There are a variety of reasons why one would choose to pre-plan for the death of a loved one. Perhaps one of the most overlooked reasons would be the act of planning in itself. People plan for many of life's expected events, such as our education, weddings, having children and our retirement. We also tend to at the least make provisions for life's unexpected turn of events, for example by having life insurance, fire insurance, and as residents of the Sidney area now know, perhaps even flood insurance. Since death is not option, is it not reasonable to consider making provisions for that expected life event as well, since we plan for most of the others?
Making pre-arrangements for oneself or a loved one is a sensible, responsible decision that can make the difficult time following a loss a little easier. Pre-planning provides the peace of mind in knowing that your voice was heard because you took the time to make your wishes known to your family before the need arose.
Planning a funeral comes with tremendously personal choices. Some, or all of those choices, can be made in advance if one so chooses. Some of these choices/decisions can include the type of service one wishes to have (traditional or cremation), the location of service (funeral chapel or church), any important obituary information (making sure that everyone that should be mentioned are not forgotten), as well as clergy, music preferences, pallbearers, pre-selection of clothing and jewelry. One may even go as far as to select a casket or urn. We can guarantee that the decisions made by an individual and their family are respected and carried out with the utmost professionalism and compassion.
In addition to pre-planning services, pre-payment for services is also available. Pre-funding a funeral in New York State is a safe and reliable way to make provisions for the inevitable as New York State is considered to have the strongest pre-need laws in the country. In New York, funds are deposited into an interest-bearing trust account in which the principal and interest of the account are the property of the consumer. For revocable accounts, upon written request, the consumer may withdraw the principal and interest at any time without consequence. Also, regardless of the type of pre-need account established, funds are transferable to any funeral home you wish, at any time and for any reason.
For additional information, or to receive a free pre-planning Guidelines book, please stop by the funeral chapel, or call to request one at (607) 563-3545. We would be glad to either mail you a copy or meet with you, at the funeral chapel or at your home if necessary, to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Pre-Arrangement Conference
Once you have a pre-arrangement conference scheduled, having the following information and documents on hand will ensure you are prepared:
- Completed "Vital Statistics" Form
- Copy of Power of Attorney Documents
- Cemetery Deed
- Obituary Information
- Veterans Discharge Papers (DD-214) if applicable
