Preplanning Checklist
Losing a loved one is overwhelming, and the decisions that follow can add even more stress. Preplanning your funeral service helps ease this burden for your family while ensuring your wishes are honored.
1. Choose the Type of Service You Want
Preplanning allows your family to focus on healing rather than making difficult decisions in the moment. Consider the following:
- Select the funeral home and director you would like to handle your service.
- Decide on the type of service: traditional, cremation, donation or other options.
- If choosing burial, select your cemetery and plot — which can be at Azleland Memorial Park & Cemetery — which is located on the same grounds as our family funeral home.
- Meet with a prearrangement counselor to review caskets, urns and other service options.
- Decide on clothing for burial, if applicable.
- Choose the location for your service: funeral home, religious facility, graveside or another meaningful location.
- Determine your preferences for flowers, or whether you’d prefer donations to a charity.
- Decide who will be involved: pallbearers, officiants or participants.
- Choose music to be played during the service.
- Draft your obituary or make notes about information you want included.
2. Choose Who Will Be in Charge
Providing clear instructions ensures your family can carry out your wishes without stress:
- Give your executor a copy of your will.
- Share a list of important accounts and contact information with a trusted family member or friend.
- Make sure someone knows your final wishes for your funeral service.
- Designate the power of attorney.
- Assign someone to handle utility cancellations, subscriptions and other logistical tasks.
3. Consider Paying in Advance
Prepaying arrangements can relieve your family of financial stress while guaranteeing your wishes are fulfilled. Common prepayment options include:
- Cemetery services and burial plots.
- All funeral arrangements: casket or urn, flowers, transportation and any specialized services.
Preplanning is an act of love. It gives your family guidance, eases their burden and ensures your life is honored exactly as you wish.