How to Navigate Cremation Arrangements When Someone Has Died

Anita Chauhan

How to make funeral arrangements following cremation

When a loved one has just passed on, there are many details to manage. It can be a time full of stress, worry and overwhelm. You’re probably not only trying to figure out how to navigate grief, but you may have also assumed a great responsibility of taking on managing funeral arrangements.

We’re here to help. The following blog post will make this difficult time easier for you by outlining the necessary funeral arrangements you need to make following a cremation.

We’ll take you through all the necessary steps from start to finish, beginning with whom to call when someone passes, to managing finances and closing accounts that must be handled promptly.

Make “First Calls”

Make the “first calls” you need to let the appropriate parties (family members, loved ones) and have the deceased transferred from the place of death.

Confirm Transportation of the Deceased

Generally, one of the first calls you make will be an initial transfer of the deceased from the place of death to a crematory, funeral home or another facility. In some cases, the body may require a second transfer may. At Eirene, we manage all transfers, cremation and delivery of the ashes so that you and your loved ones do not need to think about anything.

Obtain Pre-Arrangement Plans (If Any)

Ascertain if the deceased has left behind any pre-arrangements, a living will or a funeral plan. A pre-arranged plan generally outlines all the information to ensure you provide your loved one with the end of life they have chosen.

Make Appropriate Funeral Arrangements

Once you have the funeral arrangements, meet with a licensed funeral director to begin the process. During the meeting, you will cover topics including:

• the process for caring for the deceased
• whether they opted for burial or cremation,
• the type of ceremony that will be held
• and the costs for the arrangements if your loved one did not pre-pay.

Working with a funeral home can come with its challenges. Here is a quick guide to help you navigate that experience.

Confirm Crematory Arrangements

If your loved one has chosen cremation, you mostly have to consider costs such as urns, columbarium and urn niche costs.

Check out our guide to buying urns and make the process easier.

Take time to figure out how your loved one wanted to be honoured or memorialized - did they wish to be interred, or did they wish to have their ashes spread around in specific areas? Depending on their will and if they pre-planned their funeral arrangements, you will have clear instructions.

Oftentimes, the funeral director you are working with can help make these arrangements on behalf of your family.

If you’re looking to find ways to make your loved one’s end of life arrangements more ‘green,’ here’s how you can do it!

Handle Any Administrative, Estate, and Financial Matters

Once the funeral has been completed, you can set your sights on handling the more nitty-gritty administrative, financial and estate aspects.

The next step is to manage the deceased’s affairs, and those who have taken on managing the funeral can also potentially be executors of the will and estate.

These matters can range from sending death notices to loved ones to filing death benefit claims to the government and even changing the title of the deceased’s assets. Learn more about finances, probate and closing accounts on our blog.

Need more guidance? We can help.

Check out our blog for more resources on navigating managing the end of life process once someone you love has passed away.