Planning a funeral can be difficult, especially if you are already sad. Families in Shawnee, Oklahoma, often turn to funeral homes in the area for help. Well-planned funerals not only honor the life of a loved one, but they also give family and friends a chance to get together, remember, and help each other.
The process usually involves choosing a funeral home, deciding on the type of service, making burial or cremation arrangements, handling paperwork, and organizing personal touches like music or flowers. It can be less stressful if you know what to do beforehand. If you don’t know what to do, you can look for reliable funeral homes in Shawnee, Oklahoma to help you.
Steps to Arrange a Funeral in Shawnee, OK
Here are practical steps that you need to follow:
Step 1: Choose a Funeral Home
The first thing you need to do is find a funeral home that meets your requirements. Consider where it is, what services it provides, how much it costs, and how satisfied you are with the staff.
You want a kind, polite team that can carefully make the plans. It is helpful to visit the funeral home or talk to the staff there to find out what they can do for you.
Step 2: Decide on the Type of Service
There are different kinds of funerals. Some families would rather have a traditional funeral with a viewing and burial. Some people may choose cremation, a memorial event, or a celebration of life.
Think about what the person wants, what your family does, and what will make everyone feel better. You can also choose whether to make the service public or private.
Step 3: Make Burial or Cremation Arrangements
Pick out your own grave or use a family grave already there. Figure out what you will do with the ashes after the burning. There are many ways to hide them, such as in an urn, a special place, or scattered around. This is something the funeral director can help you with. They can also tell you about prices, city rules, and paperwork.
Step 4: Handle Legal and Administrative Tasks
Making funeral plans involves a lot of paperwork, like getting the death certificate, filling out permits for burial or cremation, and telling the right people or groups about the death. The people who work at the funeral home can help you with these papers and ensure everything is done right.
Step 5: Plan the Service Details
Personal touches at a funeral make it more important and memorable. You can pick songs, readings, or prayers that are meaningful to your loved one. Putting up pictures, videos, or other personal things can also help tell guests about your loved one. You can pick out flowers, set up a guest book, and write an obituary that can be published in newspapers or on the Internet.
Step 6: Inform Family and Friends
Once everything is set, let family and friends know when, where, and how the service will be held. You can do this by phone, email, social media, or the death notice. If they are given enough time, people can plan to come, especially if they are coming from out of town.
Step 7: Consider After-Service Gatherings
Many families choose to have a gathering or reception after the funeral. This could happen at a restaurant, community center, home, or church hall. It allows people to discuss memories, mourn, and support each other. If you want to include a simple get-together, talk to the funeral home or a family member about setting up food, drinks, and chairs.
Step 8: Seek Emotional and Practical Support
It takes a lot of time and energy to plan a funeral. Don’t be afraid to ask family, friends, or neighborhood groups for help. Many churches and community groups in the area offer help with things like meals, rides, and service plans. Shawnee also has grief support groups and counselors for people who need extra help after the service.
Conclusion
To plan a funeral in Shawnee, Oklahoma, you need to pick a funeral home, decide on the type of service, make plans for burial or cremation, fill out paperwork, and add personal touches to remember your loved one’s life. With the right help, the process can be easier to handle.
When you work with loving and professional funeral homes in Shawnee, Oklahoma, you can be sure that every detail is taken care of with care and respect. This will give you and your family a place to remember and honor the life that was lived.
