Preplanning your funeral is one of the most thoughtful and loving gifts you can give your family. It takes the burden off their shoulders during a difficult time and gives everyone peace of mind knowing your wishes are clearly laid out. But, like any important decision, it comes with details to consider—and some common pitfalls to avoid. “Families often make well-meaning mistakes simply because they don’t have all the information or wait until it’s too late,” says Theresa Scherer, a Family Service Counselor at Roper & Sons Funeral Home in Lincoln, Nebraska.
To help families keep from overlooking important decisions, we’ve put together the most frequent missteps so you can feel confident that your plans will truly ease the way for your loved ones when they need it most.
Focus on value, not just the price.
When it comes to preplanning your funeral, it’s completely understandable to want to save money. But if price is the only thing you focus on, you might end up with arrangements that don’t really reflect your life or offer comfort to the people you love. A funeral is more than a cost—it’s a chance for your family to come together, share memories, and begin healing. So while budgeting is necessary, it’s also important to think about what will feel right for everyone involved.
Know all your options.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the choices that come with funeral planning. But going in without enough information can lead to decisions you later wish you’d made differently. Take some time to explore your funeral service options, ask questions, and learn about what’s available. The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel that your plan truly reflects your wishes and makes things easier for your family.
Balance your wishes with family needs.
While your funeral should reflect your preferences, it’s also meant to comfort the people you leave behind. If you don’t consider your family’s needs—like their desire for a gathering, religious customs, or even just practical concerns—they might feel left out or overwhelmed. Including them in some of the planning conversations can help make sure your arrangements bring peace and togetherness when they need it most.
Avoid the stress of last-minute decisions.
We all tend to put off things that feel uncomfortable, and funeral planning is no exception. But waiting too long can mean your family is left making rushed decisions at a difficult time. By taking care of it now, you’re giving yourself and your loved ones a wonderful gift—the peace of knowing everything is handled, just the way you want it.
“After my stepmother passed, my dad took advantage of Roper & Sons’ preplanning services for himself. I didn’t realize at the time how much of a benefit this could be for our family until he died. Most of the decisions for his funeral had already been made.
My wife and I will also use Roper & Sons for preplanning our funeral needs. We want our children to have the gift of us preplanning our funerals, and we know that Roper & Sons will provide the best experience possible at a difficult time.” – Chris
Share your wishes.
Even if you’ve made detailed plans, they won’t help much if no one knows about them. It’s so important to share your wishes and where your documents are kept. That way, when the time comes, your family can follow your plan with confidence and avoid added stress or confusion. A simple conversation today can spare them a lot of worry later.
Choose payment options that protect your family.
How you pay for your funeral plans matters more than people often realize. If you don’t choose the right payment option, your family might face unexpected costs down the road, or the money could get tied up when they need it most. It’s worth taking the time to find a secure, protected way to pay—one that locks in today’s prices and keeps things simple for your loved ones.
Cover costs ahead of time.
Making plans is a wonderful step, but not paying in advance can leave your family facing bills when they’re already dealing with grief. Prepaying not only helps shield them from rising costs but also ensures that your thoughtful plans are carried out without financial stress. It’s a way to truly complete the gift of planning ahead.
Work with a funeral home you trust.
Choosing the right funeral home is one of the most important steps in preplanning. You want to work with people who listen carefully, answer your questions honestly, and make you feel at ease every step of the way. A trusted funeral home will not only help you avoid common pitfalls but will also guide you through your options with care and clarity, so your plan truly reflects your wishes. At Roper & Sons, we build relationships with you now so your family will have a supportive, familiar team to turn to when they need it most.
Don’t forget to plan and pay for the funeral service.
Sometimes people buy a burial plot or niche and think they’re all set, but forget that the funeral service itself also needs to be planned and paid for. If only part of the process is covered, your family may still have to scramble with last-minute decisions and costs. It’s best to make sure both pieces—burial and funeral arrangements—are done at the same time.
Of all the mistakes, not preplanning is the one that can leave your family struggling the most. Without a plan, they’re left to guess what you would have wanted, often while dealing with grief and financial pressure. By making your wishes known in advance and handling the details now, you lift a huge burden from their shoulders and offer them the comfort of knowing they’re honoring you in the way you intended.
Roper & Sons offers free preplanning seminars throughout the year, covering the dos and don’ts when it comes to preplanning. Our Family Service Counselor is here to guide you through the process and answer your questions so that you can make an informed decision about all aspects of planning your funeral.
Call Roper & Sons Funeral Home at 402-476-1225 to learn more about our preplanning services.