Planning a funeral may be one of the most difficult things you ever have to do.  You are forced to make numerous difficult and often expensive decisions during a time of severe emotional distress, which makes these already difficult decisions even more complicated.  Shopping for caskets, choosing a venue for the service, buying a funeral plot, planning a wake or memorial service, what clothes to bury your loved one in and so on are just a few of the choices you will be asked to make during this stressful time.  Make sure to take a little time to take a deep breath and think things over before being pressured into anything that you aren't sure of.  Knowing ahead of time what you need to do and what some of the options are can make things just a little bit easier for you.  The following list is meant to provide a basic guide and help you think things through a little bit.

• Call the coroner.  It is okay to call the police if a loved one has passed on, they will be able to direct you to the right person since most people don't keep the coroner's number handy.


• Contact the loved one's minister, priest, pastor, or other religious leader if applicable.  They will be able to assist you as to what services the church provides and this will help you determine what things you need to handle or use a funeral director for.


• Contact the funeral director, if you will be using one.  This is optional depending on what services the church provides and whether you are willing or able to handle the arrangements on your own.  Using a funeral director will increase the cost significantly and you must be careful not to let them pressure you into spending more money than you can afford to especially on things like expensive caskets.

You will need to choose a funeral plot if one has not already been pre-purchased.  Be sure to shop around and find the best price.  Try to remember that this body is just an empty shell and the person's spirit has moved on, this should help you avoid overpaying for expensive items when you are being pressured to give your deceased loved one "the best".  You will need to purchase a funeral casket for them to be buried in, again remember the same advice and shop around.  You can even find discount caskets online for a very reasonable price.

Of course you will need to decide whether or not to have a service and what you would like the service to include.  Again, the religious leader or funeral director can help with this if you are unsure, but some things to include would be hymns, prayers, scripture readings and some kind words or a eulogy about the deceased person.  You may also want to have a luncheon afterwards.  Depending on your family traditions and budget this could range from a full banquet at a hall to a pot-luck or buffet in the church community room to a small lunch or supper at a relative's home.