Planning for Your St. Louis Funeral Now

The reality of death is something we put off thinking about as long as possible.

The fact is that death is an appointment we can’t cancel. Death can be expected after a long and fruitful life, and death can show up when it is least expected and leave loved ones scrambling. There are steps you can take to ease the burden on your family and friends by preparing now for arrangements after you are gone.

The first item on the list is writing down your wishes. Do you want to be cremated? Do you want to donate your body to medical science? You even have choices in the type of traditional burials. You may want to legally designate the person you know will carry out your funeral wishes. Be specific when you record your desires for your funeral instructions. Feel free to specify type of service, if any, along with music, etc. Knowing that these plans were yours will help to put your survivors at ease because they understand it was exactly how you wanted it to be.

When possible, you should also sit down with your love ones and verbalize your desires for what happens following your death. This is especially important if you are choosing an option such as whole body donation. Explaining your choices to skeptical loved ones will help them understand it is really what you want. Be patient with your family and friends as you outline your plans because the subject is very emotional. Both verbal and written notation of your funeral decisions will go a long way in letting your loved ones grieve instead of being wrapped up in details.

Start saving for your own funeral as soon as possible. While there are less expensive options available, you don’t want to leave any financial responsibility to your family for your funeral. Completely pre-paid arrangements are ideal but not always feasible. Open a savings account and deposit $20 each time you get paid. Over time, it will go a long way toward helping to pay your final expenses. Be sure to add your designated agent to your account so they can access funds when the time comes. You also might want to look into funeral insurance if available in your area.

Our society shies away from death talk. It is terrifying. It is sad. However, it is inevitable. By making your desires known to friends and family in advance, you are assuring your wishes come to fruition. More importantly, you are allowing your loved ones to focus on the grief process rather than making hard choices that may or may not have been the right ones to honor you.

Your St. Louis funeral planning can start with one call to the professionals at Bi-State Cremation and Funeral Service. Whether you are pre-arranging or have an immediate need, Bi-State Cremation & Funeral Service is available to answer any questions about the St. Louis funeral planning process. Call us at 314-831-8868 if you have questions or wish to get started.