I Am Prepared to Die: A Guide to Planning Your Funeral

Most of us have thought about what would happen when we eventually pass away. We have life insurance policies and wills made out to protect the ones that we love. However, very few people have thought about or planned for the funeral or cremation services that will be held in their honor on their passing. I, for one, have given extensive thought to the matter, and have in fact decided that I want to prearrange my funeral so that these services will be carried out in a manner, which I decide upon.

Now, to some this may make me sound like the ultimate control freak, to even have to have control of what the arrangements for my body will be after my demise. However, I think of it as a final kindness to my family, that when they are attempting to deal with their grief from my passing that they will not have to face the gruesome prospect of shopping for my casket, burial plot, or deciding whether I would have preferred to be in an open or closed coffin. That is why I looked into and started the process of prearranging my funeral.

Contact the funeral home of your choice. Any of your local funeral homes will be able to walk you through the process of funeral planning; after all they deal with funerals on a day-to-day basis. Ask them about prearranging your funeral services. They will tell you all of the options that they have available for this. You will be allowed to choose the type of service that you would like to be held, whether you prefer burial or cremation, if you choose burial where you want to be buried at, and whether or not you want a graveside service.

You can even specify the preacher you would like to perform your service and the music you would like played if you so choose. You will also be given the option of selecting your casket. While this may sound like a very morbid experience to some, to others it is the opportunity to ensure that their final resting place is what they would expect it to be. You will then fill out a contract outlining the plans that you have made, the cost of these arrangements, and even be given the option of prepaying for these arrangements.

Leaving one less expense for loved ones. The option of prepayment allows you to leave one less expense for your loved ones on your passing. The cost of funerals, memorial services and cremations continue to rise with the passing of time. By prepaying now, you can lock in the cost of your services at their current rate. This will also ensure that your passing does not add any financial burden to your loved ones when you die. Most prepayment plans include options for either paying in full or making regular payments until your balance is paid in full.

Planning your own funeral seems excessive to some people. However, I am of the mindset that we plan for every other facet of our passing, and tend to forget this one very important step. By planning ahead we save our loved ones from the unnecessary heartache and expense that planning a funeral can incur. Would you really want to leave your children or spouse with the burden of shopping for a casket the day that they lose you? I didn't think so. So, when you are doing the planning for the final days of your life, be sure to include your funeral services.