Honoring Your Loved One’s Funeral Wishes

As any commitment or expectation, you expect them to be respected and fulfilled; the same is true for final funeral wishes. When your loved one has set up a funeral wishes, its important that as minuscule as they may seem to you, that you remember that they are important to your loved one. They may be as small as a song played at the service, or a type of sandwich served at the reception, an outfit that they want to wear, or as large as the option of burial or cremation. It is their final wishes and your last way to show respect to your loved one.

Dignity

When it comes to planning a funeral, it is their final controllable actions over an uncontrollable event. When there are requests set in place this is the way that they want to be remembered to their friends and family. When someone plans specific aspects of their funeral, it is important to focus on how they want to be remembered. This is their final farewell; they want it to be a time of pride and respect.

Religion

For some of the loved one’s funeral wishes they might be rooted in religious traditions. Even if you do not agree with your loved ones religious beliefs, remember that this is their final wish and you should respect it. In most cases, religion plays a huge role in someone’s life, so it is not uncommon for their funeral to also encompass religious aspects. If religion was important to your loved one, respect that for their service and try to incorporate it into the service.

No Funeral?

For some people the funeral service itself is not important and they would prefer not to have one. They may not like the idea of everyone gathering around to mourn and be upset. However, for some members of the family this may cause some turmoil, because they believe that this is a chance to say their final goodbyes and pay their respects. In these circumstances, there can be other alternatives, such as visiting their favourite spot or their graveside, to hold a special memorial. This way, people grieving will have a chance to say their goodbyes but you are also respecting your loved one.

Honour and Respect

When it comes to planning the funeral, if you have been assigned the job, remember that it is because your loved one knew that you would be able to respect and honour their final wishes. You are making the final decisions for them. They may have specific needs and wishes for when they pass, and its important to respect those wishes and send them off in a loving manor. It is not your place to judge their wishes, just respect them.

If you have any further questions, you can contact our funeral directors here at Nutmeg State Cremation Society.