How funeral pre-planning can reduce stress for your family

We might not all wake up thinking about planning our own funerals – but many of us do wake up thinking about our loved ones, and how we can make life better or easier for them. 

Which eventually, can lead to the thought of planning our own funeral. 

After all, planning your funeral isn’t something you do for yourself. You do it for your whānau, so they don’t have to organise an event whilst grieving. 

It’s one final, thoughtful – and relatively simple – gift you can give them. 

The importance of pre-planning your funeral for peace of mind 

According to our New Zealand Seniors Cost of Death Report, the majority of respondents (92.3%) believe the cost of a funeral places unnecessary stress on loved ones. That’s why there’s immense importance placed on pre-planning as much as you can, so this stress doesn’t fall on your family or other loved ones.

Of course, it’s nice to think that a funeral will be just as you’d like it. Perhaps your favourite music will be playing, your favourite flowers will be on full display, and maybe you’ll ask everyone to wear your favourite colour. That’s the fun part – it really can be just about anything you like. 

But the most important reason is to have the peace of mind that your family won’t agonise over those decisions to plan a funeral for you. It’s one thing to plan an event (often on short notice), and something entirely different to have to do it while dealing with the loss of a loved one. 

How to ensure your final wishes are respected through pre-planning 

After you get past the slight strangeness of how to plan your funeral service, it can be quite fun thinking about all the ways you can personalise your final farewell. By putting all these ideas and preferences down into a funeral plan, you can ensure your loved ones are aware of your wishes.  

Many Kiwis may opt to leave their wills and funeral plans with the government-appointed corporation Public Trust to keep those plans safe. 

But don’t stop there – the next step is just as important. 

Spend some time researching how much those wishes will set you back. According to our New Zealand Seniors Cost of Death Report, research shows that the average cost of a standard burial in New Zealand is $9,244, while the average cost of a standard cremation in New Zealand is $5,177.

It can help to know how much your wishes will cost so that you can make a plan to pay for them. Making sure there is money available can help to ensure your wishes come to fruition when it matters. As an alternative to paying for it, you may consider funeral insurance.    

Commonly forgotten aspects of funeral planning and how to avoid them 

Feeling like you’ve forgotten or missed something? Here are a few extra things to consider while you’re planning a funeral: 

• What you will wear: Do you have a favourite outfit you’d like to be buried in? A beloved comfy dressing gown or the most stunning clothing you’ve ever worn? Leave behind some instructions so others don’t have to guess your preferred final outfit. 
• Little details: You might not care about certain details, such as flower arrangements, and therefore leave them out of your funeral plan. However, remember that making these decisions is about helping your family as much as it is about your final wishes. Planning out the small details not only gives your family a great starting point to plan your funeral, it could also help prevent family debates by reducing all of the extra decisions that need to be made. This is something to consider if you want an eco-friendly funeral for example, as there is a lot of planning that comes with it.
• Speakers at your funeral: If you would like to allow people to come up and say a few words, let them know ahead of time. Some people might want this opportunity, but not be able to find the right words in the moment, especially when they are grieving, so letting them know it’s an option beforehand could be best. 
• Who to inform: Do your loved ones know everyone you would want to invite? If there are workmates or old school friends (or whoever) they might not know about, write a list to ensure nobody will find out after it’s too late. 
• Whether to use a funeral director: Think of a funeral director as an event planner for your final farewell. They can help to offer advice, organise details, liaise with other vendors and more. They do come at a cost, but can make the day run more smoothly. 

Most people will spend a lifetime learning that planning ahead can reduce stress for everything from travel plans to Christmas dinner. It’s no different when it comes to pre-planning a funeral. Seniors Funeral Insurance can not only assist with the financing of your funeral, it can also offer peace of mind for your loved ones during that difficult time. Request a quote today and discover your options.

7 Jan 2025