Funeral Planning 101: How To Plan A DIY Funeral
Published March 18, 2021
Funerals are one of the saddest events you can attend. The idea of watching the lifeless body of a loved one lay in a casket can get enduring, what more when planning a funeral. No matter how difficult it may get, when a relative dies, we cannot avoid the whole process of planning a funeral.
It may cause anxiety and get intimidating, especially if you are unsure of what to do. Being a first-time funeral planner can get overwhelming, but most first-time experiences are. Most things take time to get used to, and while no one is saying you should get used to the idea of death, preparing for it can make the whole funeral planning process less daunting.
Like riding a bike, the first day of school, the first day at a job, and the likes, the first time you plan a funeral will be scary. The best way to overcome fear is to prepare for the things that cause it. Having prior knowledge may not always eliminate the anxiety, but it will surely lessen the stress you may feel. This article will help you understand planning a funeral by going through the steps and details.
Planning A Funeral
1. Choose a Type of Burial Ceremony
The two most commonly known ways to do a funeral are through traditional burial and cremation. Other types of ceremonies include burying the body at sea, a green burial, and anatomical donation. Burying bodies at sea is usually done to former military soldiers and veterans to honor their service to the country. A green burial considers environmental factors when burying the body and costs significantly less than traditional burial ceremonies.
On the other hand, anatomical donation involves donating the body or parts of it to researchers and medical fields to promote science and medical advancements. There is no worst and best way to do a funeral ceremony. Choosing what type of burial ceremony will depend on what the deceased person wanted or what the relatives and planner perceive is more suitable.
2. Organize a Visitation
Funerals are never easy, especially to relatives and close friends. In every ceremony, loved ones, friends, associates, and such should have an opportunity to bid farewell to the person who died. Most funerals have visitations or a particular time that people can spend to express their condolences to the family.
Visitations are also suitable for saying final goodbyes and express grief. Most traditional ceremonies conduct an open casket funeral so people can view the body and say their last wishes or prayers. Visitations also help in the grieving process so those in the denial stage of grieving can accept the situation.
3. Personalization
Making the funeral service meaningful is an important aspect that helps in the moving-on process. To do this, you may personalize the funeral to make the person’s relatives and loved ones more at ease with the situation. Having the dead body of the person you loved in one room is hard enough as it is. In planning a funeral, you may add a specific element that reflects the person who had died.
Let’s say the deceased was once a writer or admired novels when they were still alive. To reflect this in the service, you may organize a session during the visitation where close relatives and friends read a quote in one of the dead person’s favorite novels. A former musician’s funeral may have a specific music genre playing in the background during the ceremony. Deciding how to make the funeral more sincere will depend on how people remember the deceased person and how they want to remember them.
4. Pick a Permanent Location for the Body
The most important part of a funeral is where the body will be laid to rest. Funeral services such as burial at sea, traditional cremation, and green burial require a place where the body will be permanently situated. There are many options to choose from when deciding where to place a body forever.
Most will pick a spot in a cemetery for traditional burials while cremated bodies are taken home and put on a shrine to remember the loved one forever. Although people usually take the ashes of the cremated body home, it often prolongs the grieving process. Plus, it is not a permanent solution. At some point, people will have to spread those ashes someplace else, most likely a place significant to the person.
Paying for A Funeral
Funerals can get expensive, so having a funeral planned and funded ahead of time will benefit you. Extra expenses during a funeral may include paying for catering services, reservation of reception halls, and flowers. Your loved one may have had a life insurance plan that covers the cost of having a funeral.
However, for other cases such as sudden accidents and unexpected deaths, this may not be applicable. Discussing such concerns with a professional can help you better understand how to manage your expenses. You may also seek help from relatives and other family members to help cover the bills.
Why Plan a Funeral Ahead of Time
Planning a funeral ahead of time does not necessarily mean they are preparing for death. Early planning is not in any way a means of giving up on life. Sometimes, planning your funeral can help lessen the stress and complications your relatives may go through after you die.
People who plan these things are usually those in their deathbeds, people with severe illnesses, or older adults who do not want to waste time. Serious planning can even benefit your family as it lessens the work they have to do. Knowing what you want for your funeral ceremony will also ease your loved one’s pain as they will know that despite your passing, they were able to do what you wanted for your burial. Planning can also help them grieve quicker because they know that they could fulfill your final desires, despite not being with them.
CONCLUSION
Knowing the basics of funeral planning will prepare you for the worst. While it will not eliminate the feeling of dread and anxiety from losing someone dear to you, it will help lessen the pressure. Having a loved one pass will never be easy, so it is best to do everything you can to avoid being too miserable.
Life will always throw something terrible at your face as soon as you think things are going your way. Death has always been a scary topic, and dealing with it can get unsettling. As long as you know what to do and how to do it well, planning a funeral can become less intimidating.
Interested In Our Services?
Here at Big Blue Sea Services we take memorial services seriously. Book a time with us to scatter ashes at sea off the coast of Florida with your friends and family present. Our charters are sure to make the moment a memorable experience.
About The Author
As a writer at many renowned websites Krizzia Reyes has covered a wide range of topics in many industries. It has been her passion to only deliver the truth and nothing but the truth.
April 20, 2021 @ 2:38 am
Thanks for pointing out that I should also think about finding a reception hall when it comes to getting funeral services. I’m interested in knowing more about such things because I am the eldest among my sibling. If our parents pass away in the distant future, I will be the one responsible in preparing their funerals.