Pre-Planning a Catholic Funeral
The earlier you can begin planning a Catholic funeral, the better. Many of the decisions you need to make involve practical tasks that may be more difficult during an intensely difficult time of grief. If possible, pre-planning the funeral arrangements, can bring comfort and structure to all and allow everyone to focus on the most important things, celebrating your life, coming together as a family to grieve and heal. Pre-planning one’s own funeral takes a great deal of the pressure off the surviving family and friends. Funeral preplanning (also known as personal funeral planning) is a wise and increasingly popular practice that's becoming increasingly accepted and appreciated in the U.S. People are sometimes hesitant to pre-plan a funeral because they think they are not going to die anytime soon or they may not like the idea of thinking about their own death and funeral. There may even be some superstition that planning one’s own funeral will somehow bring about their hasty death. This is untrue. Over time, many people move beyond their initial resistance to the idea and actually find funeral planning to be a freeing experience. By pre-planning, you are able to make sure things are done in the way you would like them and you will know that you are relieving your loved ones of some very burdensome future responsibilities. You can begin the funeral planning process long before you are even close to death or seriously ill.
Why Preplan a Catholic Funeral?
Simply put, it is a lasting expression of the love you bear for those you care about. Attempting to plan a funeral service immediately after a death can be stressful. Preplanning the procedures gives your family members the relief of knowing arrangements are already made and the ceremony will happen exactly as you wish. There will be very little need for you or your loved ones to try to make the best decisions to honor your life and wishes while navigating the stages of grief. It can be a challenge to arrange a funeral service in a short amount of time with all parties agreeing on the same approach. Preplanning a funeral helps to eliminate any mistakes that relate to your wishes and preferences, financial budget, expectations and desires.
Death is an inevitable part of life, so preplanning takes the pressure off surviving individuals close to the deceased. In many cases, the person the funeral arrangements are for will contribute to get their wishes documented in writing — this step ensures everything goes smoothly once the official date is set. Funeral preplanning supports the idea that you can arrange an ideal ceremony days, months or even years before a sudden loss, and Our Lady of the Visitation Catholic Church is here to assist you.
How to Preplan a Funeral
Preplanning funeral services with Our Lady of the Visitation starts with filling out our pre-planning form below. Don't worry if you cannot answer all of the questions, fill out the form to the best of your ability and submit it. Our Funeral Coordinator will reach out to you as soon as possible to start planning. Our Lady of the Visitation Catholic Church can coordinate an in-person, electronic meeting, or phone call to learn more about what you have in mind. We'll provide you with further information about all the options for your Catholic Funeral arrangements. In this stage, our goal is to gain an understanding of your wants and needs so that we have exact details for our records.
The Preplanning Process
Our funeral preplanning process focuses on three main areas.
Establish Goals
Discuss opportunities for a viewing, rosary, eulogy, funeral Mass, memorial Mass, burial plot/niche, if applicable.
The more details you have, the better, with special attention to:
- Bible Readings
- Music Selections
- Final resting place
- Casket and headstone style
Consider the Information you need
A burial or cremation will require an official death certificate. Begin collecting vital pieces of information such as Social Security number, residential address and family names to comply with government standards.
Make a Final Decision
There is always room to change your funeral plans prior to a death. Talk over decisions with close relatives to determine a course of action for a loved one. We keep all information up to date for accuracy.
Create a Contact List
Our Lady of the Visitation will put your plans in full swing when the time comes, and that includes handling proper notification. Create a contact list with your funeral director's name on it as well as any guests that should know when the passing takes place.
What to Expect From Our Lady of the Visitation Catholic Church
Our Lady of the Visitation Catholic Church guides you through every step of the Catholic funeral planning process. Our staff is passionate about making funeral arrangements as seamless as possible, so our preplanning services keep your worries to a minimum.
