Planning Ahead

Why Should I Plan Ahead?

We understand this is a difficult conversation to have, and a hard step to take. Having been through planning and personal loss ourselves, we do not take this process lightly. In our experience, funeral arrangements made in advance make the process easier and less stressful for the ones you care about most when the time comes. Here’s Why…

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Benefits of Preplanning

Let Your Wishes Be Known

The death of a loved one often brings about unwarranted stress and turmoil among families. One family member wants one thing, while another family member wants something different.

By planning ahead, you help prevent those disagreements by letting your family know what your wishes are and how you want your funeral service to be carried out and your business handled.

Offers Peace of Mind

Following the death of a loved one, many decisions need to be made within a short period of time. When plans and wishes are put in place in advance, the hardest questions have already been answered. Again, from experience, “peace of mind” is the greatest gift you can give to the ones you love. 

Financially Flexible & Feasible

Pre-financing funeral arrangements is not a requirement, but beneficial for the same obvious reasons. You can have peace of mind knowing your family will be relieved of financial burdens.

Feasible: Simply because you can contribute what you want, when you want. 

Flexibility: CT State Law allows for several different pre-payment options. 

Payments made (via credit card, cash, or check) are transferred into your choice of an Irrevocable or Revocable Trust.

Learn more about our Pre-arrangement Trust Information.

Relieve the Burden from Family

Following the death of a loved one, there are more than 150 decisions that have to be made within the first day or two following the death. Those stressful decisions on top of the stress of grieving a loss can be eliminated by arranging your final wishes ahead of time. If those decisions are made, your loved ones aren’t left wondering what you would have wanted and how they should proceed with funeral plans. With those decisions out of the way, your loved one can begin the healing process sooner.

Life Insurance

A valid life insurance policy can be used for pre-planning and paying for future funeral expenses. Every company has different procedures, but our staff can walk you through the process. 



***Title 19 requirements regarding life insurance and other funding vary.***

“Have you thought about”

• Casket burial or cremation?
• Final place of rest, which cemetery, columbarium,etc.
• Choose your casket or urn
• If having a visitation with an open casket, what clothing would you like
• What types of flowers do you want
• Do you want your funeral in the funeral home or a church
• Is there a specific minister you would like to officiate
• What information about yourself would you want included in your obituary
  

Preplanning Checklist

Dealing with the loss of a loved one can be overwhelming to your surviving family and friends, but preplanning your funeral service can help them better deal with the stress of losing someone.

Choose the Type of Service You Want

Preplanning your funeral service can not only ease the burden on your loved ones, but it helps ensure your final wishes are honored. While some families struggle with making those final decisions after losing someone, your family won’t have to worry about making those hard choices.

• Choose what funeral home and director you would like to use to handle your service.
• Decide what type of service you want (traditional, cremation, donation, etc.).
• If you choose a traditional service with burial, decide where you want to be buried.
• Meet with the funeral director and look at your options for caskets and urns.
• If you decide you want to be buried, choose clothing options.
• Look at options for a location to hold your service (funeral home, religious facility, sentimental building, graveside).
• What type of flowers do you want? Do you want flowers, or would you rather donations be given to a particular charity or a charity of one’s choice?
• Who will be a part of your service? You should decide on pallbearers and even ask them personally. You should also decide who you would like to officiate or participate in your service.
• Choose which songs you would like played at your service.
• Write an obituary or make notes about information you would like to be included in your obituary.
  

Choose Who You Want to be in Charge

Your family and friends want to take part in the process of fulfilling your final wishes, they only need instructions on what they need to do.

• Make sure someone, preferably your executor, has a copy of the will.
• Give a family member or chosen friend a list of important account information that will need to be contacted and handled following your death. Also make sure someone knows your final wishes for your desired service.
• Designate someone to be your power of attorney.
• Have someone prepared to cancel basic utility services and subscriptions.

Choose to Pay in Advance

Making decisions about your funeral service in advance can benefit you and your survivors financially. If possible, pay for all expenses in advance, freeing your family from that financial burden. When possible, pre pay for:



• Cemetery services, burial plot
• All funeral arrangements including casket, urn, flowers, transportation and specialized services
  

Common Questions About Preplanning