Pre-Planning Check List

Let your family know that you would like Jake and Lauren at the Penwell Turner Funeral Home to care for you and your family at the time of your death.  Even simply telling your family your wishes for us to care for you is a relief, and something they will most likely appreciate knowing, especially if we are not the funeral home you have always used.

Start writing important things down and tell necessary people the location of important documents.  Just because you know all of your personal affairs certainly does not mean that your family knows them.  We would be more than happy to send you a free Biographical Record Book that you can use to write down important notes all in one organized place.  Even if you do not get our book, it is still wise to get your important documents and notes together.  What is important is that necessary people know where these documents and information are kept.  Below is a list of things to consider:

Notification list and contact information of people you would like informed at
the time of your death;
Life insurance policies;
Durable Power of Attorney for health care;
Living Will;
Power of Attorney for financial affairs;
Last Will and Testament;
Military Discharge Papers (DD-214);
Bank account information/Safe Deposit Box/Credit Card information;
Retirement Funds documentation;
Properties – Home papers, car titles, etc.;
Biographical Record Book;
Lawyer information;
Cemetery Deed;
Penwell Turner Funeral Home pre-arrangement documentation

Purchase Cemetery Spaces

Purchasing cemetery spaces before death occurs is helpful at the time of the death.  Choose the cemetery you would like to be buried in and contact them to purchase graves.  We would be able to assist you in getting the contact information for the cemeteries.

Purchase your Monument

We are the Shelby representatives for Ashland Monument Co. and will help you find the monument that fits your wants and your price range.  Having your monument purchased before a spouse has preceded you in death allows for the selection to be an easy process and will allow for both of your wishes to be satisfied.  View the Monument page on our website to learn more and see photographs.

Think about what type of funeral you would like to have.

It is significant to remember the importance of a funeral service.  Often when planning ahead, individuals choose to think solely about their own wants without taking into consideration what their surviving family may want and need.  Talk about what you are thinking for your funeral with your family.  So often we hear, “I don’t care what you do with me when I die…I won’t be there.”  However, your family does care and wants to have a respectful personal service that honors you.  You can talk with Jake about what options you have when it comes to planning a funeral.

Make an appointment and sit down to talk with Jake about your funeral

We have been told by many people, “We always talked about coming up and planning our funerals ahead of time and never did it.  I wish we would have.”  Don’t let that happen to you.  It is something that is easy to put off, as not many people like to think about or plan for a time when they will not be around.  However, surviving families have told us time after time how much they appreciated their family members coming in and planning their funerals ahead of time.  It relieves stress for them.  Come and talk with us.  We will be able to answer any questions you may have and give you guidance when planning ahead.

Pay for your funeral

Many people who plan ahead choose to pay for their funerals at today’s prices.  This question often comes up, “What will happen with the money once I pay?”  The money you pay us for your funeral is never “our money.”  We place your money, under your name, in some form of a trust fund or funeral insurance policy in order for it to gain interest to cover the rise in costs between the time you pay and the time of your death.  The benefits of paying are that we guarantee funeral home charges so you purchase at today’s cost.  As inflation raises those costs in the future, your funerals will already be paid for.  Understand that the money invested is done under your name and we are not entitled to it until we perform services at the time of your death, thus protecting your asset/investment. An Irrevocable Pre-paid Funeral Contract will protect your funeral funds from Medicaid should long term care be necessary.

Keep us updated

Planning your funeral ahead of time is in a sense like making a will.  You provide the most accurate information you can at the time you make it, and several years later the same basic information remains the same but some minor things may need updating.  Planning your funeral is the same.  We take as much information as we can at the time you pre-plan and need to keep it updated as things change.  We always appreciate being updated about changes in your life and we enjoy being able to keep in contact with you.

Take responsibility for your arrangements.

Just as estate planning and creating a will are responsible actions, planning your final arrangements in advance makes emotional and financial sense.  It protects your loved ones from the burden of making difficult decisions at what will already be a difficult time.  With your wishes recorded, you eliminate the guesswork for your family.  They won’t be left to guess what you would have wanted.

Personalize your service.

Making your final arrangements in advance allows you to influence all elements of your services, including songs, readings or other personal details that are important to you. It’s your funeral – it should celebrate your life, your way.

Lock in today’s prices.

If you choose to fund your prearranged funeral plans, you can lock in today’s prices for products and services that likely will be more expensive in the future. It is important to work with a funeral professional to understand your options.

Whether you simply want to ensure that your wishes are carried out, or you want to protect your family from making difficult decisions at a time of loss, planning your final arrangements in advance is an important responsibility, and one of the greatest gifts you can give your loved ones.