Pre-Planning a Funeral: A Gift for the People You Love

It’s not exactly dinner party conversation, is it?Thinking about your own funeral—or someone else’s—can feel a bit strange at first. But here’s the thing: pre-planning a funeral isn’t about being morbid. It’s about being thoughtful. And in many cases, it turns out to be one of the most generous things you can do for your family.

Why do people pre-plan funerals?

Most people don’t do it for themselves—they do it for the people they love.Pre-planning can:

• Take pressure off your family during an emotional time

• Help reduce decision fatigue in the days after someone dies

• Make sure your wishes are known (and followed)

• Spark important conversations between loved ones

• Allow you to shape the way you’re remembered

In short: it helps your people when they’ll need it most.

What does it actually involve?

Pre-planning doesn’t have to be a big, formal process. You don’t need to make every decision right now or even pre-pay (although some people do choose to). It can be as simple as writing down your wishes or having a conversation with your family—or with me.

Here are a few things people often include in a pre-plan:

• Whether they’d like a cremation or burial

• What kind of ceremony they want (if any)

• Ideas for music, readings, photos or speakers

• Who should be involved in planning or speaking

• Thoughts about the tone of the day—casual? Reflective? Celebratory?

And the best part? It’s flexible. Your plan can change over time as your wishes evolve.

How it helps the family

Having a clear plan—no matter how simple—can ease so much pressure.When the time comes, your family doesn’t have to wonder “What would they have wanted?” or second-guess their choices. Instead, they get to focus on being together, honouring your life, and beginning to navigate their grief.

It’s a bit like leaving behind a roadmap that says, “Here’s how I want to be remembered—and I’ve got you.”

Pre-planning with me

If you’re curious about pre-planning, I’m here for it—no pressure, no obligation. We can sit down and have a relaxed chat, and I’ll walk you through what’s possible and help you figure out what feels right for you.

Through Picaluna, I can also help with prepayment options or formal documentation if that’s something you’d like to explore.

Whether it’s just writing your wishes down on a notepad or planning out every detail, it’s all valid. And it’s all helpful.

A gentle nudge

You don’t have to figure it all out today. But if this has sparked a little curiosity—or if you’ve been meaning to “get around to it”—maybe this is the sign to start. You don’t have to do it alone, and you don’t have to do it all at once.

When you're ready, I’m just a message away.

—

Kate Cutter

Funeral Director & Celebrant

kate.cutter@picaluna.com