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What To Expect When Arranging a Funeral

cremation and traditional burial

Funeral Arrangements

Funeral planning can seem overwhelming and stressful. Losing a loved one is an emotional experience, and grief can make the funeral planning process difficult. Pre-planning final arrangements helps relieve your family of both emotional and financial burdens. When a friend or loved one has just died or a death is expected to take place soon, there are many details to take care of. Most of the time we’re not even ready to take on the responsibility that comes with the death of a loved one. It’s a common enough experience; a loved one dies and now you’ve got to face something you’ve never ever done before. You’ve got go to a funeral home to make their funeral arrangements. Here is what to expect.

Prepare to Work with a Funeral Director

Notify the appropriate parties and have the deceased removed from the place of death. Then, you will need to start engaging with a funeral director to complete the death certificate and properly transport and store the remains. Two question that you will need to answer: will the body be buried or cremated? and what type of funeral service will you be having?

Pre-Arrangements

Determine if the deceased left behind a pre-arranged funeral plan. This will specify the funeral service provider that the deceased selected.

Funeral Services

Meet with the funeral director to make arrangements for the funeral services. This includes how the deceased will be cared for, whether you will have a burial or cremation, and what type of ceremony will be held. What type of service would you like for the deceased: funeral, memorial or graveside? A funeral is when you have a service before the body is buried or cremated. A memorial service is when you have a service after the body has been buried or cremated. A graveside is just like a funeral only it take place at the gravesite.

Cemetery Arrangements

If you’re planning a burial, you’ll need to decide where the burial will take place. You will need to purchase a cemetery plot or a space in a mausoleum. The funeral home you’re working with will likely be affiliated with one or more cemeteries, and they can help you find space in one.

funeralMake Funeral Arrangements

Choose the type of service you would like for the deceased: funeral, memorial or graveside. Decide if you will be having any pre- or post-service events. Pre-funeral events generally include a viewing, wake, or visitation. Post-funeral events generally include receptions or gatherings.

Choose how the body will be prepared. Most funeral homes will require that a body be embalmed if there will be a viewing before the funeral or an open casket during the funeral. Some cultures and religions prohibit an open casket. You must then decide what clothing you want the person who died to be buried or cremated in.

Choose cremation or burial products. If you’re planning a burial, you’ll need a casket and a burial vault or grave liner. If you’re planning a cremation, you’ll need a cremation casket and an urn. Then you will need to arrange for transportation which is required to move the body from the funeral location to the cemetery, and the funeral home will provide and charge for this service.

Local Funeral Homes in NJ

Funeral homes in Morris County
Funeral homes in Union County