It's rarely the case that a funeral is an easy event. When you're planning one, there are times when you might feel stressed and overwhelmed. With the right approach, you can make sure planning a funeral is more about ensuring remembrance than experiencing stress.
Try Not to Rush
Very few aspects of planning a funeral require absolute immediacy. Aside from setting the date and finding a funeral director, other elements of your plans can benefit from not rushing.
In the weeks that lead up to the funeral, try allocating one or two tasks to each day. For example, you could choose one day for agreeing on songs and another for deciding on readings. By not rushing the process, you can make it feel more calming.
Allocate Tasks to Others
Planning a funeral can sometimes feel emotionally draining. By allocating tasks to others, you can reduce some of the emotional burdens you're likely to face.
Before allocating tasks, make sure you discuss what your relatives would like to get involved with. Some people may feel particularly strongly about planning readings, while others might feel a pull towards choosing floral arrangements. By distributing tasks according to who would like to complete them, the process becomes even less stressful.
Choose a Charity for Donations
A growing number of people now choose to request donations from funeral attendees rather than flowers. If this isn't something you have considered, you may find that it's a comforting decision to make.
Requesting charity donations will leave you feeling as though your loved one's passing has resulted in a positive legacy. When selecting a charity, consider something that was close to their heart. Alternatively, you can choose an organisation that supported you in the run-up to their death, if there is one.
Set Some Boundaries
Although funerals act as an opportunity to celebrate a person's life, you don't have to involve each attendee in every element. While you may feel happy with people attending the ceremony and the wake, you may want the cremation to remain more private.
Always remember that it's okay to set boundaries and determine who can attend various parts of the funeral. It's an emotional time in your life, which means it's one that could benefit from boundaries you feel comfortable with.
Above all, make sure you find a funeral director you feel comfortable working with. Approaching the right person can take a lot of stress out of what is likely to be an emotional event for you.
Share30 December 2019
Irving Berlin famously sang, "The song is ended, but the melody lingers on..." Anyone who has been in charge of funeral arrangements knows the importance of striking the delicate balance between reverence and celebration which helps us remember the true heart of a person. We admire incredible examples of funerals that faithfully commemorate a person's life such as those for Nelson Mandela and Joan Rivers. Unfortunately, funerals for our own loved ones often end up being generic or "cookie cutter" because sadness overwhelms us. This blog is designed to help by outlining the ways that funeral directors can personalise a service and providing imaginative ideas.