Planning a Funeral on the Family Farm
Planning a Funeral on your Family Farm
Funerals held on family farms are regaining the great popularity they enjoyed before the 1960s. As you can imagine, such memorials have a unique set of features and benefits for the family, and a unique set of challenges for the funeral professional.
Consider the Space of the Farm
It’s important for the family and the professional to fully survey the site and make note of valuable details. Is it an indoor or an outdoor memorial? Given that farms tend to have animals, are there any odors or sounds that would interfere with the solemnity of the service? Is the space large enough to accommodate all the guests? Is weather an issue? Is it safe and easy to access for everyone, including the elderly and disabled?
Look for an Expert and Reliable Funeral Director
Funerals are complicated and possibly stressful events – a skilled funeral director can help. If you’re struggling to think clearly or make decisions, you can rest assured that the funeral director will help with filing certificates, authorizations, and permits for arranging the service and ensuring that the event goes exactly according to your plan.
Choose a Casket Ideal for the Setting
Stress can lead to poor decisions. Choosing a cremation container or casket before the funeral will help you to stay on budget and ensure that your loved one gets exactly what they would like most. In the case of a farm memorial, preplanning also allows you the time and clear mind to ensure that the casket is ideal for the farm setting you chose.
You may also wish to consider a ‘green’ funeral. You won’t have to sacrifice any quality or design and it’s a positive gesture to support the environment that our next generation will inherit.
Plan Transportation
Although most of the vehicles will be driven by the attendees, the relatives of the deceased should arrange for transporting the body to the graveyard or final resting place. In most cases, the funeral service provider will present this type of service in their memorial package. However, it’s still best to call ahead to confirm that this vital part of the service is covered.
Choose Music and Songs
It can be comforting to include the deceased’s favorite music in the memorial service. As with anything when you are planning a funeral
, it’s a good idea to complete this task before your loved one passes. Just spend some time making a list of their favorite songs and then record a mix tape so it’s ready to play at the service as well as the reception at your farm. The right music can support the tone you wish to convey at the service and conjure fond memories of shared experiences with the deceased.
Pre-planning
When you are planning a funeral on the family farm, pre-planning is the best way to save time and money, and ease unnecessary stress for you and your guests.
A funeral should be personal, respectful, and safe, so take every step in advance to consider the needs of your guests and the wishes of the deceased. This way you ensure that the next chapter begins with uplifting and positive memories from a thoughtful farm funeral.
Get started now pre-planning your funeral, or just get some questions answered.
