A Funeral Checklist to Guide You By
Dealing with death is beyond overwhelming. We are faced with countless emotions simultaneously that we don’t know exactly what to feel anymore. One moment we’re angry, the next guilty and afterwards, who knows? Even we feel like getting away from it all, there are obligations we have to deal with such as arranging the funeral of our beloved.
Funerals come in all kinds nowadays. There’s the traditional burial, cremation, green burials, home funerals, and more. Whichever you end up choosing, planning a funeral is tedious work but is necessary. A funeral is a way to show our respect and gratitude to our deceased beloved. Moreover, it is a way to celebrate the life the person has lived. The best we can do is give a goodbye that will commemorate our beloved the best way we know how.
Funeral planning
Funeral planning equates to hard work, commitment and plenty of financial decisions. When it gets tough, remember that you have a lot of people you can ask support from. Furthermore, it’s best to keep in mind that you are doing all you can. Don’t beat yourself about certain things you can’t give, or if you’re short on finances to make a few things happen. Your effort is more than enough proof that you want to have a funeral that’s going to pay the utmost tribute to your departed.
The most important thing is to be guided accordingly. Lucky for you, plenty of funeral checklists are available at your disposal. These checklists will let you in on what you need, what to remember, what other considerations you have to make, and more.
Whichever type of funeral you choose, here are various checklists to guide you by.
General Preparations
• Assemble personal information for obituary
• Choose a charity to direct donations to
• Decide if jewelry is to remain or be returned
• Choose a funeral home
• Notify authorities of the death if it has occurred outside a hospital, hospice, or nursing home
• Notify family and friends
• Request multiple copies of the death certificate
• Gather photos and memorabilia for display
• Gather cemetery information such as deed to the plot and receipt of purchase
People Preparations
• Select Pallbearers
• Select Clergy
• Select Speakers for the Eulogy
• Determine who is the primary organizer
• Determine who will take charge of the finances and bills for services rendered
Pre-Arrangements
• Information for an obituary
• A funeral director
• Burial or cremation
• The casket or cremation container
• A crave marker and inscriptions
• The location for the service
• Type of service (memorial, wake, military, Jewish ceremony, etc.)
• Flower arrangements
• Photos that will be displayed
• Funeral music and songs
• What the deceased will wear
• Scripture to be read
• Memorial register or memorial cards
• Transportation and funeral cars
• Who will perform the eulogy
• Who will read the scripture
• Pallbearers
Funeral Home Services
• Choose burial or cremation
• Select a casket or cremation container
• Select a burial vault or cremation urn
• Choose the location/type of service
• Choose family viewing or visitation
• Choose a floral arrangement
• Select a photograph to be displayed
• Decide which religious or fraternal items are to be displayed
• Decide what the deceased will wear
• Select music, hymns, and solos
• Select scripture or literature to be read
• Select a memorial register
• Select memorial folders and acknowledgement cards
Necessary Documents
• Death Certificates (10 – 15 certified copies)
• Social Security Card
• Marriage Certificate
• Birth Certificate
• Birth Certificate for each child, if applicable
• Insurance Policies
• Deed and Titles to Property
• Stock Certificates
• Bank Books
• Honorable Discharge Papers for a Veteran and/or V.A. Claim Number
• Recent Income Tax Forms and W-2 Forms
• Automobile Title and Registration Papers
Transportation
• Funeral coach
• Clergy car
• Family limousine
• Pallbearer limousine
• Flower car
Cemetery Selections
• Choose a cemetery
• Select a burial or cremation plot
Final Planning
• Ambulance transfer from place of death
• Death certificate
• Burial permit
• Time and date for the service
• Embalming and body preparation
• Submit obituary
• Arrange location and food for the reception
Funeral Costs
• Basic service fee: Funeral providers are allowed to charge this, and are mandatory to be paid by the families. This fee covers services including the use of the home, the services of the funeral director and funeral home attendants, burial arrangement coordination, permits, and more.
• Optional service charges: These include transporting the body, embalming, times for viewing (or wakes), use of a hearse or limousine, burial container, cremation and interment.
• Cash disbursements: Goods and services that the funeral home buys on your behalf, with your consent, which include purchase of flowers, clergy services, obituary notices, pallbearers and other service providers such as soloists or musicians.
