How to Plan a Funeral

People turn to us everyday for help with planning a funeral. Either a loved one has recently died or they want to preplan for a future funeral. In both instances the planning process is quite similar. The AM Israel Mortuary team has a strong attention to detail and we walk you through every decision you need to make. Below we provide a general funeral planning checklist.

Our Funeral Checklist

  • Contact the funeral home and arrange for removal of the body from the place of death.
  • Review the deceased’s will. If you are preplanning you funeral, make sure to meet with a lawyer and complete your will.
  • Choose type of servcie
  • Talk to our funeral home staff about which Jewish funeral traditions and customs you which to uphold.
notepad checklist funeral planning
  • If you wish to hold a ceremony, you need to determine the type of ceremony – a synagogue service, graveside service, a memorial service, etc.
  • Choose funeral products that will supplement a ceremony – a casket, tombstone, prayer cards, register books, photos, candles, etc.
  • Select the hymns to be played during the ceremony
  • Make note of any details you or your loved one want to include in the obituary.
  • Arrange and organize who will be saying prayers, the eulogy, and other remarks during the ceremony.
  • How will you cover the funeral expenses? Different financing options are available to you depending on if you are preplanning for a future funeral or planning for an immediate funeral.
  • If you wish, you can propose a charity that people can donate to on behalf of your loved one.
  • Inform family and friends of when and where the ceremony will take place.