by T. Scott Randolph

Created on: November 02, 2009   Last Updated: November 13, 2009

The decision to visit the establishment that will conduct your funeral yourself directly will serve two very important purposes. One of them is for you. Although it may seem selfish, it will make sure that your final wishes are met. The second and probably more important, is it takes the burden of all the planning and financial issues off of your loved ones in their time of grief.

Everyone has been to a funeral. You look at the deceased and it doesn't look anything like the person that you knew. This is often the by product of the fact that the family members that really knew the person are too distraught with grief to make important decisions. How often did the guy that was a construction worker his entire life and watched football on every Sunday and Monday night ever wear a suit? If you go to a funeral director in advance and make your plans with him (or her) then you have made a legal document as too what your wishes are. If you happen to hate the song "Amazing Grace" then you can make sure that it is not played during the service. This may not make some members of the family happy, but the ones that really cared for you will understand that this is the way that you really wanted the service to be conducted.

Your loved ones are in a state of shock and grief. They have lost you from their life. It is the toughest time that any of us goes through in our lives. This is not the time for family's to spilt over arguments about what you would want. Don't lie to yourself, this can and does happen very often. When they are in the pangs of grief it is not the time to be discussing flower arrangements and what songs are going to be played. What type of casket to buy, who will be the pall bearers. How will you be displayed. What type of words will be spoken at the funeral itself. Will it be religious or not? These seem like trivial questions as you sit here healthy, but they are huge decisions when you are suffering from grief.

The last point for your family and loved ones that pre-planning your funeral is the financial aspect of it. Funerals have jumped in price over a $1000 in just the last couple of years. How much will the price increase in 10 years, or 25 years? If you have dealt with a funeral director yourself, then you have also probably set up a payment plan. This will lock the price of the funeral service in todays prices. Very few things go down in price over time. Time has told us that funerals is not one of them. You can pay for it in small monthly payments. Even if you happen to leave the Earth before it is completely payed off, at least you have made dent in the amount that your family and loved ones will have to pay.

Just like life insurance, tomorrow isn't good enough. Go out as soon as possible and find a reputable funeral director and set up the service the way that you want. Pay for it in advance in small increments so it isn't a financial liability and do the right thing. If you don't want to do it for yourself, then do it for your loved ones. They are the ones that will be suffering at your funeral not you.

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