We see it all too often at Cypress Lawn: Members of a Bay Area family meet with us after their loved one dies, and they have to make numerous difficult decisions about the funeral, burial, or cremation. Most families have no idea about the many details involved, not to mention the costs, or whether their loved one had any preferences for final arrangements. They’re put in the terrible position of having to try and guess what their loved one would have wanted.
Situations like this are why more and more people are making funeral plans in advance. No one wants their loved ones to feel that kind of pressure while trying to cope with loss. Preplanning protects your loved ones from this stress, while ensuring your wishes and preferences will be honored.
So often, those who preplan tell us they feel empowered after putting their needs and wishes into writing. Here are some of the things they say:
- “By preplanning, I feel like I’ve protected by family from having to make significant decisions while they’re trying to deal with their grief and care for their own family.”
- “I wasn’t even sure what my preferences were, because I didn’t know what my options By sitting down with a preplanning specialist, I was able to review all of my final choices and decide what I wanted for my final memorialization. They put everything in writing, and now I have peace of mind since I know what I want, and I know that when I die, my wishes will be carried out.”
- “Although I knew I didn’t have to, I chose to pre-pay for my prearrangements. I didn’t want my family to face any unexpected financial obligations after I’m gone.”
Whether you envision yourself having a large and public burial and funeral service or one that’s more intimate, whether you have ideas in mind for a reception or ways to personalize your arrangements, our experienced team is here to help you put a plan in place.
You can get started by filling out our online planning form and reviewing our comprehensive preplanning checklist. Then reach out to us to speak with our Licensed Family Service Counselors who can help guide you with your decisions. There is no better time than now to begin the process.
