subject: Memorial Planning [print this page] Memorial Planning Memorial Planning
In planning a funeral, there are many details to tend too. There are some items to note in a checklist for each stage below:
1. Make time to start planning. {There are decisions to make, people to gather information from, and items to purchase. From decisions to make, people to gather information from, and items to purchase, planning needs to happen now. Being a big undertaking, this could take a lot of time. Enlisting the help of a close friend or family member will help you if you find that it is an overwhelming process.
2. Follow the instructions from the deceased if possible.
Be sure to take note of the instructions if your not able to follow them.
3. Get help. It would be beneficial for you to ask a small group of close family members or friends to help you in the tasks needed to be taken care of.
4. Note the places in which the deceased lived, worked, and activities involved or locate a resume for your loved one.
5. Now you can decide whether you want a religious or secular service as well as where it will be located at. Figure out if you want the service to be held with particular denomination's tradition or if you want only some limited religious aspects. Maybe you would prefer a completely secular service. Determining the type of service you will have can depend on things like where you are planning on having the service.
6. Think about how much control you want over the creation and planning of the service.
7. Decide how formal you would like the service to be. Reflecting on how formal the deceased was as well as the community around you would be a good start.
8. The personality of your loved one should be thought about as well. Note what she was known for, hobbies, accomplishments, musical tastes, friendships, or other service in the community.
9. Next, do you want to hold a Memorial Service or Funeral Service or there is the option of both. The difference between the two is in the Memorial Service the body of the deceased is not present whereas in the Funeral Service, the body in a casket is present and viewed.
10. Now you will need to decide who will attend the service and when it will be. You may also want to formulate an death announcement and write a short obituary for the local paper. It just so happens that people who read the paper will come to a service if they were acquainted with that person.
