More and more Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are choosing to preplan their funerals, or those of family members who may be terminally ill or incapacitated. Preplanning now will spare your family the anguish of making important and difficult decisions required at the time of loss. Carnell’s online Funeral Preplanning Service allows you to make a brief or detailed plan in the comfort of your home.
Death and final separation from loved ones is a subject most of us wish to avoid. It’s an entirely understandable reaction. Yet, funeral preplanning is an option more and more people are choosing, either for themselves, or for loved ones in their care.
In person by contacting us at (709) 722-2730 to arrange a meeting with one of our staff. Or you can Preplan Online by completing the Secure Form below.
The subject of death and final separation from your loved ones are subjects few people are willing to think about, much less discuss. Yet more and more individuals are choosing to preplan their funeral or those of other family members who may be terminally ill or incapacitated. People choose to preplan to spare their family the responsibility when death occurs or to ensure that their funeral conforms to their wishes. Others might want to make the difficult decisions at a time when they are calm before grief clouds their or family members’ judgement. In addition, preplanners may want to record vital information that might otherwise remain unknown or they may simply want to choose a funeral home in advance.
Preplanning a funeral involves the completion of a document that is specifically designed to record your final wishes or those of other family members or friends. It entails reviewing all aspects of a funeral and providing a detailed cost summary of all services and products selected including expenses incurred by other parties.
The first step is to contact a funeral home and make an appointment to meet with one of their funeral directors or planners. Meetings can be arranged at the funeral home or at one’s home, office or resident care facility, either during the day or in the evening.
Although photographs or computer images of the products are available for visits outside the funeral home, it is preferable to meet in the funeral home to view the products and facilities offered. If transportation is a problem, most funeral homes will pick you up and bring you back home.
For those who would prefer to make their own plans or that of a family member, online funeral prearrangements are now offered by some funeral homes. Simply log-on to the funeral home’s website and choose from either a “basic” preplan or “detailed” preplan. The use of a password will ensure the information recorded remains confidential. All the products and services offered by the funeral home are displayed. Some funeral homes publicize their prices online while others will provide a detailed cost summary, if requested.
During the preplanning meeting one of the first things the funeral director will determine is who the responsible party or parties will be when death occurs. It is this individual(s) who will be responsible for making funeral arrangements and, in particular, authorizing cremation, when applicable.
Determining and understanding who is legally responsible for making funeral arrangements, particularly when cremation is involved, is a key function of preplanning a funeral and can eliminate awkward conflicts at the time of need.
Because funeral homes must complete and register the death certificate, the funeral director will ask questions about the family history of the person for whom the prearrangements are being made. These include the father’s name and birthplace, mother’s maiden name and birthplace and spouse’s maiden name.
Funerals may be simple, traditional or elaborate. A basic service may include an immediate burial with a committal service at graveside or direct cremation with memorial service and scattering. When viewing and a period of visitation is desired, the traditional funeral with a church or chapel service and earth burial is the accepted practice. Viewing and visitation can also occur prior to cremation, or the family may choose to display the urn during visitation at the funeral home or at a church or chapel service.
Elaborate services include state or military funerals or services involving war veterans, law enforcement officers or other public servants or individuals who are long standing members of fraternal or volunteer organizations. Funerals, such as these, require a great deal of planning as established protocol must be followed.
Decisions respecting your final disposition and resting place will also be discussed. Each cemetery has its own rules and regulations and offers a variety of options whether cremation or burial is chosen. In some cemeteries, burial plots or niches for urns may be purchased in advance. Some people may wish to select their own plot which will require a visit to the cemetery. Other issues, such as perpetual care, restrictions on sizes and types of monuments, the availability of urn plots, columbaria, scattering sites and memorialization options will also be addressed.
In addition to the items noted above the following matters will also be discussed:
Free Service: Regardless of how elaborate or simple a funeral service may be, preplanning services are provided at no charge to any person wishing to record their final wishes.
Option to Prepay: Although a detailed cost breakdown of all funeral home charges and third party expenses is provided, the choice to prepay your funeral is optional.
Prepaying a Funeral: For those wishing to prepay their funeral there are various types of prepayment plans available. These include the placement of money in trust, either single, partial or monthly payments or the purchase of funeral insurance, annuities or other insurance products designed to suit an individual’s financial circumstances.
Regardless of the reason, when a loved one dies after a funeral has been preplanned, family members often tell funeral directors how grateful and relieved they are that the arrangements were made well in advance of the sad day.