Losing a loved one is undeniably one of the most unbearable times of our lives. Unfortunately, death is always unexpected and the mammoth task of preparing for the funeral leaves little time for the bereaved to reflect on their memories of the departed, and mourn their loss.
“Having a funeral policy goes a long way towards ensuring that a loved one is given a respectful send-off, without having your family suffer the huge financial burden,” says Ayanda Ndlovu, Financial Adviser at Liberty. “It’s important to consider a funeral policy that suits the needs of your family; it makes it easier for a family to afford the long list of items required for a funeral.”
Creating a checklist can make the daunting process of arranging a funeral a bit more bearable. Ideally, your checklist should be split into various sections and tasks, noting the person responsible for each activity to make it easier to plan for and track progress.
Below is a guide of what should potentially be included on your funeral checklist:
Funeral Parlour Management
This should detail the removal, storage and preparation of the body. Funeral parlours can also assist with choosing the casket, burial site etc. These professionals also excel at obtaining the required documentation, such as a death certificate, notification of death and the coroner’s report. Most funeral parlours have packages that meet each family’s individual needs and budget.
A burial package from a funeral parlour may include items such as buses, toilets, tents, family transport, graveyard signage, chairs and wreaths. It is essential to discuss this and be clear what is on your package with your funeral parlour before signing on the dotted line.
Family and Friends Visits
During the days leading up to the funeral, the bereaved family will welcome a number of visitors coming to pay their respects and support the family. While some families prefer to cook for themselves and others prefer to purchase their provisions, it’s important that you have enough food for your visitors, especially considering those long evenings of prayer.
Managing Monetary Condolences
During visits, the family might receive condolences in monetary form. It is important that each contribution is noted to manage the cash flow during the funeral planning process. This form of condolence is especially helpful as they assist with the everyday purchasing of food, electricity or airtime.
Food Management
Different families have different approaches in preparing for their late loved one’s final resting place. One of the important aspects of planning for a funeral is the food for the actual funeral. Some families may choose to cater, and others even slaughter a cow. Whatever a family’s culture or funeral tradition may be, it is important to draw up a menu and then list down a detailed grocery list to ensure that your catering needs are met.
The Funeral
Leading up to laying your loved one to rest, consider the following: venue of service (church or home); printed funeral programmes (some funeral parlours include this as part of their packages), various speakers, extra wreaths, priests for the service, and of course grave fillers and their required equipment.
“With a checklist in place, arranging a funeral can ease a bit of the administrative pressures involved. While a funeral plan can never ease the pain of loss, it can, at the very least, assist with ensuring that the funeral preparation process is less draining and is easy to manage,” concludes Ndlovu.
