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Planning Checklist

If you’re preplanning your funeral, it means you’re invested in creating a memorable service that helps your loved ones remember you in a unique, authentic way.

It also means you’re proactive: You want your loved ones to be able to focus on their grieving process when you die. Taking care of the major tasks involved with planning your own services means they can dedicate their energies to adding their personal touches to your unique service. 

 

Morris-Baker has helped many community members preplan their memorial services, and we’re here to help you, too. On this page, you’ll find a preplanning checklist with some of the choices you’ll need to make to complete your arrangements.

But remember: You don't need to make all of these decisions immediately — or make them alone. Morris-Baker’s funeral professionals are on hand to discuss any questions or ideas you may have about planning and personalizing your service.



Getting Started

  • Select a funeral home
  • Note any specific instructions for your services and final disposition
  • Organize personal information for your obituary (we’ve listed those on this page, too)
  • Select a charity or nonprofit organization to receive donations in lieu of flowers



The Funeral Service

  • Select burial or cremation (learn more about Morris-Baker’s service options)
  • Choose a casket or cremation container
  • Pick funeral locations and service types
  • Detail any desired religious traditions or rituals
  • Select the attire you want to be dressed in
  • Arrange transportation for your physical remains and family members
  • Select an overall theme for funeral stationery and any décor
  • Select floral arrangements
  • Choose any specific songs you’d like played or sung
  • Pick photos and/or mementos for a memorial display



Service Participants

  • Designate pallbearers
  • Select a clergy member or celebrant for the service
  • Pick friends or family members to speak or recite a eulogy, scripture verses, or other readings
  • Choose musicians, if applicable
  • If you wish, choose any musicians.



Final Disposition

  • Choose a cemetery
  • Select a burial plot or mausoleum
  • Select a memorial or grave marker and inscription
  • Decide who will keep your urn
  • Decide who will scatter your ashes and where


When you’re ready to begin making arrangements, we invite you to start the process online, or meet with one of our funeral professionals for hands-on help.Meet with a professionalSTART PLANNING Online

Your arrangement conference

When you meet with a funeral professional, we ask that you come prepared with some basic biographical information to make the process easier for you.

 

This information may also be helpful to compile in advance if you’re planning to write your own obituary.


Download Our Preparation Guide

 

Here’s some of the information you’ll need.

 

Personal Information

  • Your father’s name
  • Your mother’s maiden name
  • Your social security number
  • Your level of education

 

Affiliations

  • Fraternal organizations
  • Union memberships
  • Service organizations
  • Any special recognitions

 

Military Service Information

  • Military service
  • Branch rank
  • Serial number
  • Date of enlistment
  • Date of discharge
  • Name(s) of war/conflict(s) toured

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