences other
Regardless of your approach, the conversation details about your loved one’s wishes. aging loved ones to make and share their plans important consideration, such as elements of
is much easier to have when deathis not immi- • Take advantage of funeral-related oppor with you, the conversation about planning the funeral service and type of cemetery prop-
nent. Bringing up the subject with loved ones tunities. Attending the funeral of a ahead is an important one that every family erty.
earlier in life when they are younger, and most friend, family member or colleague or should have. While no one wants to think about
likely healthier, makes the topic easier to watching a movie or television showwith their death or the death or a loved one any
discuss and keeps the focus on the celebration funeral scenes may naturally prompt the sooner than they must, having the conversation Funeral Service
of life rather than an impending loss. discussion with your own loved ones.
in advance alleviates the need for potentially
more unpleasant or difficult conversations in A formal or informal ceremony or ritual prior to
the future. burial, a funeral service often provides a sense
of closure to family and friends. Although your
faith or culture may dictate some elements of a
Funeral Arrangements funeral service, you may want to personalize
other elements of the service. At a funeral
Whether you’re planning for yourself or for a service, a casket or urn is present, though you
loved one, the funeral service is one of the most may choose to have the casket open or closed.
important elements of a person’s final arrange-
ments. With the opportunity for great personal- Held the night before or immediately prior to
ization, the funeral service can truly reflect the the funeral service, the visitation - also called a
uniqueness of the life it honors. wake or a viewing - provides a way for friends
and acquaintances to pay respects and offer
Regardless of whether you or your loved one condolences to your family. As with the funeral
have opted for burial or for cremation, the service you may want to decide if you want an
funeral or memorial service fills an important open or closed casket should one be present.
role. It can:

• Honor, recognize and celebrate the life of
the deceased.

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