A Guide to Planning a Home Funeral
Just as every life is different, so is death. As more funeral options open to people, more see the various ways they can pay their respects to their deceased loved ones. There’s the traditional burial service, cremation, green funerals, and then there is home funeral.
Choosing a home funeral has become popular among more families nowadays. However, most still believe this can’t be done and is illegal. Before we go on and discuss what a home funeral is, let’s clear the air and tell you that it’s completely legal to carry out one. Moreover, more funeral homes have adapted to such burial, even offering ala carte services for those who don’t want the full package.
What is a home funeral?
A home funeral is also referred to as family planned funeral wherein all or most components that make up a funeral is taken care of directly by the deceased’s loved ones. Whether it involves only the immediate family or the help of an entire community, a home funeral can be as grand or as intimate as the loved ones would want to.
Why go for a home funeral?
There are plenty of reasons why many families today choose a home funeral for their beloved deceased. First of all, it is a lot cheaper than availing all the services of a funeral director or funeral home. It saves them thousands of dollars by surpassing specific services. This is not to say that families and friends can no longer ask the help of professionals. Many funeral homes nowadays offer specific services that help those who want home funerals arranged. They can move the body for the families, do the cremation for them, and so on.
Another reason is that a home funeral allows for a more personal experience. It allows loved ones to have a better handle on things and conduct the service as they want to. Moreover, a home funeral can last as long as the loved ones want to. This gives families and friends a lot more time to spend with the deceased and grieve their loss.
Is home funeral the best choice?
A home funeral isn’t always the most practical choice to make. Despite being a cheaper alternative, it requires a ton of education, commitment and preparation to make it work. From someone dying in a hospital and applying preservative procedures to requiring autopsy reports, home funerals aren’t always the best option for everyone.
However, it is a good choice for those who are in a less complex situation and who have gradually prepared for the service to happen. That’s why we highly recommend consulting a home funeral expert first and checking if this is really what you want to do.
How does one prepare a home funeral?
First things first. Sit somewhere quiet and take the time to slow down, breathe easy and relax. If you feel like crying, laughing or letting other emotions out, go ahead. This will be nothing short of challenging. So it’s best to truly be in touch with yourself at this point.
Next is to consider the what, when and where. Would you have traditional viewing or cremation? Where do you intend to do the home funeral and for how long? The next step is to thoroughly educate yourself on how a funeral home is conducted.
This is where a home funeral consultant comes in handy. You can ask all the necessary questions, learn important points and apply your knowledge. Once you’ve gathered enough information, form a team that will take care of certain duties like attaining a death certificate, cleaning and preserving the body, arranging the casket or urn, fixing the deceased’s documents and organizing the after-care.
Remember, you can ask help from your consultant. You can also ask help for certain services that may be too overwhelming for you to undertake. If everything becomes too much to bear, you can always get in touch with your local funeral home to ease a few things. For example, moving the body can be awfully hard. Allow the funeral home to do it for you while you take care of the rest.
Another thing you need to keep in mind is the paperwork. You need to report the deceased’s deaths in your local Bureau of Statistics. You may also need a transport permit to move the body from one location to the next.
Come the funeral, have people take care of the arrangements. From the chairs to the flowers and snacks, remember there is always help out there — lots of it. Don’t hesitate to ask for support when everything becomes overwhelming. Just keep in mind that you are doing the best you can to pay your respect to your beloved deceased.
A home funeral has its challenges and rewards. It’s all about considering all options and discerning whether this service is the best one for you, the deceased and your loved ones.
