Funeral Planning: Mistakes To Avoid

Over the years, Ebony Funeral Home has helped quite a number of families plan meaningful funeral services to say goodbye to their loved ones. We have noticed there are some avoidable mistakes people often make during the planning which they later come to regret.

Below we discuss the most common mistakes made in funeral planning that we have seen over the years.

Not Having a Budget

Having a fixed budget for a funeral can be difficult for some people because they try to reach a balance between the cost of a product or service and how much they loved the deceased. Some others prefer that the loved ones of the deceased use whatever money is inherited for personal use than funeral expenses.

It is highly advisable to set a budget and stick to it unless it is absolutely necessary to get a particular product or service.

Not Asking Questions

There are no foolish questions when it comes to the burial of someone you love. Grief has a way of clouding your decisions and can be very intense but feel free to ask any and every question to avoid mistakes and regrets.

Strike a Balance Between Wishes and Needs

A funeral is not just for the deceased, it is for the living as well. Often times, people plan a  funeral based on what they feel the deceased would have loved.  The problem with this though is that the deceased will not be able to take part in the service. It is important to honor the deceased’s end-of-life wishes  such as burial vs. cremation or funeral vs. memorial service, there are some things that should be planned with the guests in mind.

Underestimating The Importance Of A Reception or Funeral Service

As hard as the passing of someone close to you can be, remember that you’re not the only one grieving. You have the difficult task of planning the funeral, but those who are not immediate family are processing as well. Hosting a reception will allow everyone that the deceased has touched to celebrate his or her memory and provide closure.

It is indeed very common for people to tell their loved ones not to plan a service for them. In this case, the family may forego holding a service all together. The problem with this is that they forget that a service allows them to say a proper goodbye. Attending a service helps a lot of people cope with their grief and depriving them of this opportunity can make the loss that much tougher. When you plan a service, keep both the deceased’s wishes and the needs of their loved ones in mind.