Own Your Exit and Have Peace of Mind for You and Your Loved Ones

The phone rings and your loved ones receive the sad news that you have passed away. We can’t avoid death, so why own your exit and preplan your funeral and mortuary services?

Consider this, after receiving this devastating news, your family has a few short days to plan your funeral. From choosing a funeral home, how your remains are handled and related services. They are forced to make crucial decisions under extreme emotional trauma.

Adding to this, some family members may disagree on details, causing additional anxiety for everyone. None of us can control when or how we die, but we can make the process easier for those left behind.

Pre-planning your funeral alleviates some of the stress survivors experience because you’ve made all the important decisions in advance. Planning your funeral gives you the ability to document your decisions and leave no doubt about your final wishes.

Take The Time To Decide Exactly What You Want

What type of casket do you prefer? Or do you prefer cremation?

Pre-planning gives you ample time to explore and research the pros and cons of all your available options. Deciding what will be done with your remains eliminates an emotional burden from your loved ones.

You can also take the time to interview different funeral directors to find one who is most sensitive to everyone’s needs in this process.

Other details you can finalize in advance include:

Select who officiates your funeral, conducts eulogies/readings, and who serves as pallbearers
Choose your burial outfit, favorite jewelry, and other personal items you may want tucked into your casket or displayed at your service
Decide the type of floral arrangements you want or if you prefer donations to your favorite charity in lieu of flowers
Choose the type of service you want – a traditional funeral, a memorial service or a celebration-of-life event
Select the music you want played, plus poems, prayers and readings you want delivered
Details you want mentioned in your obituary or, as some people do, you may want to write your own obituary

Making these emotional and meaningful decisions before you pass on will be deeply appreciated by your loved ones.

Ease The Financial Burden On Your Family

In a state of grief, your loved ones are likely to make hasty choices which may lead to spending far more money than you want them to spend on your funeral. They may be tempted to choose a top-of-line casket that costs as much as $10,000.

There are fees for other items and services you need to consider:

Transporting remains, embalming and other preparation
Use of the funeral home for the viewing and memorial service
Use of a place of worship for a religious ceremony
Rental of a funeral coach and limousines for transportation to the graveside
Necessary permits and copies of death certificates

Even if you choose cremation, a number of these costs and related fees will apply. When you plan your funeral ahead of time, you can control certain costs by paying for them in advance. Preplanning lifts the emotional and financial burden from your family.

When you own your exit and make all your arrangements and cover the financial costs yourself, you leave something beautiful behind for those you love.

With Own Your Exit we will guide you through the preplanning process. Here are some of the things we will discuss with you and will want to include in your preplanning file at your chosen funeral home:

Vital Statistics - This includes your father’s name, your mother’s maiden name, your level of education, and your social security number.

Affiliations - This includes fraternal, service, or union membership, along with any special recognitions you might have

If you’re a veteran, you’ll also need to include: Military service, branch & rank, date of enlistment, date of discharge, copy of your DD-214, names of wars and conflicts toured, serial number
Choosing burial or cremation

Choosing a funeral home
Selecting a casket or cremation container
Choosing the location and type of service in addition to a clergy member or officiator
Choosing friends or family members to perform the eulogy, read scripture, or prepare a speech
Deciding whether you’d like to have a viewing or visitation
Choosing floral preferences and colors
Select which photographs and memorabilia you’d like to display
Consider any customs, traditions, or religious rites that are important to you and your family
Choose the clothing you’d like to be dressed in
Deciding if you want to be laid to rest or cremated with your wedding band on
Selecting music and hymns, if desired
Selecting a style for your stationery and memorial register book
Arranging transportation for your physical remains and your family
Select pallbearers
Brainstorming on any additional ways you’d like to personalize the services or pay tribute to your accomplishments, hobbies, personality, and life story

Own Your Exit and Have Peace of Mind for You and Your Loved Ones

The phone rings and your loved ones receive the sad news that you have passed away. We can’t avoid death, so why own your exit and preplan your funeral and mortuary services?

Consider this, after receiving this devastating news, your family has a few short days to plan your funeral. From choosing a funeral home, how your remains are handled and related services. They are forced to make crucial decisions under extreme emotional trauma.

Adding to this, some family members may disagree on details, causing additional anxiety for everyone. None of us can control when or how we die, but we can make the process easier for those left behind.

Pre-planning your funeral alleviates some of the stress survivors experience because you’ve made all the important decisions in advance. Planning your funeral gives you the ability to document your decisions and leave no doubt about your final wishes.

Take The Time To Decide Exactly What You Want

What type of casket do you prefer? Or do you prefer cremation?

Pre-planning gives you ample time to explore and research the pros and cons of all your available options. Deciding what will be done with your remains eliminates an emotional burden from your loved ones.

You can also take the time to interview different funeral directors to find one who is most sensitive to everyone’s needs in this process.

Other details you can finalize in advance include:

Select who officiates your funeral, conducts eulogies/readings, and who serves as pallbearers

Choose your burial outfit, favorite jewelry, and other personal items you may want tucked into your casket or displayed at your service

Decide the type of floral arrangements you want or if you prefer donations to your favorite charity in lieu of flowers

Choose the type of service you want – a traditional funeral, a memorial service or a celebration-of-life event

Select the music you want played, plus poems, prayers and readings you want delivered

Details you want mentioned in your obituary or, as some people do, you may want to write your own obituary

Making these emotional and meaningful decisions before you pass on will be deeply appreciated by your loved ones.

Ease The Financial Burden On Your Family

In a state of grief, your loved ones are likely to make hasty choices which may lead to spending far more money than you want them to spend on your funeral. They may be tempted to choose a top-of-line casket that costs as much as $10,000.

There are fees for other items and services you need to consider:

Transporting remains, embalming and other preparation

Use of the funeral home for the viewing and memorial service

Use of a place of worship for a religious ceremony

Rental of a funeral coach and limousines for transportation to the graveside

Necessary permits and copies of death certificates

Even if you choose cremation, a number of these costs and related fees will apply. When you plan your funeral ahead of time, you can control certain costs by paying for them in advance. Preplanning lifts the emotional and financial burden from your family.

When you own your exit and make all your arrangements and cover the financial costs yourself, you leave something beautiful behind for those you love.

With Own Your Exit we will guide you through the preplanning process. Here are some of the things we will discuss with you and will want to include in your preplanning file at your chosen funeral home:

Vital Statistics - This includes your father’s name, your mother’s maiden name, your level of education, and your social security number.

Affiliations - This includes fraternal, service, or union membership, along with any special recognitions you might have

If you’re a veteran, you’ll also need to include: Military service, branch & rank, date of enlistment, date of discharge, copy of your DD-214, names of wars and conflicts toured, serial number

Choosing burial or cremation

Choosing a funeral home

Selecting a casket or cremation container

Choosing the location and type of service in addition to a clergy member or officiator

Choosing friends or family members to perform the eulogy, read scripture, or prepare a speech

Deciding whether you’d like to have a viewing or visitation

Choosing floral preferences and colors

Select which photographs and memorabilia you’d like to display

Consider any customs, traditions, or religious rites that are important to you and your family

Choose the clothing you’d like to be dressed in

Deciding if you want to be laid to rest or cremated with your wedding band on

Selecting music and hymns, if desired

Selecting a style for your stationery and memorial register book

Arranging transportation for your physical remains and your family

Select pallbearers

Brainstorming on any additional ways you’d like to personalize the services or pay tribute to your accomplishments, hobbies, personality, and life story