Going Out in Style: Funeral Homes

By Dee Oliver

Don't wait until you're dead to choose your funeral home.

You wouldn't wait until you were in labor to decide on which hospital you would give birth in, or choose the church to be married in on the day of your wedding.  So why would you wait until you were dead to select you funeral home? 

WAIT!   You don't even get to make that important decision, because remember, you are dead!!

Someone else has been left in charge to select the funeral home make all the arrangements and decide how much of your money shall be spent and you don't even get a say in the matter.

I know, we hear this all the time, "I am dead, I don't care, it doesn't matter, just throw me in the ocean..." (what do people say who don't live near the water)?

Now think about this for a moment. Really? It doesn't matter?

You have spent your entire life trying to make financially, sound, intelligent choices for you and your family, and all of a sudden it doesn't matter.

It should, this is important.

Imagine this, you're gone, your family is completely devastated and heartbroken. Not really sure what you want them to do, what your wishes were, sitting across from a stranger who is asking a lot of pertinent information that needs to be address at that moment. Everyone is crying, trying to remember, guessing, and maybe starting to argue a bit. Trust me, this is not good.

Most people put more time and effort researching the newest television than what funeral home they will use.

So lets find you a funeral home!  

Start by pulling out the phone book. See that ad, the one that is the biggest? Not always the best. 

Take a look for the ones that are located closest to where you live. 

Ask your friends and coworkers what companies they have used and what their experiences were. 

Next, call and make and appointment, simple as that. 

Funeral homes welcome a meet and greet, it gives them the opportunity to share information that you will need in the future. Most funeral homes are happy to give you a tour of the building, their chapel and the viewing rooms. Going to see and visit funeral homes gives you the opportunity to learn about and understand the funeral process. Ask questions about the different kinds of funeral services. Would you like a burial or prefer to be cremated?

 Ask for a price list of their services, by law all funeral homes are required to give you one.

This enables you to compare prices of other homes in your area. Remember inexpensive is not always the best and that goes the same for the most expensive ones too.

Ask if they are a family owned and operated business. Quite a few funeral homes are now owned by big corporations operating under the family name.

Ours is a family owned funeral home, and I believe it makes a difference. 

After you have decided on a particular funeral home, think about the possibility of prepaying your funerals.

This is a good option for some people. It freezes the cost of the funeral at the time of purchase and it is funded through an insurance company for your protection, if the funeral home goes out of business, or you move, or even if you decide you don't want to use that funeral home, you are able to transfer your pre-paid funeral to another home.

Think of it like funding a college plan. It is one of those investments that you hate to fund but love it when you cash it in!  

Actually, it is a sure fire investment that you will use!!  Unlike the college fund….your child may or may not go to college, but you will definitely get to use a prepaid funeral! 

Now Johnnie and I did not prepay our funerals  because we get a family discount.  In this line of business there aren’t that many perks!

Well, we did get the use of the limousine, but when you are the ones driving it, it kinda loses some of the allure.  Unless of course you fill it with all your friends on a Saturday night !!!!

So check out your neighborhood funeral home……

Say your prayers, say I love you, trust in God, and always try to Go Out In Style

Dee