At Krause Funeral Home, we have seen time and again the peace of mind preplanning your own funeral brings – both for the person planning and for their family. When you contact a member of our caring team, they will work hand in hand with you, listen to your wishes and your needs, and help you design a farewell that tells the story of your life and offers closure to your family.
There are a number of decisions you will need to make, but we make the process as simple as possible for you. Our staff is highly experienced in helping families with prearrangements, and they will help you make all the necessary decisions.
There are five major considerations for you as you get started though – here’s that list so you can start thinking about it.
1.) Establish a Budget
This is one of the major benefits of planning ahead. Instead of leaving your family to make decisions during an emotional time, which can often lead to overspending, you are in control of what is spent on your funeral service and burial, if that’s your choice. You know what your non-negotiables are, and we can help you navigate your wishes while staying within your appointed budget. There are options for every budget, and there is no right or wrong amount to spend on a funeral. The price of a funeral service is completely decided by your needs and wishes.
2.) Decide on Cremation or Burial
For some people, this is a highly personal decision, with cultural and even religious considerations to weigh. For others, it might be a matter of budget or personal preference. If you think your family may leave the area in which you live, or if your loved ones live in another state, you might wish to be cremated so they can take you with them wherever their journey leads. Others may follow faiths that forbid cremation. Whatever your decision is, we are here to help record what you want.
3.) Will you prepay?
It’s a common misconception that if you choose to preplan, you also have to prepay. At Krause Funeral Home, that is not the case. If you’d prefer, we can simply keep all of your preferences on file for when the time comes. There are some advantages to prepaying though, such as locking in the costs of today’s funeral and taking the burden of paying for the service from your family’s shoulders.
4.) Making the Most of Government Benefits
It’s amazing how many people are still not aware of federal and state government programs that can help pay for a funeral. For instance, upon death, dependents and survivors might be eligible for certain benefits such as death payments, survivor’s benefits and Medicare. Honorably discharged veterans can qualify for cemetery plot and burial allowances, a monument, and burial flag. There are also provisions under Federal Title 19 with Medicaid where an individual can shelter funds to serve the family later by providing for funeral arrangements. Many of these benefits could impact the decisions you make. Be sure to contact us to talk to a member of our experienced staff – they can help you with all of the paperwork and help you determine for which benefits you may qualify.
5.) Choose Your Final Resting Place
This can also be a highly personal decision with cultural and personal preferences in play. Some people want to be buried in another state – perhaps their place of birth or near another loved one. Krause Funeral Home is an expert at making this happen, and we can coordinate all aspects of out-of-town transfers and work to eliminate duplication of services and fees.
If you choose cremation, we can help you find a permanent memorial location or if you’d like to have your ashes scattered in a meaningful location, we can research local and state laws to make sure it’s possible.
The most important thing is that you get started on your preplanning. You plan for every other important event in life, why not your funeral? Reach out to us today, or you can begin the process online. We’re always here for you if you have questions.