When is the best time to plan your funeral?
Any time is the right time to plan your burial at sea … except at the time of the burial. Why? Because there are clear advantages to planning ahead. Can you imagine planning a wedding in a couple of days? Or any celebration for that matter? Why leave the ultimate celebration of your life to the last minute?
We believe that planning a burial at sea in advance is a wise thing to do. Find out why it makes sense, and learn how to conveniently plan your ocean scattering with our many private cruises.
At-Need vs. Pre-Need Funeral Planning
“At-Need” funeral arrangements are made at the time of death by surviving family members or friends on behalf of the deceased. Making ash scattering plans at the time of death are particularly difficult because there are usually time restraints and emotions play a large role because you are grieving. Not only is there much planning to do, there are also imminent financial concerns. Payment for scattering ceremonies are due and can be quite expensive, a considerable hardship for most families – see our discussion of funeral costs.
“Pre-Need” plans (also known as “Pre-planning”) are the funeral plans that people make for the living. Pre-Need funeral plans can be made at any time and offer many advantages. Here at Ocean Ashes we can help you pre-plan a ocean scattering for yourself, your spouse or a parent. Planning online is a convenient way to plan and it puts you in control of the process.
Top 5 Reasons to Preplan Your Funeral
If any of the following statements describes you, then you are probably someone who will appreciate the benefits of pre-planning.
You want to ease the burden on your family. If your wishes are unknown when you die, they will be faced with making difficult decisions at a trying time. Will they know where or how you want your cremains to be dispersed? Will they agree on what and where to spread them? Will they agree on how much to spend? Confusion and disagreements are common occurrences when there is no plan to follow. You can avoid this by leaving behind a plan.
You want to assume the financial responsibility for your ash scattering. Planning ahead enables you to make financial arrangements to cover your funeral costs. Even if you are leaving behind sufficient money, will your survivors be able to access it?
You want your family to have the benefit of a meaningful ceremony. A scattering is an important event for a grieving family. Psychologically, it provides a sense of closure and lets the healing process begin. Families benefit emotionally and socially by honoring the lives of their loved ones with a fitting ceremony and by giving them a proper send off. It is difficult to make the service the best it can be when planning it in a short amount of time.
You want your final wishes to be followed. If you have specific preferences for the disposition of your remains and the nature of your scattering services, you can clearly express them in your funeral plan. You may have a preference for the music and readings at your ash scattering. Whatever your wishes, they need to be set forth in your funeral plan.
You want to be self-reliant and have your affairs in order at the end of your life. Taking care of your funeral arrangements is a thoughtful and caring thing to do for your family. It is comforting to know that you have done all you can do to ease their burden. And you can be assured that they will appreciate that your caring for them continued after you are gone.
You are in control of your ash scattering plans and with the help of Ocean Ashes you’ll have all the information you need to take charge and have your ceremony done exactly as you would like it.
Start Planning Today!