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Plan Ahead Checklist

From the obituary to when and where to hold services to financial considerations, a lot goes into planning a funeral in a short period of time. You can lessen some of this for your family through planning ahead. Here is a checklist, tips and a guide to help you plan.

Information you'll need to assemble:

Vital Statistics

  • This includes your father’s name, your mother’s maiden name, your level of education, and your social security number.

Affiliations

  • This includes fraternal, service, or union membership, along with any special recognitions you might have

If you’re a veteran, you’ll also need to include:

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

Ways in which you can plan ahead:

General

  • Gather personal information for your obituary
  • Choose a charity to direct donations to, if desired
  • Choose a funeral home
  • Make note of any special instructions you desire for your services and final disposition

Funeral Service

  • Choose burial or cremation
  • Select a casket or cremation container
  • Choose the location and type of service
  • Decide whether you’d like to have a viewing or visitation
  • Choose a floral arrangement
  • Select which photographs and memorabilia you’d like to display
  • Consider any customs, traditions, or religious rites that are important to you and your family
  • Choose the clothing you’d like to be dressed in
  • Select music and hymns, if desired
  • Select a style for your stationery and memorial register book
  • Arrange transportation for your physical remains and your family
  • Brainstorm any additional ways you’d like to personalize the services or pay tribute to your accomplishments, hobbies, personality, and life story.

Participants

  • Choose a clergy member or officiator to preside over the service
  • Select any musicians whose talents you’d like to employ
  • Select pallbearers
  • Choose friends or family members to perform the eulogy, read scripture, or prepare a speech

Cemetery

  • Choose a cemetery
  • Select a burial or cremation plot, or a mausoleum, if appropriate
  • Decide between above- and below-ground burial
  • Select a memorial or grave marker and inscription

Planning Ahead Process

Planning your own funeral can be a beautiful experience. We respect the emotions you may experience through this process, and we want to be helpful in answering your questions and putting your wishes in place. Our dedicated staff is here to support you. We strive to provide you the best service possible now and at the end of life.

This section provides you the information needed to plan ahead and prearrange online, including a checklist with details.

We would be honored to help you through the process—ensuring your life is celebrated as you wish. Contact us to learn more or to start planning ahead today.

Cotter Funeral & Cremation Care Locations

information@cotterfuneralhome.com

 


Allouez/De Pere

860 N. Webster Avenue
De Pere, WI 54115
Phone:(920) 375-5439

Map & Directions


Denmark

536 County Road R
Denmark, WI 54208
Phone: (920) 863-2411

Map & Directions


Cremation Center

115 N. Erie Street
De Pere, WI 54115
Phone: (920) 375-5439

Map & Directions

 

 

 

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