Why Plan Your Funeral With a Funeral Director?
In Ireland, funeral directors are often the first people families turn to when someone dies. But you don't have to wait until a death occurs to speak to one.
You can contact a funeral director while you're alive and well to discuss your own funeral arrangements, understand the likely costs and make decisions in advance.
Planning with a trusted local funeral director means you're not simply writing down your wishes. You're discussing practical arrangements with someone who understands what is involved and can help you prepare for the future.
Here's why involving a funeral director early can make a real difference.
Why Involve a Funeral Director in Planning Ahead?
Funeral directors arrange funerals every day. They understand the practical arrangements, local facilities, traditions and costs involved.
While you might have a general idea of the funeral you'd like, a funeral director can explain how those wishes would work in practice.
For example, they can advise on:
- Burial and cremation arrangements.
- Traditional wakes and reposing.
- Religious and non-religious funeral ceremonies.
- Funeral homes and facilities available locally.
- Coffins, transport and other funeral services.
- Cemetery, crematorium and other third-party charges.
- The likely overall cost of your preferred arrangements.
Having this conversation in advance gives you the opportunity to consider your options without the pressure of arranging a funeral immediately following a death.
Why Choose a Trusted Local Funeral Director?
Funeral directors play an important role in communities throughout Ireland.
Many families have dealt with the same funeral director for generations, building relationships based on trust, familiarity and personal service.
A local funeral director understands the area, its churches, cemeteries, crematoria and funeral traditions. They also know the practical arrangements involved in organising funerals locally.
Choosing your funeral director in advance means you can discuss your preferences directly with the person or business you would like your family to contact when the time comes.
It also gives you the opportunity to ask questions, visit their premises if you wish and become familiar with the services they provide.
For many people, knowing who will look after their funeral is just as important as deciding what type of funeral they would like.
Can You Discuss Your Own Funeral Before You Die?
Yes. Funeral directors regularly speak to people who want to make their own arrangements in advance.
You might have specific wishes about burial or cremation, a particular church or ceremony, or how you'd like your funeral to be conducted.
Alternatively, you might have very few preferences and simply want to understand what's available.
You don't need to have everything decided before contacting a funeral director.
An initial conversation can help you understand your choices and decide what matters most to you.
Our article Can I Contact a Funeral Director Before Someone Dies? explains more about making that first enquiry.
Can a Funeral Director Help You Understand Funeral Costs?
Yes. One of the advantages of discussing your arrangements with a funeral director is that you can get a realistic estimate based on the funeral you'd actually like.
Funeral costs vary depending on the arrangements chosen.
A traditional funeral involving a wake, funeral service and burial may have different costs from a cremation or a simpler ceremony.
Your funeral director can explain their own charges and identify additional expenses, such as cemetery, crematorium or church fees.
These third-party charges are set by the organisations providing those services and may change over time.
Understanding the different elements of a funeral cost can help you make informed decisions and consider how you'd like to make financial provision.
For a broader explanation, read How Much Does a Funeral Cost in Ireland?.
What Is the Difference Between Recording Funeral Wishes and Making a Funeral Pre-Plan?
Writing down your funeral wishes is a useful starting point.
You might record whether you'd prefer burial or cremation, the type of ceremony you'd like and any personal preferences you want your family to know.
However, recording wishes alone doesn't mean that arrangements have been discussed with a funeral director or that money has been put aside towards the cost.
Making a funeral pre-plan with a participating funeral director through My Farewell Wishes brings these elements together.
You can discuss the funeral arrangements you'd prefer, nominate the funeral director you'd like to use and make financial provision towards the estimated costs.
This gives your family more than a list of preferences. It means there is a funeral director familiar with your wishes and money set aside towards the funeral.
How Does My Farewell Wishes Work With Funeral Directors?
My Farewell Wishes works in partnership with more than 70 trusted, established family funeral directors throughout Ireland.
Our service allows you to plan your funeral with a participating funeral director and put money aside towards the cost through flexible payments.
You can begin by speaking directly to your local participating funeral director or by contacting My Farewell Wishes.
If you already have a funeral director you know and trust, you can ask whether they participate in our service.
If you haven't chosen one, we can help you find a participating funeral director in your area.
You can discuss your funeral wishes with us before choosing a funeral director, or you can speak to your preferred funeral director first. Both approaches are possible.
Before your pre-plan is arranged, you'll nominate the participating funeral director you'd like to look after your funeral.
You can read more about the service in What Is My Farewell Wishes and How Does It Work?.
Can You Put Money Aside Towards Your Funeral?
Yes. Once you've discussed your arrangements and chosen a participating funeral director, My Farewell Wishes can help you make financial provision towards your funeral costs.
You choose how much you'd like to contribute and how frequently you'd like to make payments.
You can make regular contributions, occasional lump sums or a combination of both.
If your circumstances change, you can increase, reduce or pause your contributions without losing the money you've already paid.
Your contributions are held safely in an independent Trust towards your future funeral costs.
When the time comes, the money you've put aside is used towards the cost of your funeral.
You can find more information in our guide Can You Pay for a Funeral in Instalments?.
What Happens When Your Family Needs the Funeral Director?
When the time comes, your family contacts your nominated funeral director.
Because you've already discussed your preferences, the funeral director has a record of the arrangements you'd like.
Your family can then discuss the practical details with someone who is familiar with your wishes and understands the local arrangements.
If you've made payments through My Farewell Wishes, the money you've put aside goes towards your funeral costs.
Your family may still have decisions to make, but they won't have to begin without any guidance about what you wanted.
Is It Worth Planning Your Funeral in Advance?
For many people, the main benefit is knowing that practical arrangements have been considered and that their family will have someone experienced to turn to.
Planning ahead can help you:
- Choose a funeral director you know and trust.
- Make your funeral preferences known.
- Understand the likely costs.
- Put money aside gradually towards your funeral.
- Reduce the number of decisions your family may need to make later.
You don't have to be elderly or unwell to begin planning.
It's simply an opportunity to make arrangements at a time that suits you.
Start Planning With a Funeral Director You Trust
If you're thinking about planning your funeral, your local funeral director is a good place to start.
You can discuss the arrangements you'd prefer, ask about likely costs and find out how funeral pre-planning works.
My Farewell Wishes works alongside trusted family funeral directors throughout Ireland, helping people make practical funeral arrangements in advance and put money aside towards the cost.
You can contact your participating funeral director directly or speak to My Farewell Wishes to find out more.
Call My Farewell Wishes on 042 6039990 or visit www.myfarewellwishes.ie.
You can also find answers to common questions on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Planning ahead with a funeral director you trust means your wishes are known, your arrangements have been considered and you've taken practical steps to prepare for the future.
