Collin County Living Well Magazine November/December 2022 | Page 23

How to Choose the Right Funeral Home

Fortunately , most people will only need the services of a funeral professional two or three times over the course of their lifetime . Although a person may attend several funerals during their lives , they will only be responsible for choosing who to use for a close family member a few times . If you ’ ve had a good experience in the past with a professional , that is normally who you will call again . But what if you ’ ve never needed those services or you are new to your area and find yourself in need of a funeral home ?

Surveys indicate people will choose , and most often remember , a funeral professional because of the way that person made them feel when they had their first encounter . You can only do so much reliable research before the time comes when you need to have a conversation with someone and make your choice . Before calling a funeral home for a conversation , part of your research should be looking at BBB ratings . See if that funeral home has had complaints filed and how they were resolved . If you belong to a church , check with your pastor or religious leader . They will often have experiences working with different funeral directors and can offer guidance based upon those who they ’ ve had the best encounters with . Also , checking the content on a funeral home ’ s website can shed light on whether there may be a good fit . Ultimately , after doing your due diligence , call and talk to a funeral director and have some questions ready to ask during that conversation .
Cost for the services you will want provided will be something
By RICK ALLEN
to cover in that discussion . But , unless you only have limited or little money with which to work , you should refrain from only focusing on who is the cheapest . As with all things , the cheapest price is usually a result of corners being cut , processes skipped or less than ethical practices being used . Instead of focusing on just cost , listen to how the person you are talking to answers your questions . You will be able to pick up quickly on how interested that person is in serving you and your family or if you feel as if you are being “ sold ”. A good funeral professional will be kind , patient , understanding and will spend whatever time is necessary to be sure you have clear and concise answers to all your questions and concerns . Surprisingly , after two or three conversations with different funeral directors , you should detect very distinctive differences and the one you feel most comfortable with will become apparent .
Your funeral director has been educated and has experience in all the details that need to be tended to in meeting legal requirements and helping you plan a tribute that will be meaningful , appropriate and affordable . Taking the time on the front end of the process to assure you are working with the best fit for your needs will pay off in the end . Finally , don ’ t put off having this discussion until you have a need . Planning for an imminent death or pre-planning for yourself prior to the time of need is highly encouraged . Having things decided and secured ahead of time is a gift to your family that will be appreciated more than you can imagine .
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