Pre-arranged funeral arrangements can be one of the kindest things you can do for yourself and your loved ones when it comes to making final plans. You can pre-plan your funeral many years before you expect those plans to go into motion. By pre-arranging your funeral, you empower yourself to call the shots and have the last word when it comes to how you are represented at the funeral, and it takes the burden off your loved ones during what is sure to be an extremely tough time. If have decided to take this smart step, here are five essential questions to ask yourself when pre-planning your funeral.

Ask: What Type of Service Do You Most Want to Have?

While making funeral arrangements, it's important to decide on the type of service that you want. You may opt to have a simple graveside service, or you can have both a traditional indoor funeral that continues to the graveside service. Some people opt to have a memorial service in a certain location. It's all up to you. Think hard about the type of service you want.

Ask: How Can You Best Ensure That You're Represented as Who You Really Are?

Sometimes funerals can be beautiful ceremonies that seem to be about somebody other than the person who passed way. There is a great temptation to lean towards sentiments to present someone in the best possible light after their death, and the intentions behind that are lovely. However, if you want to ensure that you are best represented as you truly are, make sure to specifically inject your own thoughts and feelings into the funeral plans.

Ask: Who Do You Want to Speak for You at the Service?

When you pre-plan your funeral, you don't have to worry about a relative you hate getting up in front of the crowd and saying things that misrepresent who you truly were. As art of pre-arranging your funeral, you can specifically select who you want to speak at it, and you can even talk to them way ahead of time about why you chose them and express any wishes about what they will say.

Ask: What Type of Music Best Serves Your Goals for the Funeral?

Think deeply about this question. The kind of music that you play will have an impact on the mood and ambiance of the funeral. What type of music would best represent who you are and the message you want to convey to mourners? You may choose specific songs that you want performed or played at the funeral along with any words you'd like someone to say before they are played.

Ask: What Things Do I Want to See Excluded from My Service?

Identifying what you don't want to be a part of your service can be every bit as important as stating what you do want for the service. For example, you may not want any flowers at your funeral, but you need to specify this. Otherwise, since flowers are a tradition of death in many religions, you may be surrounded by them. Offer an alternative such as a suggestion for charity donations if you are excluding sympathy gifts.

Finally, when you are making pre-arranged funeral arrangements, you are ultimately setting the rules and even the tone for how your memorial service is going to go. That can be a powerful position to be in, so make sure to take your time and choose things that will best serve and protect yourself. Someday your loved ones will be grateful for the chance to attend a funeral that truly represents who you are and what you wanted to say. For more information, contact companies like Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home.