Funeral Pre-Planning Checklist

Funeral Pre-Planning Checklist

With more and more people choosing to plan their own funerals in advance, it is important that funeral homes provide helpful resources to assist families in executing a pre-need plan. Tending to all the details with care not only guarantees you have the exact ceremonies you want, but also ensures you and your family that nobody will have to worry about it later. That is why we have provided you with a funeral pre-planning guide.

This funeral pre-planning checklist will help you with planning your own funeral or assisting a loved one with pre-planning.

Funeral pre-planning checklist

The Benefits of Pre-Planning Your Funeral

Why You Should Consider It

When it comes to making arrangements for the future, pre-planning your funeral is one of the best decisions you can make. Pre-planning your funeral is a thoughtful and kind gesture to your loved ones. It eliminates the worry, costs, and stress associated with making funeral arrangements during a difficult time. 


Pre-planning your funeral helps your family make decisions in accordance with your wishes, desires, and beliefs. It takes the burden off your loved ones to make decisions about your funeral service, so they can focus on grieving and honoring your memory. Pre-planning your funeral also allows you to make all of your arrangements in advance, including the type of service you'd like, the music to be played, and who will be delivering your eulogy. 


In addition to making arrangements easier for your family, pre-planning your funeral also helps you to save money. By locking in today's prices and making your arrangements in advance, you'll avoid the potential for rising costs later on. 


At Honan Funeral Home, we understand the importance of pre-planning your funeral. We are here to help you make the right decisions for you and your family and make the process as stress-free as possible. We believe pre-planning your funeral is one of the most thoughtful and compassionate gifts you can give your family.

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Pre-Planning Checklist

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Taking Care of Finances and Property

  • Create a contact list of everyone who should be notified in a medical emergency or death including the name of your funeral home.
  • Give your executor(s) a copy of your will and the contact list.
  • Give your executor(s) a list of bank and investment accounts, creditors, mortgage or lien information, insurance policies, retirement plans, safe deposit boxes, real and personal properties of value and all related telephone numbers.
  • If you are receiving benefits from Social Security or the Veterans' Administration, your executor needs that information to suspend benefit payments.
  • Select someone you trust to deal with your online accounts: email, online memberships, and social media. Include all relevant information and whether or not they should delete, close, or keep any of the accounts.

Taking Care of Funeral-Related Details

  • Make note of all the details you want mentioned in your obituary. You could even take this one step further and write your own obituary.
  • State, in writing, your preferences for burial or cremation.
  • If burial is preferred, provide the details of the cemetery arrangements. If you have not purchased a burial plot, this is the time to do so.
  • If you have chosen burial, what type of casket would you like? Should it be made of wood, metal, or composite materials?
  • If you choose cremation, what do you want done with the ashes?
  • Would you like a traditional funeral, memorial service, or celebration-of-life?
  • If you'd like a celebration-of-life, what location would you suggest for this event?
  • What special activities would you prefer at a celebration-of-life?
  • What music or special readings would you prefer?
  • What type and colors of flowers would you prefer?
  • Would you like to select a charitable organization to receive donations in your name?
  • If you're a veteran, would you like to receive full military honors as part of your service? Would you like to be buried in the grounds of a veterans' cemetery?

 Taking Care of Your Pets

If you share your life with animal companions, you should think about who you would like to take care of your pets. Consult with the person to see if this is something they are interested in doing for you and then write down your intentions and include all contact information. This should be signed and witnessed, and then given to your executor.

Final Planning Tasks

In addition to your will, the contact list, and the list of all your online account login details and related documents should be provided to your executor.

Finally, you may want to consider paying ahead of time for your funeral choices. Speak to us about how your pre-payment monies will be handled.

Before You Leave

You will have the peace-of-mind knowing all the details are written down and there can be no mistaking your wishes. If you have any questions about our our checklist for planning your own funeral, do not hesitate to call us at 203-426-2751 or email us at honanfuneralhome@sbcglobal.net

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