At a time of loss and grief, the friends and family of a recently deceased individual are typically engulfed in a wave of emotion. The last thing any of them want to do is take on the responsibilities of funeral planning and estate administration. Unfortunately, in the absence of a preplanned funeral, someone has to step up and make decisions – decisions that may run counter to the actual wishes of the deceased.
Its for that reason that Dean Brombal, owner of Brombal Funeral Home and Cremation Care, recommends preplanning funeral services to anyone who wants to assist their family and representatives from having to take on responsibilities they’re not emotionally prepared to handle.
“Preplanning is an essential estate planning tool that assists your family or representation at your time of death, “said Brombal, owner of the independently owned and operated business with over 90 years of service in the community. “It provides a clear and concise blueprint to follow. They then can use it as a reference knowing that, in your absence, they have a plan that follows your wishes. It also gives the person preplanning their funeral peace of mind.”
There is no good time to deal with the passing of a loved one, but it’s safe to say most people are caught off guard when it happens. Brombal acknowledges the difficulty some people have dealing with the loss.
“There’s an element of shock that accompanies a passing,” he said. “Quite frankly, often times family can be overwhelmed. On top of everything they’re going through, to have to make decisions if they have no direction from the deceased can be a highly stressful responsibility.”
Brombal said that there are some simple steps people can take to mitigate the stress for the people left behind.
“The first step I suggest is for family members to contact a funeral home of their choice. Speak with a licensed professional to get information and ask questions. At Brombal, we’re always available at no cost or obligation to talk with anyone who wants to come in, have a cup of coffee and get to know exactly what the family wishes are. Reach out and get that information. The benefit of preplanning is you have an option to think things through. The next step is to have a conversation with your representative, whether that’s a family member, a friend, or whoever is representing your estate. It’s important they are included so they know what you’re hoping to accomplish.”
There are many things to think about when planning a funeral, from product options, service requirements, place of disposition, and choice of headstone or cemetery marker. Preplanning allows you to make all the important decisions that align with your vision of your funeral.
“As we say on our website, your funeral should be just what you need it to be,” said Brombal. “For some, religion in an important aspect. For others, they appreciate more of a celebration of life. Some gear their funeral toward natural or green options. There are lots of different choices.”
It is important that your input is acknowledged and reflected in your arrangements. Also important to note is the fact that those who have preplanned their wishes have the opportunity to transfer your funeral plans to another facility should you move or change your mind on the funeral home you want to use. Ultimately, one of the biggest reasons to prepay your funeral is to protect your estate from inflationary prices.
“When you prepay your funeral, it provides protection against inflation,” said Brombal. “We know that goods and services are going up in price. This locks it in for anyone who prepays. Anything that is prepaid is guaranteed to not to cost any more. That is huge benefit. Not everyone has the ability to handle increased pricing.”
Find out more. Visit Brombal Funeral Home online.