Burying a child

It's one of the hardest things to have to bury your child. It feels like it goes against the natural order of things. It can be hard to find items that suit a young life being cut short and help you to truly remember the spirit of the child you are burying. This site has a collection of ideas and thoughts that can be used when coming up with memorial services that celebrate the short life and personality of your child. It can be a useful resource for family, communities or schools plan sympathetic funeral services for children and their loved one.

Top Tips When Choosing A Funeral Home

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An essential aspect of planning a prepaid funeral is choosing a funeral home. So, how can you select an appropriate facility to handle your remains? Below is a comprehensive guide. 

Location

Logistics is a critical aspect of any funeral. As such, the funeral home you choose must be conveniently located. For example, it could be close to your home or gravesite. The facility should also have sufficient parking and amenities such as ample security and conference rooms where mourners can hold wakes or meetings before the funeral. 

Services Provided

The funeral home should provide a wide range of services, including: 

  • Transport services from the hospital to, funeral home and gravesite. Other than the hearse, some funeral homes will also hire out buses to ferry mourners.
  • If you would want your body cremated, inspect the facility's crematorium. For example, if you are on a budget, you could opt for joint cremation where your body is cremated alongside other bodies.
  • Inquire whether the funeral home will allow family members to perform rights and rituals before the burial date. 

Funeral Director

The funeral director will assist your family members with different aspects of the funeral planning process. As such, examine their expertise by interviewing former clients. A professional director should: 

  • Meet with your family members and inquire about your final wishes. For example, could be you wanted your funeral ceremony held at a specified place and presided by particular individuals.
  • Provide counselling services to your immediate family members.
  • If you would want a ground burial, the director will secure an appropriate site at the local cemetery.
  • Help family members to organise wakes, memorials and the funeral ceremony. Some directors can provide tents, sound, lighting and catering services. 

Type of Pre-paid Plans

Examine the available prepaid plans at the funeral home. For instance, some funeral homes will ask for a one-time payment, while others will allow you to pay in instalments for a specified period. Consider funeral homes that customise the prepaid plan to suit your needs. For example, could be you want a policy that covers all aspects of the funeral, including transport, catering, burial suit, funeral venue, the gravesite and casket. Inquire about extra charges such as administration and yearly maintenance. Preferably, go for a guaranteed plan that locks the funeral expenses at the current market rates. As such, your family will not have to pay extra fees if funeral fees increase in the future. 

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21 December 2020