It can be a real challenge to cope with someone’s loss – not only do we deal with the actual loss of the person and someone we’ve probably known for years or all our lives, but we also have to deal with arranging their funeral. You can choose to do it yourself, of course – but at the end of the day, many people tend to rely on a funeral director. As their name implies, they are there to offer much-needed help, support, and advice for all aspects of the service, including the cost. But you can’t just choose the first one presented to you. Keep in mind that their help and presence go a long way in ensuring that everything goes smoothly and according to plan, so here are the top aspects to consider when choosing a funeral director.
The basics – what they do
A funeral director can be a God-send, particularly if it’s your first time dealing with such an event. To make things clear, however, they will be the ones to make arrangements on your behalf, and they will make sure that they adhere to your preferences or the deceased’s preferences in all that they do. But even if they make the arrangements, you are still the one to choose the music, songs, readings, or hymns. They are also the ones organising certain aspects, such as the hearse or coffin.
Top questions you should ask a funeral director
It’s good to have an idea of what they can do for you, but it pays to ask them a few questions. These include what exact services they offer (for example, transport, taking care of the deceased, finding a celebrant). You should also ask them whether you can pick and select from their services and pay for what you choose, or if it’s all included in one package. Ask them what is included with their charges, as suggested by funeral directors in Leeds like those from Carroll & Carroll Independent Funeral Services, and when the bill should be paid. Ask them whether there are optional items in their original quotation, whether there are alternatives, and whether or not you should settle a deposit. If you would like to purchase a coffin elsewhere, would they be fine with it? The same is true if you would like to use your own transportation. Here’s another thing you may want to ask: whether or not family members or friends can carry the casket. They will provide the pallbearers in many cases, but if you would like the deceased friends or family to carry it, you should ask beforehand.
Final thoughts
Before you go ahead with your decision, it would be wise to get in touch with several in your local area; it never hurts to make comparisons on the rates and prices and the services they can provide. Lastly, when they present you with a quotation, they should have a separate fee from third parties such as crematoriums or cemeteries, doctors, or churches, so it’s easy to compare their rates. Ask for a breakdown to decide on the services or items to choose. If you decide to take care of some aspects of the funeral, check to see if the funeral director is fine with this; if not, it may be better to get someone more flexible.
Image attributed to Pixabay.com
