28 June 2019
 Categories: , Blog

Planning a funeral is difficult no matter who it is for, but it's especially difficult when it's a close family member. Dealing with not just your own emotions but also those of other family members can be tough.  To help with the emotional stress, here is a list of 6 tips to help you through funeral planning.  

Budget

Everyone wants to give their loved one a fitting farewell that pays homage to their life, but it's important not to get carried away. The funeral bill can very quickly go up, so set a budget and stick to it. Think about the things you need to pay for and the things you should do yourself, and put your money to work in the right places. If the budget is tight, you can do things to reduce the budget, like catering yourself rather than paying a caterer. Also note that online donations for funerals are becoming more common. It gives a wider range of people the ability to contribute to giving your loved one the best send-off possible. 

Burial or Cremation 

You should think about whether your loved one would prefer to be cremated or buried. The two have very different associated costs and can have very different emotions attached to them. For example, keeping ashes at home may be what would make your loved one happy, or perhaps they'd like to be buried close to a church. 

Delegate Tasks 

There is plenty to do when arranging a funeral, so make sure you don't overwhelm yourself. Give some tasks to other family members or friends such as ordering flowers, arranging transport, booking venues, and so on. Any job you pass to someone else is a little less stress for one person to carry. 

Everybody Hurts

Losing someone affects so many people, and grieving can make anyone say things that they don't really mean. Try to stay calm for yourself and for others. If somebody says something hurtful, remember they're hurting too. 

Support 

Make use of the many support groups that are around you. This means not only church support groups and others set up by hospitals and local communities, but your friends and family support group too. Lean on all the support you have in this difficult time. 

Remember 

It's painful to lose someone, but remember the good that they've done and the times they made you laugh or smile. Remember fondly your time with them and heal.