Month: October 2019

Every major life event requires advanced planning. From wedding receptions to graduation parties through anniversary celebrations, these milestones require months, even years, of planning to get every detail just right.

A funeral is no different. Of course, it’s hard to think about life after you’re gone—but the benefits of advanced planning far outweigh the costs. Discover three reasons to take initiative and start planning your funeral now.

1. Gain Peace of Mind
Planning ahead is an act of love. By recording your final wishes and even pre-paying for the services, you protect your loved ones from stressful decisions and unexpected expenses during a time of grief and emotional distress. All too often, physically and emotionally drained family members take their frustrations out on each other, arguing over what would have been best for you and creating painful rifts between one another.

2. Save Money
Pre-planning saves your family money in two different ways. First, those who are emotionally charged are more likely to make impulsive decisions and overspend. Your loved ones may try to cope with your loss by purchasing lavish caskets or expensive memorial tributes that go beyond their budgets.

Secondly, inflation is unavoidable—funerals only get more expensive as time goes on. Putting a plan in place and locking in today’s funeral costs ensures your survivors are not burdened with an unexpected expense. It is truly the best value for your money.

3. Ensure Your Final Wishes are Carried Out
No two funerals are the same. Arrangements vary greatly based on faith, heritage, lifestyle and personal preferences. Do you want to be buried or cremated? Would you prefer a more traditional service or a more vibrant life celebration? Will there be a graveside ceremony or after-service gathering?

Pre-planning gives you the time needed to research your options and make practical decisions regarding all of the above. When you pre-plan with Pines Funeral, your final wishes are clearly documented and kept on file with us.

Gain peace of mind, save money and get the funeral you want by planning in advance. For more information about pre-planning arrangements, contact us for your free pre-planning kit today.

Funerals are one of the most sacred, time-honored traditions. From the beginning of time, civilizations and cultures of all kinds have practiced rituals to honor and celebrate loved ones after they pass. However, in recent years, some families have begun to question if this is still a necessary practice—particularly in cases where the death is sudden or the deceased leaves no plan in place. In these instances, foregoing a funeral may seem like a way to save time, money or heartache—but abandoning this important ritual can have serious and lasting negative impact on the lives of family members.

Celebrating Life through Funeral Services
Funerals serve two main purposes: the first is to remember that person the way we knew them in life. That’s why funeral and memorial services often incorporate personal stories, photographs, videos and personal artifacts as a tribute to the deceased. This helps us remember their life, acknowledge their death and gain support by gathering amongst a close network of loved ones.

Saying Goodbye and Beginning the Grieving Process
The second purpose of a funeral is to say goodbye. At the service, survivors must accept the reality of death—this is the first major step toward activating the grieving process, gaining closure and healing. Those who choose to forego the funeral may find it harder to move on and continue to struggle with the loss for months, years—maybe even forever. In these cases, it is common to regret not holding a funeral service and even feel guilty about not giving a loved one the life-honoring tribute they deserved.

At the end of the day, funerals are more important to the living than the deceased. They give us a chance to celebrate life while finding comfort and closure. And while funerals are a longstanding tradition, they don’t have to look or feel like it. Funerals today can be tailored to reflect the individual. They can be somber or more celebratory, depending on what you and your loved ones need to begin the healing process.

For more information about funeral services, memorial tributes and life celebrations, contact us today at 910-947-2224.