5 Goals of Pre-Planning a Funeral

By: Matthew Funeral Home
Thursday, October 23, 2025


Preplanning your funeral can be a good way to prepare for your future. Like creating a Will, many people see preplanning a funeral as a morbid act. But in reality, the goal of pre-planning is to help your loved ones in the event of your passing. You are taking the responsibility of your funeral off of those who will be devastated by your passing. 

Making Your Wishes Clear

Most people have thought about what their funeral might be like. You may have an idea of whether to be buried or cremated, at the very least. You may prefer to have a large funeral or something more intimate. There may be religious traditions that you would like to follow. You may simply want to ensure that your wake takes place at a funeral home of your choice. Preplanning your funeral allows you to be in control of those details.

Saving Your Family Money

Without funeral plans, families often face the burden of funeral costs. This is in addition to being saddled with grief, and sometimes the loss of an income. Preplanning a funeral allows you to prepay for the funeral arrangements over time. This allows you to reduce this burden from your family. If you pre-plan well ahead of time, you may be able to remove the cost entirely. Because inheritances are often received after a funeral, pre-planning reduces the risk of burdening your family with additional costs after your passing.

Reducing Stress

Your passing can be an incredibly difficult time for your loved ones. Some families may argue over the funeral plans or what someone would’ve wanted. When grief is thrown into the mix of family disagreements, it can often lead to strained relationships. With a pre-planned funeral, your wishes are laid out, so that there is no need for your family to argue. 

Burial Plans and Pre-Planning

Often, if people do plan for their death, it is the purchase of a burial plot. When you pre-plan your funeral, your funeral director can handle any arrangements with the cemetery. This can include burial plans if you do not already have them. Because Matthew Funeral Home also provides memorial headstone creation services, we can help you customize your burial stone, too. 

Customization

Personal touches help create a memorable funeral service. Pre-planning your service lets you make decisions about personalization. Some people decide to leave a message to be read by a family member during the eulogy. Personalizing your service during pre-planning can help you make the most out of your funeral.

For over 50 years, Matthew Funeral Home has been serving the Staten Island community. We can help with almost every aspect of your loved one’s memorial service. Our family is here to serve yours, every step of the way.

Leave a comment
Name*:
Email:
Comment*:
Please enter the numbers and letters you see in the image. Note that the case of the letters entered matters.

Comments

Please wait

Previous Posts

Do Funeral Plans Go In Your Will?

It is a common misconception that you should put your funeral wishes in your Will. In most cases, the Will is read after the funeral/burial proceedings are complete. If you want your funeral wishes...

Anticipatory Grief and Terminal Loved Ones

When a loved one is sick with a terminal illness, you may experience grief in expectation of their passing. Anticipatory grief refers to feelings of grief and loss when a loved one is expected to ...

Preplanning and Reducing Family Conflict

    Let’s face it. Some family members just don’t get along. Many families have siblings who just can’t agree, or those who simply argue for the sake of it. In times of stress, famil...

Food & Death in the Family

Food is a form of love for many people. From grandma scooping you an extra helping, to parents making sure you have breakfast in the morning. Cooking is often a way to share cultures, support each ...

Burial at Sea: A Guide

Burial at sea is an often-overlooked concept for many New Yorkers, but it is an interesting and unique way to be laid to rest. The New York City area and beyond have many marinas with plenty of cha...

Spring Cleaning After the Death of a Loved One

After a loved one passes, it can be difficult to organize their possessions and decide which to hold on to, what to give to others, and what to get rid of. Spring, a time of renewal, is also when m...

Supporting a Grieving Teen

After the death of a loved one, it can be a challenge for families to support their children through such a change. Dealing with grief and death can be especially overwhelming for teens. This artic...

Where to Scatter Ashes of a Loved One

After a loved one is cremated, some families prefer to scatter the ashes, rather than keep them in an urn. Scattering the ashes of your loved one can provide closure for you and your family. Many f...

Metal or Wood Caskets

\There are many choices to make when planning a loved one’s funeral. The type of casket your loved one is laid to rest in is just one of those many choices. This article will explore some of the ma...

Cremation with Traditional Funeral Services

Families that choose cremation can still participate in more traditional aspects of funeral services. For many families, it can be a difference in when cremation occurs. With some families, the tra...