Accepting the loss of a loved one is emotionally heavy, and understandably, the last thing you want to do is plan a memorial while everyone is grieving. Many families opt to pre-plan their memorial services before their loved one passes to ensure everything is taken care of. Besides making the financial burden easier for family members, pre-planning also lets them grieve in peace without worrying about logistics during such a traumatic time.
5 Mistakes To Steer Clear Of When Planning Your Memorial
While pre-planning lets you organize your loved one’s memorial early, you must ensure everything goes smoothly. Here are the five most common mistakes you should avoid:
Not Involving Close Family Members
When you plan your memorial, keep in mind that this isn’t only about the deceased. While that person is already gone, those closest to them will be left behind to grieve and try to accept their loved one’s death. Try to make your memorial one that brings everyone together during this challenging period while honoring your loved one’s final wishes.
Letting Price Determine Everything
With an average price of a funeral costing over $6,000, it’s understandable that you want to save as much money as possible and keep your memorial costs low. But remember, this memorial service is one of the last chances you and your family have to say goodbye. Remember to be flexible on the details that matter, especially if it’s what your loved one wanted.
Not Planning Ahead Of Time
Most people know they should plan for their funerals, yet only about 21% of Americans do so. By pre-planning a funeral, you have the comfort of knowing that your memorial service provider will carry out your loved one’s final wishes before they pass.
Waiting until it’s too late adds unnecessary stress to your family members during the grieving period. Your emotional stress may also lead you to make mistakes when planning your loved one’s memorial that you might later regret.
Not Paying In Advance
Locking in a price ahead of time saves you a lot of money. It also helps your loved one avoid putting any unnecessary financial burden on those closest to them. As inflation drives funeral costs higher, paying for everything in advance allows you to plan a memorial while it’s still within your price point. Most memorial services also offer installment plans that help you pay everything off over time.
Not Voicing Your Concerns
Organizing the perfect memorial service can be complicated. With many options out there to choose from, you probably have some questions about how the pre-planning process works. Some people don’t voice their concerns until it’s too late. Ask as many questions as you need and explore every option before committing to any memorial service.
We Can Help You Plan Your Loved One’s Memorial
Pre-planning a memorial helps you avoid the added stress of organizing everything once your family member is no longer with you. At Eternal Memorials, we offer customized pre-planning monument services to help you manage your loved one’s memorial and honor their final wishes.
We have been a family-owned business since 1914. Over the years, we have provided high-quality memorial services and cemetery monuments for families across Long Island (Nassau County & Suffolk County), Brooklyn, Queens, New Jersey, and beyond. We are available seven days a week if you have any questions or need help pre-planning your loved one’s memorial. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation and learn more about our services.