We understand planning a funeral for a loved one can be incredibly overwhelming. No matter how sudden or expected the death is, making all the arrangements can be very stressful. This is why we created a step by step guide to help families plan after the loss of a loved one.

Slow Down- Unless you’re under a religious or cultural obligation to have the funeral within a certain timeframe, there’s no hurry to have the funeral. You certainly don’t want to drag it out, but you shouldn’t feel pressure to make all the arrangements immediately.
Check for a Will- If your loved one had a last will and testament, you’ll want to check for any funeral preferences listed in the will. If there any wishes, it will give you some guidance on what to do.
Pick a Funeral Home- This is possibly one of the most important steps, as a good funeral home should take a lot of the work off your shoulders. Once you’ve selected which home you want to work with, you’ll need to arrange for transportation of the body to the funeral home.
Report the Death- There’s a legal process to report a death to the government. Typically, you’ll just need to file the certificate of death the attending physician gives you with the state. The funeral home can also assist with this process.
Interment Method- Providing there are no specifications given in the will, you’ll need to decide between burial and cremation. The funeral home will be able to assist you in finding a casket or urns.
Plan the Service- Some opt for a more formal and traditional service while others go for a more informal memorial service. When planning the service you’ll want to consider what your loved one would have wanted as well as what will help you and friends and family cope with the loss.
Let People Know- With modern technology, notifying people is easier than it used to be. There’s no need to send formal invitations in the mail for a funeral, although you can if you wish, phone calls, text messages, emails, and social media posts are all appropriate ways to inform friends.

Planning a funeral doesn’t have to be a stressful process. We know this is a hard time, but we hope these steps will help you through it.