There are many benefits to planning a funeral in advance. When we refer to “Pre-Planning”, we are referring to a person planning for a funeral well in advance of need. This is often done by the person for whom the services will be purchased. In other words, pre-planning a funeral usually refers to a person planning their own funeral arrangements.

Why Pre-Plan?

The primary benefit to planning one’s own funeral is that your family (your spouse and children) will not have to make decisions on where your burial will take place, nor deal with the financial burden of purchasing a burial site and paying the funeral costs. In many cultures, families are afforded time to deal with the initial grief, and sometimes shock, of the death of a loved one. During such times, family members are often unable to process the business aspects of planning and paying for funeral services, and need time to find their balance. While families go through the initial stages of grief, their loved one can remain in the care of a funeral service provider until such time as the family are able to gather their thoughts and compose themselves for dealing with the important task at hand.

The Jewish tradition does not allow for this time of respite. The burial must take place as quickly as possible. While we are culturally prepared for this, basic human nature cannot be ignored, and during this time, families are often overwhelmed with the decisions that need to be made quickly, and the financial obligations that come from those decisions.

By taking care of these details yourself, you are giving your loved ones a great gift. But there are other benefits as well. By purchasing a burial plot and paying for your funeral now, you will be locking in the price at today’s price. G-d willing you will be with us for a very long time to come, and over the years that will pass the costs associated with purchasing burial plots and funerals will increase. Even if you decide to pay for your plot and funeral over time, the price is still locked-in at today’s rates.