When you have to plan final services for a family member who has passed on, funeral homes in Downingtown, PA are going to help you every step of the way. If you come to the funeral home with nothing at all, that’s okay. They will let you know what you need and you can return with those items whenever you have them. But, if you want to plan ahead and get things organized as efficiently as possible, here are a few things you can bring along with you to streamline the process. 

The Death Certificate 

One thing you will need for sure is your loved one’s death certificate, whether you decide on a funeral service, or a cremation. They are going to need that death certificate no matter what direction you decide to take. That’s something that often gets processed automatically, but if it doesn’t, the experts at the funeral home can help you understand how you can get things moving along. They can also advise you as to how many copies you should get so you can get everything you need at once and not have to obtain more later on. 

A Picture Of Your Loved One 

The funeral home would love to have a picture of your loved one, for a variety of reasons. First, they want it for their file so they can properly identify your loved one every step of the way. Second, they want to know who they are talking about when they discuss services with you. Third, it might be something you want to use for the obituary and they can put that together for you once you have it written up. And last, if you are going with a funeral and visitation, they will use the photo to make your loved one look as natural as possible. 

A Friend/Family Member 

You should never go through the planning process alone. You likely have other family members who will want to help or, at the very least, can go along with you and support you in your plans. It’s always nice to have a second set of eyes and ears as you go through the plan options and figure out what is best for your family. Plus, you need someone there simply to support you. Someone who knows you and loves you well. 

Any Plan Ideas 

If there are certain plan you have in mind, either because you know there was something you loved one would appreciate or because your family wants certain things and you already know that, the funeral home would love to hear those ideas so they can suggest things accordingly. They want to honor your loved one in whatever way you see fit. If you don’t have ideas yet, that’s okay, too. Funeral homes in Downingtown, PA are there to help you however you need them, whether you have questions or need services set up for a loved one who has passed on recently.