Coping with Bereavement Prepare now to ease the burden for family
Planning your own funeral service in advance means you can design and specify the exact type of service you would like, so that your friends and family remember your life as you want them to.
And by letting your family know how you’d like your funeral or memorial service to be, they’ll have less difficult and complicated decisions to make during a difficult emotional time.
The burden you are lifting in deciding the exact details of the service will take some of the emotional stress and strain off your loved ones shoulders.
You have to decide if you would like to have a funeral service, followed by burial or cremation and if you take time to plan the details, you are using your right to have the send off that you want.
Your local undertaker is your first port of call.
They can help advise you on every aspect of planning your funeral service.
You can choose what type of coffin you would like, from traditional styles to wicker style coffins.
The undertaker can also help you decide on where your service should take place? Will it be the local crematorium or do you prefer a burial?
These are decisions that your loved ones face unless you take steps to address what send off you would like.
Next you have to think about the service itself.
From the order of service to hymns or music that means something to you, this is the time to choose what’s right.
Will it be a religious service or do you want to opt for a humanist style funeral.
Do you want a minister to conduct the service or do you want family members and friends to take the lead and perform readings?
And as for music?
Choosing a funeral song is a difficult task.
Among the top 10 funeral songs as found by the Co- operative Funeralcare, My Way by Frank Sinatra, Angels by Robbie Williams and You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and Pacemakers were among the songs chosen.
Or if it is a religious ceremony, choose your favourite hymn to be performed.
Now, it’s on to your funeral wake.
Hotels in your area are happy to cater for any requests and this is a time to find out what they offer as part of a funeral package.
Do you want a finger buffet or sausage rolls or even a sit- down meal?
Turn to their events organisers for their advice.