How to plan a funeral in South Africa
Planning a funeral is not something we ever think we will need to do, but when faced with the eventuality, we need to act. Hollard Funeral is quite clued up on the ins and outs of the process, so we thought we’d dive in with a few tips on how to plan a funeral in South Africa.
Where do you begin? Who do you include? Do you need to provide snacks? A lot of it might be relative to your culture, religion, or family traditions, but we’ll just shoot straight down the middle to highlight what is generally acceptable.
Notify the funeral cover provider
Admin is a headache at the best of times, but this is one instance where you need to dot the Is and cross the Ts. Notify your funeral cover provider of the death of your loved one as soon as possible. Advanced notice will allow enough time for your funeral policy and benefits to pay out so you can make use of them during your funeral planning process.
Take a moment to read through and recall what benefits and cover you are eligible for. At this time you want to make full use of all that your funeral cover can offer you. Get this part out of the way so that you can focus on the more sensitive bits.
Take ownership of the funeral planning process
During moments of grief, no one is in their right mind. This could mean that many funeral planning responsibilities will be forgotten. It’s not that families don’t want to help, it’s simply that they don’t have the capacity to think about formalities at the moment. Take ownership and delegate tasks to the people who can cope with the responsibility. Some of the general tasks that you will need to consider include:
- Is there a will? Consider the loved one’s wishes for their funeral.
- Burial or cremation? The above point might answer this question for you
- Choose a funeral director.
- Set the date, venue, and time. This might fall to the funeral director and his or her availability.
- Arrange transportation for your loved one. This will usually be a hearse and often falls to the funeral director to arrange. Confirm this and confirm the times.
- Arrange transportation for the family on the day. The Hollard Funeral vehicle access benefit will ensure that this aspect is covered.
- Notify loved ones of the funeral arrangements. Include the immediate family of the departed first, then extended family, close friends, and work colleagues.
- Design a funeral programme.
- Make the necessary on-site arrangements.
Putting a funeral programme together
A funeral programme will generally include an order of service, any songs or hymns that will be sung, the order of tributes, eulogies, and prayers, a short summary of the loved one who has passed, and perhaps some photographs and memories. It doesn’t have to be a work of art, but if you have the means to create a beautiful funeral programme, they are always treasured.
If you know any graphic designers or creative friends who can assist with the layout of your funeral programme, ask them for assistance to avoid unnecessary costs. Print only as many as you need and consider that some family members and friends can share.
Pro tip: If you are planning a funeral during the pandemic, don’t be afraid to specify that guests must wear masks for the duration of the ceremony and proceedings. Put it in your funeral programme so that there is no misunderstanding. You can have a box of masks at the door for those who forget.
Are flowers and décor necessary for a funeral?
One of the first things that come to mind when thinking about how to plan a funeral is flower arrangements. However, if budgets are tight, and your funeral cover benefits are being spent elsewhere, flowers are not a necessity. A large printed photo of your loved one might be better appreciated and more affordable.
One way to get around this more cost-effectively is to create your own arrangements using garden flowers, store-bought bunches, and some greenery. Google how to make a simple flower arrangement and get a few friends involved If you can afford to have a few flower arrangements made, consider a wreath or draping arrangement for the top of the coffin or casket. If your loved one is being cremated, you can create a central arrangement for this. A few sprays of flowers or baskets dotted around the venue will help create a beautiful ambience, as will collages of old photographs to help with the process. This is a beautiful way to bond and bring the family together during sad circumstances.
Pro tip: Many family members send flowers as a token of their love and condolences. You can ask them to rather donate to the flower arrangement budget or bring flowers on the day to place on the casket.
Arranging a gathering for the funeral
It’s customary for a gathering to take place in line with the funeral of those who have passed. How this unfolds is dependent on the cultural and religious beliefs of the family and loved one. Many families will return their loved ones to their homeland as their final resting place, calling in all friends and family to pay respects the day before the funeral and celebrate the life of the deceased after the ceremony.
Where burials are concerned, some families and religions will erect a tombstone on the day of the funeral, while others will cremate their loved ones and join in prayer throughout the process. The type of gathering you arrange will be influenced by many factors, including religion, culture, and the wishes of your loved one.
Across all cultures and religions, the golden thread that ties these rituals together is love for the deceased, finding closure, and bidding them a fond farewell. These are the special moments on such a significant day, where tears are shed, dedications are made, and everyone simply remembers the deceased during their happiest times.
It’s important to keep this purpose in mind. If you are getting lost in arrangements and the stress of providing for your guests, rely on family and friends who will no doubt have offered their assistance already. Let them guide you towards creating the appropriate gathering for your family and means so that you can be present when you say your goodbyes.
Ultimately, you need to wear the cap of a project planner when figuring out how to plan a funeral. The most valuable piece of advice we can give you is to lean on friends and family where you can. You’ll find that most people want to offer support and assistance during the grieving process, sometimes they simply need to be given the opportunity to do so.
Hollard Funeral is also here for you to lean on. Our funeral cover and benefits help absorb a lot of the responsibility and costs associated with planning a funeral. Make it easier for yourself and your family… find out more about Hollard Funeral here.
Hollard Life Assurance Company Limited (Reg No. 1993/001405/06) is a Licensed Life Insurer and an Authorised Financial Services Provider.
