Why You Should Plan Your Funeral Now
Our Livermore Mortuary Helps Make Funeral Arrangements Easier
Planning your own funeral or memorial service is scary and overwhelming. For many people, it produces a wide range of emotions from fear to sorrow. No one wants to think about passing on. Yet, that day will come for all of us. When it does, our loved ones must pick up the pieces and carry on with life. Planning your own funeral or memorial service can take some of the burdens from your family in their time of grief. It can also ensure that your loved ones honor your wishes and life in the way that is best for you. At Callaghan Mortuary & Livermore Crematory, we can help make end-of-life planning a little easier. Our trained and professional staff can help answer your questions and provide you with the peace of mind you need now.
3 Easy Steps to Plan Your Funeral
Planning your own funeral or memorial service is more detailed than simply picking out a burial site. It involves planning for your last days, as well as what will happen to your estate when you are gone. Funeral arrangements are easiest when people take the time to make preparations themselves before it is too late. When planning your own funeral, take the following steps.
Step 1: Documents
It is important to have an estate plan or will and testament. You can meet with an attorney to address your estate needs. Planning for your passing involves making sure you have made a plan for your estate and beneficiaries. A good estate plan should include a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care as well. This document allows a named individual to make medical decisions for you in case you become incapacitated. In this document, you can clearly state who is best to make funeral arrangements for you once you are gone. This is an important feature many overlook. It is important to keep these documents somewhere safe. It is also important to let trusted and designated individuals know their responsibilities as well as where to find these important documents. You must sign and notarize all documents to make them legally binding.
Step 2: Consider Funeral Options
It is best to make important funeral decisions now while you are still alive. This eases the burden on grieving family members when you are gone. One of those decisions is what happens to your body once you are gone. You have three major choices: burial, cremation or donation. Be sure you know what option is best for you and your loved ones.
- While burial is the most traditional, it is also the most expensive option. If you choose burial, be aware that you must also purchase a plot, a liner and a burial casket.
- Cremation is becoming an increasingly popular funeral option. It is far less expensive, and families can keep your remains or can scatter your ashes in a private ceremony. Even when choosing cremation, families can still opt for a viewing of the body during a wake or ceremony.
- You may choose to have your body donated to science for the purposes of advancing humankind. You can choose to donate your body to a medical school or to a specific cause, such as Alzheimer’s research.
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Step #3: Convey Your Wishes
After you have made funeral arrangements, it is important to convey these wishes to your family members. Let them know what you have decided and how you wish for them to proceed after your passing. Letting family members know your funeral arrangements will help ease their minds and give them peace knowing what is to come. These conversations are challenging for many individuals and family members. If you think it is too difficult to have this conversation, speak to a professional at our Livermore mortuary today. We can help you plan for this conversation and give you the help you need to move forward.
How Can Our Family-Owned Livermore Mortuary Help You Today?
No one wants to think about their funeral or memorial service. Yet, planning for the inevitable can give you some peace of mind now. At Callaghan Mortuary & Livermore Crematory, we can make your funeral arrangements easier. Whether you want a traditional service or a memorial service, our family-owned funeral home can help you make end-of-life decisions now, so your loved ones do not have to. Call our Livermore mortuary at (925) 447-2942 or fill out our confidential contact page for more information. We know these are tough decisions and we can help make those decisions easier. Call us today to get started.