If you are planning a funeral and need to make arrangements quickly after the death of your loved one, one of the first decisions you have to make is to choose a Funeral Support Manager. If you have never been in a position where you must choose a Funeral Support Manager to help you plan, here are some tips to help you make the right decision.
- Become familiar with the Funeral Support Manager and their team. Before you decide to work with a particular Funeral Support Manager, you should first check to see what the reviews of their services through google reviews or even through Facebook are, before making any decisions about working together.
- Taking care of your loved one is the key priority. Once you have made your selection, your local Funeral Support Manager coordinates the details and confirms that the family’s instructions and wishes are being met. They will take care of all the arrangements to move the deceased to the local funeral home.
- Can you visit your loved ones, when they are in the care of the Funeral Support Manager? Most funeral homes will go out of their way to grant you access to your loved one. Most of the highly reputable Funeral Support Managers will be flexible to organise access to your loved one at any time during the day (within reason). There is a cost incurred when visiting your loved one after hours.
- Arranging the funeral, things to remember? Given this is a challenging time, it is important that the Funeral Support Manager that you have decided on, is not only empathetic but confident, experienced, and a great organiser. They will be expected to be your right-hand person, guiding you through the stages of the funeral preparation, the day of the funeral, and the post-funeral administration requirements.
- What if I want to organise it myself? If you do not want to appoint a licensed Funeral Support Manager, you can apply for a single burial permit (a requirement of the local government). You will still need to organise a Funeral Support Manager to transfer your loved one into their care, and to prepare them for the burial or cremation.
- What do I have to pay for when planning a funeral? Costs can vary between each Funeral Support Manager. Ultimately, you need to feel comfortable with the Funeral Support Manager and build trust that they will cater to your needs. A reputable Funeral Support Manager will also be available to answer pricing questions.
- Does the Funeral Support Manager need to arrange and manage the guests at the funeral? There are other elements of the funeral that will need to be catered for, from greeting your family and guests at the viewing, funeral or cremation through to liaising with the celebrant/priest/minister for any final service arrangements.
Your selected Funeral Support Manager will coordinate and carry out the entire funeral requirements. This includes serving as a guide and comfort during the funeral process, but also planning, planning, and planning.