Advance Funeral Planning

            Advance funeral planning....  Is it a wise decision?  Without a doubt, advance funeral planning is a wise decision.  National averages show that the cost of a funeral doubles every 7 to 11 years.  Advance funeral planning will prevent your funeral costs from ever increasing.  

            Are you aware that the Veterans Administration generally provides only a cemetery benefit.  It would be wise for you to investigate your benefits as you pre-plan. Thinking that benefits are available and then to discover, after the fact, that benefits are only partial is disappointing, to say the least.  Social Security pays a small death benefit of $255, and it is only paid when there is a surviving spouse or children under age 18.

            You may find it interesting to know that advance funeral planning even provides valuable financial options to aid your own hometown funeral director in assisting your family should you die away from home or out of the country.  Advance funeral arrangements are most valuable, regardless of where you die.

            Some families that we have served in the past have made the following statement, “There are some things that you do with your family, and there are other things that you do for your family.”  I recommend that you consider taking care of your funeral plans in advance.  I also would like to point out the importance of advance planning with a reputable mortuary, a firm of long-standing with a proven track record.  If you are contacted by a pre-arrangement counselor, call the owner of the mortuary he professes to represent to inquire if the counselor is who he says he is and to find out if he takes responsibility for the policy he is selling.  The owner can assure you as to whether the representative is part of his company or if he is simply an “in-and-out”commission-driven salesman that is not from the St. George area who may be following up on a generic mailer. 

            It has been my experience that there is more to advance funeral planning than just setting aside the finances or setting up some monthly payment contract.  Advance funeral planning is extensive planning, i.e., filling out a vital statistics sheet that will provide the required information for filing a death certificate, sitting down with your family and writing the obituary, choosing a favorite photo for the obituary and, perhaps, other photos that you would like to have included in your funeral service, making known your preference for the final disposition of your remains (burial, cremation, entombment, etc.), to innumerate a few of the aspects of planning.  I wholeheartedly believe that your advance funeral planning is indeed wise.  Once again, bear in mind the importance of dealing only with trusted, reputable firms with proven track records.

            If you believe that a particular firm’s future is questionable, do not consider placing your funeral arrangements in its care.

            Questions to consider when trying to decide whether to advance plan or not are:

If my death occurred tomorrow, by whom would my funeral be arranged?

If my death occurred tomorrow, where would the money needed to pay for my funeral come from?  

If my death occurred tomorrow, what would the funeral I want include? If my death occurred tomorrow, what would I expect my funeral to cost?

If my death occurred tomorrow, what would I regret most about my final arrangements?

If you had a choice between planning for an event in your life or handling the event unexpectedly, which would you choose?

Planning ahead can help you reach goals, ease worries, and save money.  It eases the decision-making burden for loved ones and helps ensure that family members know your wishes.    Advance planning offers peace of mind and is a very wise decision.