How To Plan A Funeral When You Didn’t Know The Deceased Well

Burials are somber and not at all easy, whether you know the deceased well or not. When you are the nearest of kin, and you feel you didn't know the deceased all that well, the situation gets even harder. In this case, there are a few things you should know about.

Look for Friends and Family

You may need to be the one to locate the rest of the deceased's friends and family, let them know what happened, and invite them to the memorial service. Perhaps the deceased didn't have a lot of close family, but they may still be interested in attending the funeral to pay their respects. Contact any relatives you are aware of and ask them to get in touch with other relevant friends and family. At the very least, ask for contact information for other people who should know about the funeral. You can also look for leads at work or organizations the person was involved with. 

Get a Good Funeral Director

When you look for funeral homes, choose a facility with a helpful funeral director who can provide you with quick answers to common funeral logistical questions. If you didn't know the deceased well, the funeral will probably be something fairly standard. A funeral director can plan most of the details with minimal input from you. Things like standard flower arrangements, an organist, and photos of the loved one are some of the finishing touches that would be nice to have. 

Sticking within a modest budget is a reasonable choice for these types of funerals. Cremation is generally the most affordable burial option. You can keep the service short, renting out the funeral home for just a few hours. With cremation, traveling to the cemetery together would not need to be part of the funeral procession. When the deceased didn't have a lot of close family, the people who do attend will probably appreciate a fairly short and concise opportunity to pay their respects. 

Consider a Dinner Together

Although you may feel like no one appreciates your efforts to memorialize an individual who didn't have many close friends or family, sometimes emotions do come out when the funeral actually happens. It could be a good idea to debrief together at a dinner after the service. This doesn't need to be entirely formal; it could be at someone's house or at a restaurant. Handling a matter like this can be stressful, so take care of yourself, and get as much help as you can from a funeral director. 


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