What Your Funeral Director Should Know After a Loved One Passes
Funeral directors are invariably there to help. But you should be prepared when meeting with them and ready to make some decisions at a potentially difficult time.
Meeting with a funeral director after losing someone you love may be difficult. There is, however, no way around the importance of doing so. Getting the requirements and logistics of a funeral out of the way will make it much easier for you to move on to other things, whether they be practical or emotional in scope. If it’s time for such a meeting and you’re looking for funeral homes in Waverly, IN, rest assured that there are professionals prepared to support you throughout the process.
You may find it useful to prepare for your meeting with a funeral director in advance. For example, you will likely need to exchange some information, so having things squared away on your end may be beneficial. No, it shouldn’t feel like an assignment at times like these. But you should be thinking about how the funeral director can make your life easier, and doing your part at the outset will advance that cause.
What can you expect from such a meeting? You can rest assured that your funeral director should be professional and very understanding. They aren’t grief counselors, but they are there as a resource.
They may need some official information at the outset. This should include items like the deceased’s social security number, date of birth and death, and where the death occurred, particularly if a death certificate has yet to be filed. The funeral director may request additional information regarding family and personal history in the event they’re helping you prepare an obituary. You may wish to call ahead and verify the kind of information that will be requested. This will give you some time to collect and organize it.
The rest of your meeting with a funeral director will likely involve the funeral itself, particularly the kinds of options you’ll have throughout the process. If the deceased’s last wishes speak to this matter, you may wish to have some record thereof to make choosing between your options a bit easier and assure fidelity to their preferences. Several items will be up for discussion.
First, you’ll need to way in on burial options themselves. This could include a traditional burial, entombment, cremation or even the donation of one’s body to science. Cremation will raise some additional questions, like what will have ultimately been done with the ashes. Note that there will likely be some practical questions regarding the kind of casket or urn you wish to select.
Second, you’ll want to discuss the ceremony in some detail—whether clergy should be present, the kind of procession that might occur, what kind of music might be performed, what might be read, and of course, location itself.
Third, and finally, be prepared to discuss payment—yes, even at a time like this. You may wish to bring financial information along with you to this effect. Some funerals have been funded in advance. Some insurance policies are there to help, as well. Whatever the case, you should be prepared to discuss how you wish to pay for the event.
Remember, there generally aren’t any wrong answers when it comes to your preferences in these matters. The important thing is to honor your loved one and the kind of person they’ve been throughout your relationship. If you need help along these lines and are looking into Waverly, IN, funeral homes, Carlisle-Branson Funeral Service & Crematory would be happy to work with you and provide you the support that’s needed in times like these. You may visit us at 39 E High St, Mooresville, IN 46158 or place a phone call to (317) 831-2080.
