Planning a Funeral
Organizing a funeral and final arrangements can feel overwhelming, especially during an emotional time. This section covers everything you need to know—from planning options and the Funeral Rule to selecting burial or cremation, observing etiquette, arranging ceremony details, and adding personal touches like eulogies, music, and keepsakes. Whether you’re planning ahead or supporting a loved one, these articles offer clear, practical guidance to help you create a respectful and deeply personal farewell.

How Do I Plan a Funeral?
Before Death: Preplanning a Funeral or Memorial Service
After Death: The Funeral Rule
After Death: Planning a Funeral or Memorial Service

Can I Hold a Funeral in My Home?
I Want to Hire a Professional to Help Me Plan a Funeral or Memorial Service, but I’m Confused. Who Is the Best Person to Call?
How Do I Write an Obituary? Do I Need a Professional Obituary Writer?
CNBC: How Funerals in the US are changing

A Look at Japanese Funeral Practices
How Much Do Online Obituaries or Printed Obituaries Cost?
How Long Can We Wait to Have a Funeral After Death?
How Do I Buy a Burial Plot?
“Today’s The Day” by Lucy Kaplansky
How Do Funeral Homes Prepare for (or Handle) Emergencies Such as Natural Disasters?

How To Crowdfund Funeral Expenses
What Does the Average Headstone Cost?
What Is the Difference Between a Wake and a Funeral?
What Is a Pallbearer?
Who Should I Invite to a Funeral?

A new kind of funeral home
“The Dead” by Billy Collins

How Should I Invite Guests to a Funeral?

Should I Invite Children to the Funeral?
Is It Appropriate for Funeral Attendees to Take Photos?
What Can I Expect When Planning a Funeral for a Neonate or Fetus?
Bob Dylan’s classic “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”
What Is Proper Etiquette for a Living Funeral or deParty?

Securing full military honors for a funeral
What Is the Difference Between a Casket and a Coffin?

Can I Have a Funeral for a Pet?

What Is a “deParty”?
A Traditional Scottish Funeral Song
How to Avoid Obituary Scams
Can We Hold a Funeral After Organ Donation?
Should I Have an Open or Closed Casket?
How Can I Know What to Wear to a Funeral?

“Departures” by Yōjirō Takita
Are There Any Special Considerations When Planning a Funeral for Someone Who Identifies as LGBTQ?
What Is a Funeral Procession and What Is the Etiquette for Participating in One?
What Is a Wake? How Do I Plan One for My Loved One?

Saving on Funerals
FCA On How To Recycle Pacemakers
What Is a Perpetual Care Cemetery?
What Is a Companion Plot?
How Long Does a Concrete Burial Vault Last?
“Gone From My Sight” by Barbara Karnes
What Is an Oversized Casket and When Is It Necessary?

12 Biker Funeral Rituals
What Is the Difference Between a Full-Couch and Half-Couch Casket?

What Is a Destination Funeral?
Can I Collect a DNA Sample From My Loved One Before the Funeral or Final Disposition Takes Place?
What Is the Proper Way to Clothe My Loved One for Their Viewing and Burial?

Are Funeral Homes A Dying Breed?
What Are Appropriate Items to Place in My Loved One’s Casket? What Items Are Not Permitted?

Secular Funerals Becoming More Common

What Is a Mausoleum Burial?
What Are the Most Common Types of Burial Vaults?
Can I Request to Have My Loved One’s Clothes Returned After the Viewing or Funeral?

How Can Families Save Money With Home Funerals?
Who Should I Ask to Give My Loved One’s Eulogy?
“Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding”
I’ve Been Asked to Give a Eulogy, But I Don’t Know What to Say. Where Do I Start?
What Are Some Ideas for a Unique Eulogy?

How Can I Select the Perfect Music for a Funeral?

DIY Body Transport
How death doulas can help support families as a loved one nears the end of life
What Kind of Keepsake Gifts Should I Plan to Give My Guests?
What Is a Casket Saddle? Can I Make My Own Casket Saddle?

How Do I Live Stream a Funeral?
What Is a Drive-Thru Funeral?

