End of Life
FUNERAL PLANNING
Meeting with a Funeral Director
• Plan ahead. Before meeting with a funeral
director, write a list of questions and
concerns to discuss, as having an outline
will help you stay focused.
• Request a comparison of benefits and
costs for burial versus cremation, details
for a traditional funeral and/or memorial
service, merchandise information (such
as caskets and urns), and cemetery costs
(including plots, vaults, and opening/
closing fees.)
• Ask for verification of current licenses for
funeral directors and facilities.
• Be sure to ask about Veterans benefits
and services.
Planning a Funeral Service
Funerals are unique, and service options
may be influenced by religious and cultural
traditions, costs, and/or personal preferences.
Traditional Funeral:
• May be a brief, simple service at the
funeral home, a place of worship, or
graveside.
• May be a full-service funeral including
viewing and/or visitation, service at
the funeral home or a place of worship
(which may include readings, music,
a sermon, and, at times, a eulogy),
a procession to the cemetery, and a
graveside service.
Memorial Service:
• Like a funeral service, a memorial service
commemorates the life of the deceased,
with the exception that the body is not
present due to cremation, out-of-town
burial, or other conditions.
• In lieu of the body, a collection of
photographs amid flower arrangements
is commonly displayed at the service.
Burial or Cremation?
The decision to have a burial versus
cremation is a personal choice. Some people
have definite opinions regarding their final
wishes, while others may follow religious or
cultural beliefs and traditions. Regardless of
your choice, be sure to research your options
before making your final decision.
• A family may choose to have a simple or
full-service funeral or memorial service,
or a direct burial or direct cremation.
Burial:
• When burial is the choice, consider
contacting local cemeteries for itemized
costs for burial plots and opening/closing
fees. Vaults are not required by law, yet
many cemeteries require a vault for
burial. Please note that cemetery and
vault costs are separate expenses from
funeral home costs.
Cremation:
• When cremation is the choice, be sure
to gather detailed information. Consider
whether the crematory is onsite or offsite
and whether the funeral home owns and
maintains their own crematory.
For more information
ElderCareGuide.com
74 www.ElderCareGuide.com
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