Pre-planned
funerals have become an option for many families. Personal,
financial, and legal considerations make pre-planning desirable.
Even more so, planning your final arrangements in advance
relieves your family members of many decisions about your funeral
during
their time of loss.
We
offer the finest pre-arrangement services available so that
you and your family can plan and prepare for the future. A
pre-paid funeral can guarantee that the arrangements you make
today will be available just as you specified, without additional
cost.
For
those who pre-pay their funeral, the guidelines provided by
law specify that the funds be held in trust by an independent
financial institution.
Plans
can be tailored to suit your individual needs. Payment plans
are available or your existing insurance policies can be used
to fund your pre-planned funeral.You will find the advice of
your family, minister, and funeral director helpful when considering
your options. We will record all your wishes and vital information,
as well as, assist in gathering documents to keep at the funeral
home. After deciding the details for the funeral, you can select
any merchandise you may desire for your service.
You
have the opportunity to make your choices with freedom from
the usual urgencies that are created when a death occurs. For
specific information about this service and any related funeral
questions, we are available for appointments either at the
funeral home or in your home.
If
you have any questions about preplanning, feel free to
contact us at 508-636-2100, or email directly at .
Why Pre-Arrange? What steps are involved? What if I move?
Things that must be done on the Most
Difficult Day of Your Life.
Why
do families prearrange?
There
are many reasons families prearrange, including:
- To
give yourself time to think about certain aspects of
the service without having to make immediate decisions
- To
make sure your preferences for the type of funeral service
you desire are fulfilled
- To
control costs. By paying for your funeral in advance,
your assets are protected and grow at competitive interest
rates
- To
relieve your family members of the financial responsibility
of funeral expenses at the time of death
- To
ensure understanding of possible benefits at the time
of death for your survivors, such as social security,
veteran benefits, and life insurance claims
- To
know that your plans and confidences are with an over
100 year old, family-owned business, providing the community
with an honest staff of professional, licensed funeral
directors dedicated to superior quality and value
Things that must be done on the Most Difficult
Day of Your Life
A.
SECURE VITAL STATISTICS (Required For Documents)
- Full
name, complete address, telephone number
- Date
of birth
- Place
of birth
- Marital
status
- Educational
attainment
- Citizenship
(US/Canadian/Other)
- Father's
name
- Father's
birthplace
- Mother's
maiden name
- Mother's
birthplace
- Social
Security Number
- Veteran's
Serial/Service Number
- Date & place
of service, date of discharge
- How
long at current residence/former residence(s)
- Occupation,
job title, nature of work & history
- Location
of workplace, telephone number
- Family
origin
B.
PAY SOME OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
- Estate
/ Inheritance taxes
- Funeral
expenses
- Purchase
of family burial estate, mausoleum crypt, cremation niche,
opening & closing costs
- Permanent
memorialization
- Monument/Marker
engraving charges
- Clergy
- Organist
and vocalist
- Florist
- Obituary
Fees
- Clothing
for burial, entombment or cremation
- Long
distance telephone
- Food
for visiting relatives
- Transportation
costs
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Other
medical practitioners
- Ambulance
- Hospital/Nursing
Home
- Medications & drugs
- Current & urgent
bills (mortgage/rent, taxes, installment payments, etc.)
C.
COLLECT DOCUMENTS AND PAPERWORK
- Birth
certificate/legal proof of age
- Citizenship
papers
- Social
Security card or number
- Marriage
license
- Veteran's
discharge certificate
- Insurance
policies (life, health, accident, property, auto)
- Disability
claims
- Bank
books and listing of accounts
- Other
financial accounts
- Cemetery
deed or proof of ownership
- Auto
titles or bill of sale
- Income
tax returns, receipts & canceled checks
D.
DECIDE AND ARRANGE WITHIN A FEW HOURS
- Exact
location of burial/disposition and which space to open
- Location
of service
- Service
type (religious, fraternal, military)
- Time
for visitation and funeral service
- Arrange
for special religious services
- Provide
information for eulogy
- Determine
if casket is open or closed
- Burial
Vault
- Provide
vital statistics about deceased for newspaper
- Clothing
and jewelry for deceased
- Selection
of scripture & readings (poems etc.)
- Selection
of clergy
- Funeral
Home preference
- Marking
of grave (either temporary or permanent)
- Charitable
contributions for memorials in memory of deceased
- Register
book, memorial/prayer cards
- Select
Pallbearers
- Select
floral arrangements
- Musical
selections
- Select
Organist/Vocalist
- Clothing
for you & minor children
- Decide
who will look after minor children/pets
- House
cleaning
- Extra
chairs
- Decide
if transportation is needed for family & guests,
including funeral procession lineup
- Reviewing & signing
all paperwork
- Answering
innumerable phone calls, messages and letters
- Necessary
meetings with funeral director, lawyer, clergy, cemetery,
etc.
- Arrange
lodging for out-of-town guests
- Acknowledging
those who help in a special way (contributors of flowers,
food, donations, etc.)
- Order
certified copies of death certificate
- Items
for memento display
- Review
deceased's will regarding special wishes
E.
PLAN TO NOTIFY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
- All
relatives
- All
friends
- Minister
and church
- Funeral
director
- Pallbearers
- Cemetery
- Doctor
- Employer
of deceased
- Employers
of relatives not going to work
- Organist,
other musicians & vocalists
- Newspapers
regarding notices
- Social
Security Administration
- Veterans
Administration
- Insurance
agents
- Religious,
fraternal, civic organizations & unions
- Attorney,
accountant, financial planner & executor of estate
- Credit
card companies
What steps are involved in prearrangement?
Our
Advance Planning Professionals will explain your options
and guide you in establishing your own plans. You should
find the advice of your family, clergy, and funeral director
especially helpful when considering your options. We will
record all your wishes and vital information, as well as
assist in gathering documents to keep at the funeral home.
After
deciding the details for the funeral, you can select a casket,
burial vault, or any other merchandise you may desire for
the services.
Our
funeral home can even provide you the opportunity to make
selections and set aside funds for flowers, the funeral escort
to the cemetery, custom memorial folders and acknowledgments,
catered meals for after the ceremony, or airline tickets
for family or friends flying in for the funeral. Many will
even prepay the opening and closing of the grave/crypt for
the cemetery.
What If I move out of town?
If
you should relocate to another city after prearranging, Potter
Funeral Service will transfer prearrangement to the funeral
home of your choice.
If
you have any questions about preplanning, feel free to
contact us at 508-636-2100, or email directly at .
