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Pre-Planning |
Pre-Planning
Writing an
obituary
Pre-Planning
Prearranging allows you to make decisions about your funeral in a relaxed,
thoughtful manner, releasing your family from this responsibility during an
emotionally difficult time. Families tend to take comfort at the time of death,
simply knowing their loved one's funeral reflects his or her wishes.
When family members come into the funeral home after a death has occurred they
often struggle with the simplest questions. On a normal day it is easy to
remember Mom’s maiden name or the title of the song that Dad always hummed. But
hours by a hospital bedside or the shock of a sudden death can make arranging a
funeral one of the hardest tasks a person will ever face. Recording your wishes
in advance benefits your family tremendously.
Benefits of Advance Planning
Makes your personal wishes known
Spares your family from wondering “Is this what Mom wanted?”
Means that your family can be involved in making these difficult decisions
Relieves your loved ones of the financial responsibility
Steps in Advance Planning
The pre-planning process has four simple steps. Some people elect to do all
four steps in one visit. Others prefer to take their time in making these
decisions. We will work with you at whatever pace you desire. The four steps
include:
Recording vital statistics and family information
Determining the type of service you prefer
Calculating the cost of the funeral selected
Deciding how and when you want to pay for the arrangements
Although many of the people we serve decide to pre-pay their funerals,
pre-payment is an option, but not a necessity, when you pre-arrange with us.
Call us to discuss the various options available to you.
Some people choose to write their own obituary ahead of time, saving their family the difficult task of writing it at the individual’s time of death. An obituary is a brief biography of ones life that describes where he or she was born, grew up and educated, as well as their marriage, career, retirement and hobbies and club memberships, etc. It also includes a listing of the individual’s surviving family and of course, the service information. An obituary can be as long or as short as well as descriptive or non-descript as an individual feels necessary. Below is a sample obituary broken down and explained to help you write your own. This is just a sample and there are certainly no limits on how it should be written or what it can contain. If you would like us to keep a copy of your obituary on file, feel free to e-mail it to us.
--This first paragraph explains when the deceased passed away and when and where services will be held.
Richard Daniell “Dick” Whitted Sr., 90, long time Sarpy County farmer, died Thursday, May 24 at Midlands Community Hospital in Papillion, NE. Funeral services are set for Sunday, May 27, at 2:00 pm at old Trinity Lutheran Church in Papillion with burial in Cedardale Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday, May 26 at Bethany Funeral Chapel in LaVista from 1 – 8:00 pm with family receiving friends from 6-8:00 pm.
--The next section provides a brief biography of the deceased.
Dick was born March 4, 1911 in Fort Crook, NE to Ben and Mildred (Daniell) Whitted. He attended Trumble County School at Fort Crook and Bellevue High School. He married Martha Christiansen on October 7, 1933 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Papillion. In 1934 he bought a Chevrolet truck to haul grain and cattle for the farmers in the area. Dick farmed the family farm until his retirement in 1986. He also worked for Tractor Supply in Omaha for 11 years.
--Next is a list of hobbies, interests and memberships.
Dick enjoyed reading, animals, his sons and his grandchildren. He had a dual membership in the Beehive Masonic Lodge #184 in South Omaha and Papillion Lodge #39. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.
--Lastly is a list of survivors and those who preceded he or she in death.
His wife and his sons, Richard Duane and wife LaVawn of Idaho, Donald and wife Patty of Papillion, and Daniell (Deuce) and wife Pam of Shelby, Montana survive Dick. Eight grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren also survive him. His parents, his sister Ruth Dimmitt and great-grandson Jacob Buck preceded him in death.
If you wish to write an obituary and send it to us to keep on file, please
email it to us at
home@whittedfuneralchapel.com.