Whether your loved one who has passed away has been sick for a while or your loved one’s death was sudden, the effect can be completely devastating and overwhelming for their family and friends. On top of having to deal with your loss, you may also be tasked with arranging your loved one’s funeral – and this can definitely be a lot to handle for anyone. If you have to arrange the funeral of your loved one and you are unsure of where to begin, here’s what you should remember and take into consideration when arranging your loved one’s funeral.
- Get professional help
First and foremost, you may want to consider getting professional help in the form of a funeral director. If you want your stress and burden to be eased, it’s best to select an experienced funeral director who can provide you with administrative support as well as emotional support during this trying time. It’s also best to select a funeral director in your local area so you can easily coordinate with them. If you are in Leeds, for instance, then choose funeral directors in Leeds who are well-versed with all the aspects of planning a funeral. With their services, you don’t have to worry about all the arrangements yourself, and you can focus on providing care for your other loved ones as well.
- Know the requirements
Before you and your funeral director can start planning and arranging the funeral, there are certain requirements and documents that you need to have. For example, it is essential to register the person’s death first, because this will then give you the certificate of registration of death. When you register the death, this will also provide you with the green certificate for cremation or burial, which you need to present to the funeral director.
- Decide on the kind of funeral
You should also take into consideration the kind of funeral you would want your loved one to have. If they have specified their wishes before their death, you should take this into account. But if they were not able to make any request, you can choose between having a burial or a cremation and you can also choose between having a traditional funeral or a ‘green’ one. Your funeral service can also be personalised as a celebration of your loved one’s life, or you can opt for a more traditional and religious service. It can be a challenge to decide on the funeral you want, but with help from your funeral director, you can be more confident in choosing a funeral that will be an apt reflection and commemoration of the life of your loved one.
- Determine the date of the funeral service
Normally, a funeral service is held in about a week or two weeks succeeding a person’s death. But the arrangements can take longer or you may experience delays based on various factors which include the availability of the crematoria or the funeral director, your or the deceased’s religious beliefs, the kind of funeral you choose, or the family situation or circumstances. The process can also take a long time if you have to repatriate the deceased from abroad. Fortunately, your funeral director can help with these kinds of arrangements as well.