Why Funeral Planning Matters: Steps to Create a Meaningful Farewell

Cameron Williamson

Why Funeral Planning Matters

Planning a funeral is about much more than logistics. It’s about crafting a farewell that honors the person’s values, creating space for grief, and giving loved ones closure. Whether you choose a traditional, religious, modern, or unique service, good planning ensures the ceremony reflects the person’s life and wishes.

Advance planning also lightens the burden on family members—it reduces guesswork, lowers stress, and helps ensure that final wishes are honored with clarity and dignity.

Why It’s Important: Evidence & Trends

• Emotional relief and clarity: According to Locke Funeral Services, pre-planning your funeral “reduces emotional stress on loved ones” by removing difficult choices during grief. lockefuneralservices.com

• Financial benefits: Funeral homes report that pre-planning helps “lock in today’s prices,” protecting families from rising costs. keohane.com+1

• Growing demand for virtual and hybrid services: The digital memorial / virtual funeral market is expanding rapidly. One report indicates virtual memorials held globally reached millions in 2023, with many funeral homes offering live streaming and hybrid services. Market Growth Reports+1

• Changing preferences: In a recent survey, nearly 40% of Americans said they’re open to creating a digital memorial page. Choice Mutual

These data points show that funeral planning is not only emotionally wise—it aligns with how people want to remember their loved ones in modern times.

Key Steps in Funeral Planning

Here are six essential steps to guide you in making thoughtful, meaningful arrangements. With each, I include considerations and what recent sources suggest.

1. Choose Burial or Cremation (and Alternatives)

• Options & trade-offs: Burial typically includes selecting a plot, a casket, and upfront costs. Cremation can be more flexible and often less expensive, with options for ash scattering, urn burials, or keepsake urns.

• Green alternatives: Environmentally friendly funeral options—such as green burial or aquamation—are growing in popularity, especially among those who value sustainability. openPR.com+1

2. Decide on the Type of Service

• Traditional funeral: Viewing, formal service, burial.

• Memorial service: Held after the body is buried or cremated; often focused on remembrance.

• Celebration of life: More informal, storytelling driven.

• Virtual or hybrid service: Increasingly common. Live streaming allows remote guests to participate. A PMC study on virtual funerals during COVID-19 found that many people were able to attend remotely, increasing reach and inclusion. PMC

3. Select a Funeral Home or Venue

• What to look for: Reputation, pricing transparency, flexibility (customization of services, willingness to support special requests), technology (streaming, online memorial pages).

• Research: Speak with more than one service provider. Ask about hidden fees, permits, and what’s included. Many funeral homes now offer preneed or pre-planning options. blog.milletguidry.com+1

4. Personalize the Service

Making a funeral uniquely personal can help with healing and remembrance. Ideas include:

• Favorite music or readings

• Photo displays or video tributes

• Memory tables or keepsakes

• Cultural or religious traditions

• Gathering for a shared meal afterward

Personalization is what many people surveyed want. The NFDA (National Funeral Directors Association) studies show that people value tributes and ceremonies that feel like “reflections of the person’s life, not just formalities.” tributetech.com

5. Handle the Logistics

Here are often overlooked logistical items that are essential:

• Permits, death certificates

• Writing and publishing an obituary (online and/or newspaper)

• Transportation for the deceased and for family/guests

• Choosing pallbearers or speakers

• Ordering flowers, memorial programs or keepsakes

6. Consider Pre-Planning (Advance Arrangements)

Pre-planning is arranging many of the above ahead of time, either in detail or at least in principle. Some advantages:

• Reduces emotional and decision-making strain on your loved ones. keohane.com+1

• Locks in prices to protect against inflation. keohane.com

• Ensures your wishes are documented and honored. blog.milletguidry.com+1