Four Major Decisions

When planning a funeral there are four major areas where decisions need to be made. And the choices that you make in these areas will help us narrow down the next set of options we can show you so, in the end, we will end up with the kind of service that is right for you.

1. Your budget

2. Whether you are choosing burial or cremation

3. Viewing the body

4. What type of services and visitation you want to have

Now these four areas are listed in no particular order of importance. In other words, you don't have to choose one before you choose the other. But the decisions you do make in any of these areas will affect the other areas. As I explain each and a little more detail I think you'll see how everything fits together.

Your Budget

There are very few people out there that have unlimited budgets, so when most of us have to make all sorts of purchase decisions in our lives we have to look at the funds available before we make those decisions, and funerals are no different. The cost of funeral services typically vary between $2500 and $15,000 depending on the type of services, merchandise and options that you choose. The funds used to pay for these costs generally come from these sources;

• insurance
• prearranged funeral funds
• savings
• individual family members
• credit cards

Social Security, veterans and other benefits are sometimes available but they are limited and are not meant to cover all the costs. So knowing what your budget is, can help you make decisions in the other main areas.

Burial or Cremation

This decision area is about whether you are choosing burial or cremation for the final disposition of the body. For both of these options there are four other decisions that will need to be made.

  • Where
Where will the burial or cremation take place? Which cemetery do you want to use or which crematory would you like to use.
  • When
When will the burial or cremation take place? Will it take place before or after the services visitation and gatherings.
  • In What
What will the body be placed in? In the case of burial you will need to choose a casket and a burial vault. And in the case of cremation you need to choose a cremation casket and you’ll need to choose a cremation urn for after the cremation.
  • Will you be present
Do you want to be there for an official graveside service with other people present or would you like to just witness the burial? Would you like to witness the start of the cremation. The crematory that we use, Phoenix crematory, which is owned and operated by the Clock family has a comfortable observation room where it's very customary for some religions to view the start of the cremation.


You will need to make decisions in each of these four areas no matter whether you're choosing burial or cremation.

Viewing the Body

This decision area is whether or not you want to view the body. There are three options available.

  • No Viewing
No viewing doesn't mean you will never see the body, it just means that you are going to say your final goodbyes at the place of death. Typically this would be at the hospital, at the nursing home or at the home.
  • Private Family Viewing
Private family viewing typically takes place at the Funeral Home. The body is generally not embalmed, although it is cleaned up and prepared for viewing. The viewing is set for a limited time with limited attendance. Meaning, it typically takes place only for an hour or so and it is limited to just the family, not for the general public. Private Family Viewing is meant to say final goodbyes and this can take place whether you're choosing a burial or a cremation.
  • Public Visitation
Public Visitation usually takes place at the funeral home or the church. The body is embalmed it is dressed and casketed, the times are published in the newspaper or on the Internet and the public is invited. You can choose to have a public visitation whether you are choosing burial or cremation.


There are no rights or wrongs when we’re talking about viewing the body. But it is important to think about all of the people involved; children, grandchildren, family and friends. Please try to also consider their needs to when making your decision about viewing the body.

Visitations and Services

The last decision area is what kind of visitations and services you want to have, or whether you want to have any at all. There are four sub areas where decisions will need to be made.

  • Where
Where will the visitation and services take place? At the funeral home, church, at a club, in the park or at your home?
  • When
When will the visitation and services take place? Which day, at what time and how long will they last?
  • What Type
What type of services and visitation do you want to have? Will they be traditional, religious, a life story celebration or a farewell party. Fraternal, military or a combination of all of the above.
  • Who Is Involved
What people do you want to be involved? Clergy, speakers, musicians, will family members be talking? Do you want the funeral home staff there, will there be a military service, Fraternal or other clubs involved?

As you can see there are lots of decisions to be made and there's no easy answer. But I hope by going through this process we've given you an idea of what you need to think about before you make funeral plans.