When a loved one passes, this can be a difficult time for anyone who knows that person – especially if you were very close together. Having a loved one pass is unfortunately unavoidable and can quickly affect a lot of people around you.
If the person passing is very close to you, then it may be your responsibility to arrange their funeral. This can be a particularly difficult thing to do, which is why you are going to need the support and care of everyone who is close to you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help as you will certainly need it.
Below we have put together three tips for arranging a funeral.
Ask for support from your family and friends
We just touched on it, but the most important thing to do is lean on those around you for support. Don’t go at this alone, instead, make a list of duties that your friends and family members can do that will help make the process that little easier. Things like helping with the flowers, looking into stone masons, sourcing coffin suppliers etc. Can help reduce some of the stress of arranging a funeral. You’ll also want to consider ways to maintain the gravesite after the funeral to keep it presentable.
Consider hiring a funeral director
We hope that this is your first time organizing a funeral and that the process is very new to you. If this is the case, then you are likely to need support as you would have never done this before. Hiring a funeral director is a great way to remove some of the stresses off of yourself and to them. They can help you with the whole organization process and make it as easy as organizing a funeral can be. There may be plenty of things that you will have never thought of which is important that they will be able to do for you.
Keep track of costs
Funerals can be expensive and quickly add up, so it’s important you keep track of the costs. Throughout the process, it’s always worth getting multiple quotes on things – such as the flowers – to make sure you are getting a competitive price. We understand the last thing you want to be thinking about is money, but we don’t want you overspending due to not having it as a consideration. There are plenty of apps out there that you can use to keep track of the costs to make sure you don’t go over the budget you have set. If you prefer to not use apps, then using a spreadsheet to keep track of things could be beneficial.
What tips do you have for arranging a funeral? Which of the tips above did you find most useful? Are there any tips that you think we should add to the list? Is there anything you would like to share that will benefit our readers? Let us know in the comment box below. We would love to hear from you.
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-person-holding-a-wooden-coffin-7317916/
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
