Factors to Consider When Arranging a Funeral
Arranging a funeral can be cumbersome, especially with all the emotions involved. You can get professional help, especially when you have a lot of tasks. The arrangements also need to incorporate several considerations. Here are the primary considerations you and the funeral arranging services should evaluate.
Religion
Different religious practices determine the funeral arrangements you make. Some religions prefer burial, while others opt for cremation. Therefore, the funeral arrangements must reflect the religious beliefs of the deceased and bereaved family.
Religion also impacts the timing of the funeral. Some beliefs dictate the time between death and burial. Therefore, the timetable must strictly follow the allowed timeline. Your schedule must also accommodate various religious activities such as prayers, grieving rituals and other practices.
Wishes of the Deceased
The deceased person might express their wishes about funeral arrangements in different ways. For example, a person might have a conversation about burial with a confidant. Therefore, your funeral arrangements must reflect such wishes.
One's will may also contain details about the funeral. Therefore, the will's executor technically owns the remains and makes all decisions regarding funeral arrangements. Even though the law cannot enforce funeral wishes, you can honour the deceased by adhering to their final wishes when making the arrangements.
Budget
The budget also determines a lot of the decisions you make. For example, cremation may cost less than other alternatives. You may also spend less by burying a person in the family plot instead of buying a burial plot in a public cemetery. Still, ensure you select alternatives to provide a befitting burial ceremony to honour the deceased.
It would help if you also incorporated all aspects of the ceremony into the budget. The primary item is the casket, whose price varies depending on the material, style and design. Other purchases include memorial items, cremation urns, grave markers and burial vaults. Consider the cost of all these purchases and other bills when making the arrangements.
Roles
Different people play specific roles during the ceremony and events leading to the funeral. Therefore, ensure you alert the eulogists, readers or religious leaders. Some of the people you involve might be close friends and your family. You can consult them first and inform them about the funeral arrangements. Remember that you may need honorariums for some of the people you involve if such customs exist in your community.
Some of the essential considerations required in funeral arranging include religion, wishes of the deceased, budget and roles.
