4 Reasons Revealed: Why You Should Engage Funeral Services from Professionals?

When you are going through the loss of a loved one, it is never easy to deal with the pain and sudden tragedy. Still the family has to put the broken pieces together and arrange for the funeral and memorial services. It is an emotionally taxing time and it can be difficult to make rational decisions related to the funeral.

It is here where funeral homes come to your rescue. Just like an event management company helps you organise an event, the funeral home does the job of the funeral arrangements for you. There are various funeral packages in Singapore and you can choose one based on your budget.

Here’s a look at the reasons why it is a wise decision to get help from professional funeral homes:

1. They look after the transfer of the body

When a loved one passes away, their body is to be transferred to the funeral parlour from the home or hospital. The funeral home will take the body to the parlour in their vehicle as they have special transportation arrangements for this.

2. They help in embalming

Before the Christian funeral service is performed, one should always pay emphasis on ensuring that the body of the deceased is kept nicely and should be ready for its last sight. The funeral companies have experience in embalming the dead person for the wake. It can be a little tricky but they have the expertise in managing the matter. If the deceased had a messy demise, it is all the more necessary to embalm the body.

3. Finding the right casket

After the embalming is done, you would need a casket for the deceased to rest in. It can be overwhelming for you to find a suitable casket as there are many options. But funeral parlours can offer you their advice on this. They can also add the price of the casket the funeral package.

4. Making arrangements for wake

Once the body of the deceased is placed in the casket, it is time for the wake. The funeral homes help to settle the arrangements at the venue of the wake such as flowers and other essentials.

Explore the web for more information and suggestion on choosing the right Christian funeral service for making the arrangements easier.

4 Essential Questions That You Should Ask a Funeral Director

In Singapore, you can find many funeral pre-planning services which help an individual plan and arrange for their funeral in advance. In the same way that people plan for wedding events, it is now possible to pre-arrange your funeral as well.

It is a selfless act that you do as a responsibility towards your family. By engaging in pre-planning funeral services, you are offering peace of mind and financial aid to your loved ones which would help them when you are gone.

If you have some queries about funeral pre-planning, here’s a look at some important information and questions that you must ask your funeral director:

1. Benefits of funeral planning

Planning your funeral in advance not only helps your family financially and lets them grieve in peace, it also offers you an opportunity to choose your own casket, gives the funeral a personalised touch, and choose between burial or cremation.

2. Pre-payment

One of the significant benefits of pre-planning your funeral is that you can pay in advance. But if you choose to pre-pay, get written confirmation about the deliverables and guarantee that the price of these items will not increase in future when the time for the funeral comes. You can either pay the entire amount all at once or pay in instalments.

3. Transferring the funeral plan

You can transfer your pre-arranged funeral plan to another funeral home in case you change your mind. But the cost you had agreed upon during the contract will be considered final and in some cases you won’t be refunded the difference.

4. Is it required to pre-plan the funeral if you have life insurance?

Funeral pre-planning is different from life insurance as it helps you to plan for your funeral and make arrangements for the funeral expenses. On the other hand, life insurance will provide the funds that will help your family in dealing with financial loss and hardships which they may face in future. It may take some time after your death for them to receive the insurance payout and so may not help in arranging for the funeral.

Explore the web for more information and suggestions on points to consider while looking for pre-planning funeral services in Singapore.

The 2 Most Important Factors that Impacts the Funeral Cost in Singapore

It is normal for you to fret over the mere mention of your death but it is important to acknowledge this natural phenomenon as it is also a fact of life. By accepting that all of us will eventually leave this world, you can plan your funeral in advance.

In Singapore, there are several religious groups and hence you can find funeral companies providing different types of funeral and memorial services that cater to the customs of each religious community. If you believe in Buddhism, you can pre-plan your Buddhist funeral in Singapore with some financial planning to reduce your family’s burden once you are gone.

1. Get the essential papers prepared in advance

Planning for your Buddhist or Taoist funeral in advance will help in reducing both the financial and emotional burden from your family. It can also help them in making the best decision at the time of the funeral and memorial and abide by your last wishes. You should also consider getting a LPA and AMD. The LPA, Lasting Power of Attorney is a document which signifies the appointment of an entity who can make crucial decisions on your behalf in case you lose your mental capabilities. The AMD or Advance Medical Directive is a document acting as a legal refusal to the medical team for any life-sustaining treatments for prolonging your life once you become terminally ill.

2. Arranging for funeral expenses based on the type of funeral

The cost of a funeral varies depending on the type of funereal ceremony you wish to host, such as a Taoist, Chinese, Christian or Buddhist funeral. The funeral packages differ from one company to another but you can get a good deal if you research a little and get quotations from several funeral parlours.

Usually, a funeral package consists of the casket, hair and makeup, prayer service, embalming, food, tables, and commissioning of casket.

Explore the web for more information and suggestions on arranging your funeral in advance. You can get in touch with various service providers to seek information about packages they offer to support Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, and even Taoist funeral in Singapore to be sure that you get what exactly you are paying for.

Top 3 Benefits of Planning Your Funeral While You Are Alive

Death is never easy and most people avoid talking or thinking about it. Besides who thinks about their own death? While it is obvious to feel uncomfortable about death, it is important to consider pre-planning your funeral. The option is offered by almost every funeral home and can help your family at the grieving time.

There are many funeral homes in Singapore that offer pre-planning funeral services and you can explore your options and choose the one that suits your requirements. Here’s a look at some benefits of planning a funeral in advance:

1. Your wishes can be fulfilled

One of the main benefits of pre-planning is that your funeral and memorial service can be performed according to your wishes. Some people want to be cremated instead of buried, or have a preference for a certain type of casket or flowers. These wishes can be realised by planning your funeral in advance. Many people mention their last wishes in their will, but here you can arrange for your last wishes to be fulfilled at the time of funeral or memorial service.

2. Pre-planning reduces the burden on the family

In most cases, the family doesn’t even get a chance to grieve as they have to force themselves to organise the funeral. Instead of having time to heal, they get stressed. Things / activities finalised during your funeral pre-planning process can be executed by the funeral director without burdening the family.

3. Financial assistance

Arranging for funeral and memorial services is an expensive affair and the cost is often borne by the family. However, with funeral pre-planning you don’t have to worry about how the family will manage the finances. You can save and keep some money aside for the family. This also protects your family from a future rise in the cost of service.

Explore the web for more information and suggestions on pre-planning funeral services for yourself and ask for special assistance to fulfil your desires and expectations. You can book an appointment with the funeral home and brief them about your preferences and expectations to help them design a customised funeral package to meet your diversified requirements.

A Comprehensive Guide for Etiquettes and Traditions of a Christian Funeral

As per Christian beliefs, dying is simply the end of a person’s life on earth, with their soul living on in the afterlife. If you are attending a Christian funeral, expect a lot of prayers and references to heaven. The Christian funeral has three goals:

- Reflect on a person’s life on earth

- Pray to the Lord that the deceased enters heaven

- Offer strength to family and friends to cope with the loss

In Singapore, a Christian funeral is one of the most common types of funerals alongside Taoist, Buddhist, and Chinese funerals. If you are going to attend a Christian funeral service in Singapore for the first time, it is important to know the etiquettes and traditions so as not to offend anyone unknowingly.

Traditions at a Christian funeral:

The funeral is held a week after the death and there may be a wake or viewing if the family prefers. The funerals are mostly held in a church led by a priest or minister which is followed by the burial. If the family goes for cremation, the ashes of the loved one are kept in a cremation urn.

Funeral etiquettes

The Christian funeral service is led by a minister and prayers are said. The guests are encouraged to sing and read along with the proceedings. The dress code at a Christian funeral is dark colours, with men dressing up in black suits and a tie while women normally don black pantsuits/ skirts/ dresses. In some communities, it is mandatory for women to wear hats too.

After the funeral, guests usually express a few words of sympathy for the grieving family. Attendees offer condolences and it typically happens outside the church.

A Christian funeral service typically lasts for half an hour but might be longer if there is a big crowd attending the funeral. You can bring flowers to the funeral and also write simple messages on a sympathy card for the grieving family.

Search the web for more information and suggestion on the customs and etiquettes of a Christian funeral services in Singapore. Also, you can seek advice of your family and close friends about what to do and what not to at a Christian funeral to avoid embarrassment and prevent yourself from offending their religious beliefs unknowingly.

What are the Essentials of a Traditional Buddhist Funeral?

Every community and religion has a different way of hosting a funeral and memorial service. While every community focuses on praying for the departed soul, their rituals differ from one another. In Singapore, Taoist, Christian, and Buddhist are the most common types of funeral. There is a significant population here which follows the Buddhist funeral practices after the demise of a loved one.

If you want to know more about the essence of a Buddhist funeral, here's a look:

1. When death is approaching

When a Buddhist is approaching death, close family and friends sit with the dying person and help them feel calm and peaceful. Death is inevitable and a dying person should be made to accept the reality. A small statue of Buddha can also be placed near the head of the dying person and protective verses can be chanted.

2. After death has occurred

It is believed that the body of the deceased should not be touched, moved, or disturbed in any way because the soul doesn't leave the body immediately after the breathing stops.

3. Preparing the body

The body must be completely cold before it can be washed and prepared for burial or cremation. The deceased must not be dressed in fancy clothes but in the regular clothes which they used to wear normally.

4. Organ donation

Organ donation or donating the body for medical research are both acceptable in Buddhism. A close family member should be contacted in this case to ask for any legal proof or documents which states that the deceased enrolled for organ donation in the past. Sometimes, family members may also agree to donate the body parts.

5. Cremation

Cremation is acceptable in Buddhism. If the body is to be cremated, monks should be present at the crematorium and lead chanting. Cremated remains should be collected by the family the next day and can be kept by family, enshrined in a columbarium or scattered at sea.

6. Memorial service

Buddhist memorial services can be held on the third, seventh, forty-ninth, and one-hundredth day after the death. Family members and close friends gather to cherish their memories and pray for a comfortable journey of the soul of the deceased.

Apart from Buddhist funeral, there are a lot of people who choose Christian funeral service in Singapore to ensure a safe journey for them or their family members. If you are a follower of Christianity, search the web for more information and suggestion on Christian funeral service in Singapore.

5 Reasons Experts Recommended Planning Your Funeral in Advance

Death is a universal truth but few people are fortunate enough to plan their last journey according to their preferences and desires. This might sound a novel concept to some, but in Singapore it has become a more common scenario.

More and more people are realising that pre-planning funeral service scan help the grieving family deal with their grief. After the death of a loved one, it is challenging to keep calm and arrange for the funeral and memorial services. Also, it can financially burden family members and increase the expenses incurred

.

Here’s a look at the top 5 reasons to pre-plan your funeral:

1. Ease the burden on family

If your wishes are unknown when you die, the family will be faced with a difficult situation of making all the decisions for your funeral. It is important for them to know if you wished to be buried or cremated or wanted an open or closed casket. Pre-planning the funeral will save them from this confusion.

2. Financial responsibility

One of the many benefits of pre-planning funeral services is that you can make financial arrangements to cover the cost of funeral. Funeral insurance and funeral trusts are some of the trustworthy planning alternatives that you can consider.

3. Meaningfulness

Funerals are an important ritual as it gives a sense of closure and enables the family to begin the healing process. It is important that your funeral/memorial is a meaningful event, which may not be possible for the family to plan in a short period of time.

4. Your final wish

If you are particular about the type of funeral, casket, flowers or other elements, you need to plan it in advance with help of the funeral director. Only then you can ensure that your last wishes are being followed.

5. Self-reliance

Preparing for your funeral in advance is a thoughtful and caring thing to do for your family. It is comforting to know that you have reduced the burden from your family.

In Singapore, Christian funerals are one of the most common types of funerals apart from the Taoist and Buddhist funerals. If you wish for a Christian funeral service after your death, explore the web for tips on choosing the best funeral director for Christian funeral. You can also explore the web to read more about why is it essential to take pre-planning funeral services to stay stress-free when you are leaving for the heavenly abode.