Designing Your Funeral

There are two facets of the design process. First, we ask you to consider how you wish to honor and celebrate a life well lived;  When those important decisions are made, we’ll turn to the issue of burial or entombment; if cremation is a consideration; if the wake and funeral will be the same day; or wake one day with funeral the following.

How to Honor a Life

How to Honor a Life

It’s about bringing those you love together, at a time of loss. It’s a natural thing to do, and over time, has become a socially-expected practice. More importantly, a funeral or memorial service, whether traditional, or contemporary, is the first step in healing.

You can have your service anywhere, and any way, you want. Your choices include the place of celebration, day of the week, and time of day; the musical selection, what prayers will be said or songs you’d like sung. We can arrange to have doves, butterflies, or balloons released at the close of the service. Keepsake gifts of wildflower seeds or a tree seedling can be given. We’re here to help you create the most memorable and meaningful service to honor a life well lived.  

What is Pre-Planning?

Pre-planning is simply forward thinking at a time that is convenient and less emotional for you and your loved ones. When you pre-plan, you go through the process of preparing and documenting your funeral arrangements and cemetery wishes ahead of time so that those whom you care about will not later be faced with making these very hard decisions during the most difficult of times. By taking advantage of pre-planning, you can give a great deal of comfort to loved ones by alleviating the stress that comes from guessing what you may have liked or wanted. Pre-planning gives the gift of peace of mind while at the same time providing loved ones with a sense of comfort knowing that they have carried out your wishes.

How Do I Get Started?

All you have to do is give us a call. Someone from the funeral home will sit down with you to discuss every possibility that might interest you while staying within your financial constraints.

What are the Financial Benefits of Pre-Planning?

• Lock in at today’s prices

• If for some reason you need to go on state aid in the future, this account will not be affected

What is the difference between Pre-Planning and Pre-Paying?

When you pre-plan, you do not need to pay for everything in advance – your estate can pay for the services at the going prices at the time when your funeral is held. When you plan is complete, we will keep it on file until it is needed. However, if you pre-pay at the time you make your pre-arrangements, you can lock in today’s prices. We offer several affordable payment options.

What is the difference between a Revocable Trust and an Irrevocable Trust?

A REVOCABLE TRUST is a trust that any amount of money may be deposited into. At any time, you may ask for this money and the interest it has made. At the end of the year you will receive a 1099 statement on which you must pay taxes on the interest as it is considered income.

A IRREVOCABLE TRUST is most commonly purchased by someone who eventually might need care in excess of his or her assets. Once purchased, it can be used for burial purposes only. This trust can be started for any amount and may be added to at any time.  The price is guaranteed no matter what prices go up to at the time of death.

What if the cost of the services/products that were Pre-Paid has greatly increased at the time of my death?

Once you pre-pay for a product or service you are guaranteed that for no additional money. The interest gained goes towards any increase in any of the items that were selected in the contract; you will not be responsible for any price increases.

Preplanning involves making choices about your end-of-life celebration. This is best accomplished by working with a funeral planning advisor who has special training and expertise. They can assist you in creating this personalized celebration of your life.

Many people have already been through the preplanning process. An AARP study showed that 34% of people over the age of 50 have already preplanned a funeral for themselves and/or someone else.**AARP, Funeral and Burial Planners Survey (2007)

Planning Ahead

Your story, your life is unique… and like most people, you probably have certain ideas about how you want your life celebrated and remembered. As with all the important milestones accomplished over your lifetime, planning your end-of-life celebration should be done with careful thought.

The death of a loved one is a very difficult time for everyone. Yet, during this period of grief and emotional readjustment, family members and friends are often confronted with dozens of decisions about the memorial services.

  • What would our loved one have wanted?
  • What kind of funeral should it be?
  • What should be included?
  • Who needs to be notified?
  • How much will it cost?

By preplanning, these questions and many more will be answered in advance so your family is relieved of that burden. 

What is Preplanning?

No one wants to think about the end of their life, yet we all plan for the worst, we all have life insurance, we feel a responsibility to our families and have prepared throughout our lives.  There are two basic forms of prearranging; some will sit down with one of the funeral directors at Morizzo Funeral Home and Cremation Services’ and record all the pertinent information for the documents and forms that are required at a time of need; and not prepay any of the charges.  Others will not only record their direction and information necessary; but will prepay locking in / freezing the funeral expenses at Morizzo Funeral Home.  By recording your direction; you eliminate any uncertainty for your survivors as to your ideas and wishes, you have the opportunity to organize and to participate in you Celebration of Life. 

Prearranging a funeral is an extension of Estate Planning, we all have certain ideas, having a record of that direction is always advisable.   Preplanning and prepaying will avoid an possibility of over spending, whether you simply want to ensure that your wishes are carried out, or you want to protect your family from making difficult decisions at a time of loss, planning your final arrangements in advance is an important responsibility and appreciated by those who have your direction to follow.

Morizzo Funeral Directors are always available to answer questions, or call Morizzo Funeral Home and Cremation Services at 847.752.6444 to schedule an appointment; where we can answer your questions face to face. 

Burial or Cremation

Burial or Cremation?

Your next consideration focuses on choosing between burial and cremation. Usually, people are clear on this point. In fact, your loved one may have told you, or someone else, exactly how they wish to be cared for. But it can be a hard decision for some families, especially when the wishes of the deceased were never clearly stated. If that's the case, please know we're able to help you come to the perfect decision for your loved one, and for you.

Once you decide, the finer details come into focus. If you've chosen burial, then selection of the casket, vault, and desired cemetery follows. Naturally, we’re here to help you.

If cremation is your choice, if the wake or visitation and funeral service will be the same day; or that there would be a wake one day with the funeral service the following.  Then you'll need to make the decision; whether the cremated remains will be placed in a mausoleum niche, buried on the cemetery grounds; possible buried in the family cemetery or to be scattered at a favorite vacation spot.

In some communities, there's the option for a 'green burial.' If that's what your loved one would prefer, we'll help you select an environmentally-friendly choice.

What's Next?

Now that we've given you the basics, it's time to reflect more on exactly what is appropriate for you and your family. If possible, gather everyone together to speak of their feelings and desires.

Still looking for inspiration? Speaking with a professional funeral planner will help to clarify your thinking. Reach us at (847) 752-6444.