Death is a topic that most people try to avoid talking about, however, when your loved one passed away, you will have to face the death head on. It is very important to choose a funeral home that will meet the needs of the family, a good funeral home is about the final dignity of the deceased and the emotional attachment of the family. Some people may think that funeral homes are all the same and there is no difference, in fact, there are good and bad funeral homes. They also offer very different services. You need to work with a funeral professional, a professional staff that can fully meet the needs of their clients. So what should you confirm when choosing a good funeral home? Go through this blog to find your tips.
1. How long has it been in this business?
Experience in funeral industry can be the most important for us to choose a proper one. During the ceremony, their wealth of experience will make the entire process much smoother. You can also your friends for recommendations. Maybe they can recommend a good one. Skilled experiences also means good reputation. Proper funeral home will save a lot of troubles.
2. Decide your budget
According to 2019 data from the National Funeral Directors Association, the national average is $7,640. This price includes the entire process of burying the deceased and only lacks the cost of the grave in the cemetery. If a grave is included, the cost of burial comes to $9,135.
If you choose cremation, the cost, excluding the casket but including the urn, is approximately $5,150. Adding in a cremation coffin brings the cost to $6,645, which means a cremation coffin costs approximately $1,500.
However, this fee does not include the cost of the cemetery, obituary publishing and flowers and wreaths placed at the funeral ceremony. If you include all of this, it can be said that on average a burial costs about $10,000 and a cremation costs $7,500.
So, you should decide your budget first, cremation or burial, which one to choose? Did your family member leave a last wish, and did he prefer burial or cremation? Purchase the casket and flowers on yourself will save you a lot of money. If your family members have bought life insurance before, this will ease your burden on funeral a lot. Prices vary greatly from different funeral homes, and you need to identify your needs first to better determine your budget.
3. Find an empathic team
When a loved one passed away, we were immersed in unending grief. This is when a funeral home team that is professional and able to understand your needs can help you through this difficult time. When you choose a funeral home, you need to observe the professionalism of the staff as well as their ability to empathize. If they can fully comprehend your grief and understand your needs, then you will feel very relieved. If their attitude makes you feel uncomfortable, you can choose to leave. You can view comments on Yelp, Better Business Bureau. This might help you a little.
4. Can you customize the funeral?
The funeral service itself will depend on the religious and cultural beliefs of the deceased. Some may have a priest conduct the service, recite prayers, and sing religious songs. Other families may choose to make it more personal and have a funeral service that more closely reflects the personality of their deceased loved one, rather than relying on religious traditions. Some families choose package services offered by funeral homes to save money. But more people choose to customize the funeral of a family member or loved one. You need to ask the funeral home if they offer customized services. You can choose to purchase your own casket, flowers, or provide your own eulogy, music, and more.
5. Understanding the whole process of the funeral
Before choosing a funeral home, you need to understand the whole process of the funeral ceremony so that you can confirm more details with the staff.The usual process is as follows.- Notification of Death.
- Pronouncement of Death.
- Funeral Home Contact.
- Transfer of the Body.
- Meeting with Funeral Director.
- Obtaining Necessary Permits.
- Preparation of the Body.
- Viewing/Visitation.
- Funeral Service.
- Burial or Cremation.
- Reception or Gathering.
- Post-Funeral Tasks.
Some of the processes are not necessary, it depends on you. You can choose whether to include or not.
6. Are online memorial services available?
If you have friends who are unable to come to an offline funeral due to work and distance, you can try to hold an online memorial, such as creating an online memorial page on the official website of funeral home or creating a memorial using social media. You can try to hold an online memorial, for example by creating an online memorial page on the official website of funeral home, or by using social media to create a memorial event.There is still room for personalization in virtual funeral arrangements. Adding personal details will make the funeral more meaningful and memorable. If you don't know how to create an online memorial, you can refer to the following steps:
- Choose a design and page decoration theme
- Create an online memorial page.
- Write a biography and life history of the deceased
- Collect photos and videos of the deceased
- Invite guests attending the funeral to sign the virtual book of remembrance.
- Ask those unable to attend the virtual service to light a candle or pray at the same time.
