Planning Ahead

Planning Ahead

Why Should I Plan Ahead?

Not everyone likes to plan ahead, but pre-planning your funeral arrangements not only gives you a peace of mind about your final wishes being honored, but alleviates some of the stress and burden your loved ones are going through as they experience the grief associated with the loss.
‍
The staff of Bayview Freeborn Funeral & Cremation Services is happy to assist you with your funeral pre-needs by helping you make decisions about your funeral service in advance and guide you in helping eliminate some of the unnecessary stress brought on by a loved one’s death.

Secure Online Preplanning Form

SECURE PREPLANNING FORM

Benefits of Preplanning

Planning Ahead Lets Your Wishes Be Known

The death of a loved one often brings about unwarranted stress and turmoil among families. One family member wants one thing, while another family member wants something different. By planning ahead, you help prevent those disagreements by letting your family know what your wishes are and how you want your funeral service to be carried out and your business handled.

Planning Ahead Offers Peace of Mind

Our staff guarantees we will carry out the arrangements you want, just as you directed. Once the plans have been arranged, you and your family can rest easy knowing at the time of death, those uncomfortable decisions have been made. In a time when a family should be able to easily grieve, preplanning allows for that to happen.

Planning Ahead Offers Flexible Funding Options

When you preplan your funeral arrangements, there are more options when it comes to funding the funeral. A preneed insurance policy, life insurance policy or other payment option can all be arranged before the time of death. At the time of death, services must be paid in full, so having options ahead of time can also reduce other stress related to losing someone.

Planning Ahead Relieves The Burden From Family

Following the death of a loved one, there are more than 150 decisions that have to be made within the first day or two following the death. Those stressful decisions on top of the stress of grieving a loss can be eliminated by arranging your final wishes ahead of time. If those decisions are made, your loved one’s aren’t left wondering what you would have wanted and how they should proceed with funeral plans. With those decisions out of the way, your loved one can begin the healing process sooner.

Common Questions about Preplanning

  • What is the purpose of a funeral?

    A funeral or memorial service provides an opportunity for the living to show respect for the deceased and pay tribute to their life. It provides a framework to freely and openly express our beliefs, feelings, and thoughts about the death of our loved one. It gives us permission to grieve our loss, share in solidarity, and gain strength from others who are experiencing the same loss.

  • What are the choices for funeral services?

    The four main types of funeral services include the traditional funeral service, the memorial service, the committal service, and the affirmation or celebration of life service.

  • Can you still have a funeral if you choose cremation?

    Yes, cremation or burial is merely the disposition of the body. Funeral services are to honor and remember your loved one, regardless of disposition.

  • Can I plan in advance if I choose cremation?

    Pre-arranging funeral services can be done regardless of the final disposition. Pre-arranging is simply recording your wishes with the funeral home and prefunding if you choose to do so.

  • What information should I bring to the arrangement conference?

    1. Advance Directives - If the deceased left any written advance directives concerning the disposition of his remains and memorialization, you need to bring them with you. These instructions may be found in a will, or there may be a formally witnessed disposition directive, funeral pre-arrangements, or a pre-need contract.
    2. Military Discharge Papers
    3. Details on any cemetery property owned by the deceased or the family (grave plot, columbarium space, etc.)
    4. Recent photograph of the deceased and any personal effects that you wish to be included in the viewing or burial
    5. Specific information on the deceased:
    • Full legal name
    • Address
    • Marital status
    • Social Security number
    • Date of birth
    • Place of birth (city and state)
    • Educational history (number of years of schooling)
    • Armed Forces service dates and serial number
    • Occupation or profession
    • Parent's names, including mother's maiden name
    • Next of kin and other survivors


  • What services do funeral directors perform?

    The funeral director's job is to assist the bereaved in various ways to help them through the loss of a loved one. A funeral director provides bereavement and consolation services for the living, in addition to making arrangements for the cremation, burial, and memorial services for the deceased. He fulfills the role of funeral arranger, funeral director, funeral attendant, and embalmer.


    The following list is not all-inclusive, but describes some of the major tasks of a funeral director:

    • Removal and transfer of the deceased from the place of death to the funeral home
    • Professional care of the deceased, including embalming, casketing, and cosmetology
    • Consulting with family to make arrangements for the funeral service
    • Filing certificates, permits, and other required forms
    • Obtaining copies of the death certificate
    • Arrangements with the cemetery, crematory, or other places of final disposition
    • Creates and publishes the obituary
    • Arrangements for clergy, music, flowers, transportation, pallbearers, and special fraternal or military services
    • Directs and manages the funeral service and the funeral procession
    • Assists the family with death-related claims, including Social Security, VA insurance, grief counseling

  • Why are funerals so expensive?

    A traditional funeral involves a number of services which add to the total cost. Besides a non-declinable basic services fee, other charges may include removal/transfer of the body to the funeral home; embalming; other preparation of the body; use of facilities and staff for viewing; use of facilities and staff for the funeral ceremony; use of a hearse, service car, or van; a basic memorial printed package; metal casket, a vault or grave liner, and purchase of a cemetery plot.

Share by: