Prearranging one's own funeral, is very much a continuation of wills, life insurance, pension plans, etc... It's all part of protecting your family and setting your affairs in order while you are still able to do so. Today, prearranging is becoming increasingly common for a number of reasons, the most important one being that many of the necessary decisions and preparations surrounding the funeral can be made in advance, without the anxiety and pressures which can be present at the time of death. It also gives the individual and his or her family members the opportunity to discuss their respective needs and wishes for the funeral.

          Another advantage of prearranging, is that it can often be funded with money that is known to be currently available for funeral purposes. Often at the time of death, there is life insurance, pension funds or government death benefits, however the family may not be aware of the actual dollar values, nor how long it takes for these funds to become available. Many seniors specifically put aside money for their funeral expenses, and if these funds are used to fund the funeral in advance, in most cases the earned interest will be tax-free, and the funeral home will guarantee the price on the service. Thus the money which is ear-marked in a savings account has little or no protection against inflation, but when it is used to prefund a funeral, it protects the family from any unnecessary financial surprises.

          A third reason for the increase in prearrangements is that in today's world, families often move away from their home towns. Parents and grandparents are then left without family members in their own locale. When a death occurs in these situations, the children must rush to arrange airline tickets or other forms of transportation to return home to make the necessary arrangements. Often they have been sufficiently removed from their parents that they are uncertain of church and club affiliations, cemetery or crematorium arrangements, or even which funeral home to call. Travel expenses also compound the immediate problems, and their lives can end up in a state of turmoil at the time of a parent's death. A prearrangement is of great benefit in reducing the pressures of a family in their time of need. The chosen funeral establishment already has much of the statistical information, they are aware of the choice of burial or cremation, church affiliations, as well as possibly having some or all of the costs prepaid. This gives the funeral home the ability to begin the preliminary arrangements, eliminating unnecessary delays, while the family is able to arrange their transportation without undue rush.

          For the person without family or a large circle of friends, prearranging their services also ensures them that they will receive the funeral of their own choice, and if it has been prefunded, they can be assured that their death will not be a financial burden to anyone else. Nor will the government (public trustee) be the one to dictate the disposition of their body.

          These are just a few of the reasons for prearranging your funeral, or that of a family member (with their knowledge and consent). Obviously preneed funerals are not for everyone as each person's situation is different, but they are something to consider.

          One last word of advice. The funeral is really for the benefit of the surviving family and friends - not the deceased - and therefore it is important that the needs of the survivors be met by whatever services are decided upon. Some people tend to prearrange what they want, and forget that they have relatives and friends for whom the funeral is intended to help at a very difficult time. Whether you choose to prearrange or not, discuss your wishes with your family, priest, and/or close friends, and remember to respect their needs and feelings also.

Next Topic, "To Prepay Or Not" and "What Happens to My Money?"

- John-Bryan Gardiner, Vice-President, Managing Partner, Everest of Thunder Bay