pre-planning your own funeral using the five senses

​While it is essential to create a death plan for the big things, like whether you wish to be cremated or buried, it is also important to take care of your funeral’s smaller details, like preferred floral arrangements, songs, hymns or post-ceremony food. These may seem like little things, but for your grieving loved ones, having them worked out in advance may lift a huge burden. By detailing exactly how you would like your life to be celebrated, you are giving those who are craving comfort in the wake of your loss more space to focus on what’s really important: healing. 
 
As Maya Angelou said, “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.” To ensure that your funeral emits the feelings you radiated in life, tune into your five senses while pre-planning your ceremony. 
 
Smell 
First, decide how you would like the room to smell. Psychologically, our sense of smell is most linked to triggering memories. Tying in your favorite flowers, incense or candles can evoke a sense of nostalgia for your loved ones. 
 
Touch
Now, think about the comforting touches you can add to your ceremony. Whether it’s the addition of soft seating, memory boxes containing significant mementos from your life or a simple register book, adding special touches to your ceremony can provide comfort for your guests. 
 
Sight
Additionally, it is important to think about the visuals of the ceremony. Pre-planning the funeral’s décor, color scheme and lighting can create a more personalized aesthetic. Choosing which pictures to be displayed at your funeral service can be a huge undertaking for grieving loved ones, so having this taken care of can ease their stress. 
 
Sound
Selecting songs that hold a special significance to you and your loved ones can make your ceremony more meaningful. Deciding whether your ceremony features a live performance, congressional singing or prerecorded music can take out the guesswork for your loved ones. 
 
Taste
Pre-planning the menu that will be served at the post-ceremony reception can ease some of the responsibilities of your loved ones after your death. Choosing menu items that hold significance to you can trigger pleasant memories for your guests, providing a sense of comfort. 

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It is important to document your detailed plans on paper and to keep them in a place that is easily accessible after your death. 

Family-Funeral & Cremation offers several funeral pre-planning options, easing your family’s burden of making decisions. Call today to schedule a meeting to receive guidance in planning your ceremony, burial or cremation, viewing before cremation, veteran arrangements and visitations. ​