Preplanning Safely During COVID-19
Preplanning your funeral brings you peace of mind knowing that your final wishes will be followed as you would want and that the financial aspects will be covered. Putting plans in place now means you get to make important choices for yourself, but it is also one of the greatest gifts you can give loved ones. Rather than feeling burdened at the time of death, they can focus on their journey through grief.
Our funeral home has a Preplanning Specialist on staff whose job it is to guide individuals and families through the preplanning process. Right now, we are faced with unique circumstances, but the current pandemic does not mean we have stopped providing the valuable service of helping people plan ahead. We have simply become more flexible and creative.
If you are interested in putting final arrangements in place, we are happy to do so in a way that meets you at your comfort level. We understand there are many individuals who would prefer to visit about preplanning in person, so we are currently still offering to meet at the funeral home while following social distancing and other Department of Health guidelines. We can also meet with you outdoors. For those who are interested in utilizing technology, we can conduct an entire prearrangement conference by phone and/or video conferencing. Forms can be signed electronically via email, or we can stop by your home to safely obtain the required signatures.
Call us at the funeral home if you have questions or if you would like to set up a preplanning meeting you are comfortable with. Keep an eye out for our upcoming preplanning seminars and events, which might be held online. For more information about preplanning, you can also visit our website.
The Death of a Pet
Pets have a special way of providing happiness and comfort, and many people consider them beloved members of their family. If you are facing the loss of a pet, know that it is perfectly acceptable to grieve however you need to. It will likely take time to get used to life without your animal companion. Some people might not understand the value or depth of your relationship with your pet, but there are many, many pet owners who do. Seek out support from others who can relate.
Losing a pet can be especially challenging for children. They become accustomed to feeling unconditional love from what is often one of their closest friends, so the grief they experience is very real. It is important to be honest but also sensitive about the situation. Encourage them to talk about their feelings and give them plenty of time to heal before rushing to bring home a new pet. Reading
a book about losing a pet
will also help them understand what has happened and reassure them it is OK to be sad.
For children and adults alike, it can be helpful to have some sort of service or memorial, even if that means simply gathering the family together for a few minutes so that each person can choose a photo of the pet to frame. It encourages everyone to remember all of the good times spent with their pet and feel comfort in knowing those memories will always be held close to their hearts.
