Planning Ahead
Planning your own Funeral in advance can offer you great peace of mind and reassurance that the fundamental decisions are covered and that everything is in order, this means that your family have less difficult decisions to make during a deeply emotional time in their lives.
There are several options available to choose from which enables you to be very clear about the specific type of funeral you would like. Planning Ahead is a very practical way to ensure that those you love and leave behind do not find themselves in the situation where they are worried “ are we doing the right thing” “is this what they ( your loved one) would have wanted”, etc.
Planning Ahead offers several meaningful benefits , both practical and emotional including
- Gives you peace of mind.
- Ensures your wishes are honoured.
- Reduces stress on loved ones.
- It can encourage important family conversations.
- Allows payment over time.
If you choose to move forward with our confidential pre-planning service, there is no financial obligation or commitment required.
Pre- Planning Funeral Options to consider…
Leaving Funeral Instructions
To simply leave funeral instructions. We suggest you make an appointment with ourselves at Griffin’s or we can call to you. All options, be it religious or non-religious, burial or cremation and the finer details can be discussed and noted. These arrangements can be altered at any time as people’s wishes can sometimes change.
Choosing Burial/Cremation
Burial
Burial remains the most popular option locally. When one chooses to be buried a few factors must be considered;
- Is there an existing family grave?
- Is there space in the grave for further burials?
- If not, does a new grave need to be purchased?
Cremation
Cremation is an ever growing option for people in Ireland. Cremated ashes can be buried, scattered or memorialised at home. In cases where a persons wish is to be buried with their family but there is no space in the family grave, one can be cremated first and buried with their family at a later date. This also greatly reduces the cost of purchasing a new grave.
Next stages
Complete the questionnaire below, we will contact you using the details and preferences you provide. From our experience, we have found that an in-person meeting, allows Griffin’s to better understand and appreciate the kind of funeral you have in mind and to best advise you on selections.
There are three main options
- Informal conversation
- Formal instructions, including current estimate of costs
- Advance payment
Informal Conversation
We can happily chat over the phone or and meet with you in person, to sit down and discuss funeral options and go through any funeral related questions that you may have.
Formal instructions
This is where we would sit down together to confidentially discuss and take notes on partial or full funeral arrangements, carefully documenting every detail. We would then write to you retrospectively confirming instructions and sharing a current estimate of costs. We feel that this can give clients a great sense of comfort, that wishes are officially recorded.
Advance-Payment
Some people wish to take their pre-planned funeral arrangements a step further by making a financial contribution or multiple contributions toward their own funeral. Griffin’s are happy to accept these payments and hold them in a client account until they are needed.
As proud members of the Irish Association of Funeral Directors (IAFD), Griffin’s adhere to the IAFD Code of Practice and Professional Conduct guidelines (listed here) regarding the handling of client funds.
Please see below some helpful advice when considered pre-planned funerals or advance payments.
Helpful advice
Small Steps
Many people initially feel uncomfortable discussing their own funeral. At Griffin’s, we understand this completely. Often, an informal conversation helps ease those concerns, and many families choose to arrange a second meeting to formalise the details once they feel ready.
Consider the main arrangements first
It is often easier to focus on the smaller, more personal details once the key arrangements are in place. Our helpful online questionnaire is a simple and practical way to begin this process.
Also document your reasoning
Writing down the reasons behind your choices can be very helpful. It provides clarity for your family and allows them to better understand and respect your wishes.
Your Arrangement Documents
Griffin’s will formally document your instructions for safekeeping and will happily provide additional copies upon request.
We recommend the following:
- Attach a copy to your will or estate documents and keep them with your solicitor.
- Share a copy with a trusted family member or executor.
- Store a copy in a safe place at home and ensure someone you trust knows where it is kept.
Keeping your documents accessible ensures your wishes can be followed without confusion or delay.
Review Periodically
It is important to review your arrangement documents every few years for several reasons. Personal preferences may change, family circumstances can evolve, trends may shift, and inflation can affect costs over time. This ensures they continue to reflect your wishes and remain appropriate for your situation.
