Death can arrive when you least expect it and when someone passes away, their loved ones are left with the difficult task of planning the funeral and the memorial service.
However, many funeral homes now have the option of creating a memorial plan. The memorial service is an event that can take place before or after the funeral. During the memorial service, family members and friends share stories about their lost loved one and celebrate who they were as a person and how they lived. It’s a very meaningful event that can help the loved ones of the deceased support each other and come to terms with their loss.
Along with funeral services, you may also be able to plan out your memorial and decide how you want to be remembered and honored to better prepare your loved ones for the unfortunate circumstances of your death.
Now let’s explore the benefits of creating a plan for your memorial service before your passing and how the planning process goes.
1. What are the main benefits of a memorial plan?
Memorial planning can offer many benefits to both you and your loved ones; these include:
Less Stress for Your Family
Planning a memorial service not long after losing a loved one can be very difficult to do. While dealing with the grief and the shock of the loss, putting together a plan can feel overwhelming.
By planning your memorial, you can save your loved ones the stress of having to plan it out at the last minute. This will also give them more time to grieve and support each other during this difficult time.
Clear Communication of Wishes
When you plan your memorial, everything you want to be included in it will be written down—this will save your loved ones time spent on guesswork. Also, your loved ones will have some peace of mind knowing that the memorial service will be held exactly according to your requirements.
Secure Finances
Memorial services can be expensive, but by pre-planning your memorial service, you can pre-fund it partially or completely. This can help take some of the financial burden from your family.
Personalized Farewell
When planning your memorial, you can create a roadmap that tells your loved ones exactly how you want the service to be carried out, where you want it to be held, who should be invited to speak, which songs should be played, and even how you want your memorial program to be designed to reflect your unique personality.
Open Communication
Planning a memorial service allows you and your family to come together and discuss the difficult topic of death. During this time, you and your family can understand each other’s wishes and decide what should be included in the memorial service.
Flexible Process
Premade memorial planning is a flexible process. You can make changes any time you want and you can also make pre-payments to funeral homes so that your loved ones won’t have to won’t get caught off-guard by memorial costs.
2. What are the practical benefits of making memorial plans?
The benefits of early planning go beyond emotions—it can have several practical benefits too:
Today’s Costs
Memorial services can rise in cost over time, so by planning your memorial service, you may be able to lock in current prices. Doing so will give your loved ones some financial relief.
Simplified Logistics
Plans can make the logistical aspects of memorial services easier to navigate. The plan will mention which venue to book, where flowers for the service should be bought from, and where to hire transportation for attendees.
Family Traditions
The plan you create could be used by other family members and their descendants. This can help save them time and effort in the planning process since everything they need to know is already there in writing.
3. What does the memorial planning process entail?
Now that you know about the benefits of planning your memorial, let’s look at the process:
Self-Reflection
Sit down and think about what you want for your memorial service. Here are some questions you might want to consider:
- Where do you want the memorial to be held?
- Would you like to have any cultural or religious traditions to be included?
- Who will you choose to officiate the memorial?
- Do you want there to be readings and eulogies?
If it helps, try to discuss these questions with a close friend or family member—it may make the process a bit easier.
Do Your Research
Once you’ve noted down your wishes, you should do some research. Look for a good funeral home that can help with memorial and funeral planning and find a good location for the memorial to take place.
Consider Finances
Look at your budget and determine how your money should be set aside for the memorial service. In addition, speak to funeral homes about the funeral and memorial service packages they offer.
Document Your Wishes
After deciding on what you want for the memorial, put it down in writing, and if you can, try to make the document legal. This document can be given to your relatives or to a funeral home so that your memorial service can be planned exactly how you want it.
Share the Plan
Once you’ve finalized the plan for your memorial, discuss it with your family. Give them several copies of the plan and see if they’re confident with its proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some commonly asked questions and answers about the benefits of creating a memorial plan:
How can I make sure my loved ones find the plan for my memorial service?
You can put the plan into a physical document and give it to your family or have a lawyer hold it for you until it’s needed. Also, you should keep a digital copy of the plan as a backup and email it to a close friend or family member.
Will I need to plan my memorial if I plan on being cremated?
The memorial can be held after the cremation so a body will not need to be present. Regardless of how you want to be laid to rest, you can always plan your memorial service.
If I’m a veteran, should the plan acknowledge my military background?
Absolutely. The plan will detail for your loved ones which military honors you will be entitled to at the memorial service.
Work with a funeral home to make your memorial plan
Planning your memorial can be difficult to do. You might not always know what you want and how to go about it. Fortunately, professional funeral service providers like funeral homes may be able to help you navigate planning your memorial service, saving you and your family a lot of stress.
Get in touch with a well-reputed funeral home in Pittsburgh today.
