Pre-Planning Checklist
Thinking about your final arrangements is never easy, but planning ahead is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your loved ones. By taking the time to consider your preferences now, you can relieve your family of the stress of making difficult decisions later and ensure your life is remembered exactly as you wish. Pre-planning allows you to reflect on your values, traditions, and personal story, creating a service that truly honors who you are.
Gathering Important Information
The first step in pre-planning involves collecting key details that will eventually be needed for both official records and your obituary. This includes vital statistics such as your full legal name, Social Security number, date and place of birth, parents’ names (including mother’s maiden name), and your highest level of education. You may also want to document affiliations or memberships with organizations, fraternal groups, or unions, along with any special recognitions or honors you have received.
If you are a veteran, military details such as branch, rank, enlistment and discharge dates, conflicts or wars served, and your serial number will be important to have readily available. Having this information organized in advance provides peace of mind and ensures that your achievements and service are properly recognized.
Considering Service and Ceremony Details
Pre-planning also allows you to shape how your life will be celebrated. Decisions to think through include whether you prefer burial or cremation, the type of service you envision, and where it will take place. You may also wish to decide if there will be a visitation or viewing, and whether special customs, traditions, or religious rites should be incorporated.
Beyond these choices, personalization plays a meaningful role. From selecting clothing, flowers, music, and readings, to preparing photos, memorabilia, or crafts for display, each element can help tell your story. You may also want to choose styles for memorial stationery, arrange transportation, or note any specific charities for memorial contributions. The goal is not simply to plan a service, but to create a reflection of your life, values, and relationships.
Involving Family, Friends, and Final Resting Place
Services often feel most meaningful when loved ones are part of them. As you plan, consider who you’d like to participate—whether clergy or an officiant, musicians, pallbearers, or family and friends who may wish to share memories, scriptures, or eulogies. Thinking about these roles in advance allows you to choose individuals who will bring comfort and connection to the occasion.
Cemetery arrangements may also be part of your plan. This can involve choosing a cemetery, selecting a burial or cremation plot, or deciding on above-ground placement in a mausoleum. You may wish to design a memorial marker and even write an inscription that reflects your legacy. By making these decisions now, you ensure your wishes are honored and spare loved ones from making them in a time of grief.
