Funeral planning is an emotional experience, and people want to conduct a funeral at home for an intimate event. However, there are certain requirements regarding the necessary permits, legal affairs, and local regulations. Moreover, it is also essential to consider the logistical perspective and emotional aspects of funeral planning. Family involvement, body care, and proper funeral preparation ensure a smooth funeral event. The good thing about home funerals is that they offer flexibility as compared to traditional services by funeral homes. But you should invest time and carefully plan for a memorable event when holding it at home. You have to manage the remains, set up proper space, and pay attention to details like timing, music, speeches, etc.
Holding A Funeral At Home
Before you decide on holding a funeral at home, consider these important points:
- Legal Requirements
You should check local and state laws regarding home funeral and burial services. In some areas, only funeral directors are allowed to handle certain funeral services, such as body handling or transporting the remains. Permits are also essential for private property burials. Checking the legal requirements will prevent potential problems during the funeral services.
- Practical and Emotional Consideration
Home funerals provide a more intimate farewell to the deceased, but they are challenging from logistical and emotional perspectives. While handling grief, you should make important arrangements like music, speeches, area allocation, etc. Home funerals are practical if you have a larger space to accommodate multiple guests in a comfortable setting.
- Body Preparation
When planning home funerals, you should ensure proper body preparation. This includes thorough body cleaning and washing, followed by dressing and preserving it using dry ice or refrigeration. A home funeral guide can help you with these tasks.
- Area Setup
Setting up the area where the funeral will be held is crucial. You should ensure the space is comfortable and peaceful for the friends and family to gather at the event. Choose a quiet room for keeping the body, with personal belongings or photographs of the deceased, and sufficient lighting.
- Need for A Funeral Director
Home funerals offer you the independence to make decisions, but some specific services require attention from a funeral director. These are related to the paperwork, depending on your local laws. Suppose you are opting for cremation rather than burying the deceased on your private property. Proper transportation arrangements are mandatory. Some states have legal requirements for a licensed professional to handle transportation. Having an expert by your side will make dealing with the administrative aspects of holding funerals at home easy.
- Attendance and Invitations
When holding home funerals, you have space restrictions so that you can invite only a few guests. Prepare your guest list before the event to avoid any issues later. Communicate with your guests regarding the parking, schedule, and accessibility for a smooth funeral event.
- Traditions and Rituals
The good thing about home funerals is that you can incorporate your rituals and traditions into the event activities. These include music, cultural practices, special prayers, and storytelling. However, conducting these might be a challenge in a traditional setting. Personalized funerals are a better approach to paying a memorable tribute to the deceased.
Home Funeral Tips
- Event Structure: Create an event outline covering the cultural, religious, equilogical, and musical aspects. Elect the speaker and finalize the speeches.
- Local Guidelines: Do thorough research on what your state orders regarding home funeral restrictions and permits, especially regarding body care and cremation services.
- Arrange Help: Managing everything yourself during this tough time can be very challenging. It is better to arrange professional help for food preparation, logistics, paperwork handling, etc.
- Space Preparation: The seating should be comfortable for the guests and have sufficient lighting and appropriate decor.
- Body Handling: Proper body care is essential when saying a final goodbye to the deceased. This includes cleaning, washing, and dressing. The body should be preserved in the refrigerator or dry ice to prevent odor or bleeding.
- Guest Coordination: Proper communication with the guests is essential for a well-coordinated home funeral event. Tell them clearly about the timing, dress, and parking details.
Conclusion
When holding a home funeral, you can personalize your event, but it demands special attention to multiple aspects. These include proper planning, emotional handling, legal affairs, and logistical perspectives. Make sure to know your state laws and body preparation points before holding a home funeral to avoid potential issues later. Also, the funeral area should be set up properly to have a comfortable setting. Prepare a guest list, handle the transportation of belongings, and add personal rituals to the event to make it more memorable. You can have more intimacy and flexibility when holding home funerals, but to save time and effort, considering services from funeral homes in Shawnee, Oklahoma, is better.
