Advantages to Pre-planning: Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel is here to help

While it's not a topic many families are up for discussing, making arrangements ahead of time for your funeral can be a life saver when it comes to the grieving process. Curtis Ottinger, Managing Partner at Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel shares why it's important to make plans now rather than after the loss of a loved one.

"When you've experienced a loss, making the plans is the hardest thing you will need to do," Ottinger said. "If families make the effort to plan before it's needed, they're so much more relaxed and can focus on the needs of one another. I have been through the death of both parents and a brother and planned those services, so I know firsthand just how difficult the process can be."

He went on to share that if you want to spare your family the emotional and financial burden on one of the worse days of their lives, then preplanning is the way to go.

"If your wishes are unknown at the time of your death, your family is left with sorting everything out on your behalf," Ottinger noted. There are many questions that can come up, and it can be a lot to process at a time when all you want to do is honor the life that was well-lived.

Planning early also enables you, as the person in charge, to make financial arrangements to cover the costs. Even if you are leaving behind money to cover a funeral service, will your family be able to access it?

"Pre-planned funerals are sound financial planning options you can consider ahead of time," Ottinger noted. "Also, if you have arrangements through another funeral provider, you or your family at the time of death, can transfer them to Heritage, East Brainerd without any issue. You are not obligated to the funeral provider that originally made the funeral agreement. In fact, we have families move their arrangements to us almost weekly prior to a death and also at the time of death."

Giving your family the time of having a meaningful service is another byproduct of you taking steps NOW rather than doing so at the time it's needed. It's key in providing a sense of closure and aids in the healing process psychologically in a way that nothing else does.

Also, if you have explicit wishes for your service, you can note them when you make your plans and have the assurance that they will be carried out. The team at Heritage, East Brainerd have directors ready to help you commemorate the service that you want for yourself or for your loved one. Heritage, East Brainerd has been selected as the Best of Best Funeral Home in Chattanooga for the past 16 years.

Heritage Funeral Home is located at 7454 East Brainerd Road in Chattanooga and offers memorialization options, burial and cremation services, memorial tribute keepsakes, payment options for pre-planning, and more. To set an appointment to begin your preplanning today, contact them at 423-894-2010 or visit heritagechattanooga.com.