When planning the funeral for a loved one, you have the option of hosting the services at a funeral home or at home. Should you choose to host the services at home, your funeral director can provide assistance in setting up and making other arrangements as they become necessary. You may find that an at-home funeral is more comforting for you and your family members. If this is the case for you, here are some things to consider as you plan.
Furniture Arrangements
You'll likely need to move furniture from one room in your home to make space for seating and the casket. If you need help with the physical lifting, consider hiring a local moving company for assistance. You can rent a portable storage unit, which can be placed in your backyard or transferred to a storage facility during the wake and funeral. Your funeral director can help with procuring chairs for the room you'll be hosting the funeral in.
Staging For Flowers
Finding room for flower arrangements can be a bit of a challenge in a home setting, but you can work with your funeral home director to have all flowers sent to the funeral home. They can then be transported to your home on the day of the viewing. Work to set aside some space in the home for staging the flowers in advance. For example, clear some space in your basement to hold the flowers until they are ready to be brought to the main room. This is also a good idea if you are having the flowers sent to your home. Be sure that anywhere they are placed is cool and dry so the flowers can stay looking beautiful.
Outdoor Arrangements
Weather permitting, you may want to hold a portion of the services outdoors. A pavilion-style tent can provide shelter from the hot sun and any rainy weather, so consider renting one as part of the arrangements for the day. You can host the funeral luncheon outside if there is not enough room in your home for both the funeral and the meal, or you can work with the funeral home to arrange the casket and flowers outside for the funeral service. If you do plan to have a portion of the services held outdoors, create a contingency plan for inclement weather.
Talk to your funeral home director about any other arrangements that might be necessary, such as parking for mourners and arranging for funeral officiants to speak. Once everything is settled, you can greet family and friends in a warm, welcoming home setting.
Share2 October 2017
Hi everyone, my name is Sari Blakenship. My first time visiting a funeral home was an extremely comforting experience. Although I was blindsided by the death of my loved one, the funeral director helped me through the planning process without taking advantage of my grief. I was allowed to work at my own pace to cope with the grief in a healthy way. I was never rushed or pressured, despite the necessary timeline. Whenever I couldn't move forward, the funeral director held my hand and offered words of comfort. I would like to share each step of the funeral planning process to help others through this difficult process. Planning a funeral takes a lot of thought and time during a particularly difficult period. Please visit whenever you need a hand.