At some point, you will most likely find yourself in the position of needing to plan a funeral. Here are the steps you'll need to take and the things you'll need to consider in designing a fitting memorial for your loved one.

Planning a funeral- step 1- Call a funeral director and/or your priest or minister.

If the deceased was involved in a church, call their church. It is possible that the minister has been visiting your loved one and may have discussed the funeral. If that's the case, it will make your job easier, as the minister may know what your loved one wanted.

If they did not belong to a church, your own minister will probably be able to help you. If you also do not have a church connection, a funeral director can assist you in planning the service.

Second thing when planning a funeral, a decision needs to be made as to whether you want a funeral or a memorial service.

A funeral service is normally thought of as one where the body is present in the sanctuary. A memorial service typically takes place after burial or cremation. Some people choose to have both, some prefer to have one or the other, and some do a combined service.

What should be included in the service?

Whether you are planning a funeral or a memorial service there are several elements that may be included:

readings from the Bible, or other sources
prayers
sermon, eulogy, or meditation from the minister
comments by friends and relatives about the deceased
appropriate music.


As you continue plan a funeral with the clergy or funeral director, you may want to suggest music and readings for the service. If you are 'lucky', the deceased left you with written instructions about their expectations for the service, including people that should be invited to the service and those whom you might include in it.

Finally, it is customary to give the minister an "honorarium," for their leadership in addition to any funeral home fees you may have incurred. The amount of such honorariums is usually up to you.

Additional costs of a funeral, and one idea for keeping then under control

These costs mentioned above are for the religious service. Not included are the funeral director's charges: these include, preparing the body for burial or cremation, the casket, use of the funeral parlor for a wake, etc. Also, not included are the costs of a burial plot in the cemetery. The cost of these services can easily fall within a range of $5,000 to $10,000.