What are the benefits of prepaying your funeral?

Death is inevitable! One day everyone has to die.

Once the person dies, the next important step is arranging a funeral ceremony. It takes lots of planning, preparation, and decisions, which may become chaotic for some people. Besides emotional burden, often families also experience financial problems after the loss of their loved ones, especially if he/she was the only one earning bed and butter for the family. Therefore, in such situations, arranging a funeral service can further add on to their financial burden, says Michael Scarpaci.

If you don’t want to put your loved ones through financial difficulties after your death, then prepaying your funeral is the best way. Well, prepaying your funeral comes with several benefits. By doing this, you can not only take care of the cost but also plan a desirable funeral ceremony. Michael Scarpaci and his team, at Scarpaci Funeral Home of Staten Island, have helped a number of clients organize their funeral and memorial services.

Are you still confused about whether to choose a pre-paid funeral or not? If yes, then below are some of the reasons by Michael why prepaying your funeral is beneficial.

Peace of mind - There is nothing more comforting than knowing that everything will be in order, even after your death. Of course, your family and friends will always miss your presence. But at least, they won’t be dealing with finances to arrange your funeral when life already will be chaos.

By prepaying your funeral, you can lessen the financial burden on your loved ones during a difficult time. Don’t forget to tell your friends and family the details of the funeral home where you have pre-planned your funeral.

Plan a desirable funeral - Almost everyone has some thoughts about their funeral ceremony. For example, you probably want your family and friends to play your favorite music, use your favorite flowers for decoration or bury/cremate your body.

With so many things to manage during the funeral, your loved ones may forget to use your favorite flowers or play your favorite music. Therefore, it is best to leave your funeral ceremony planning to professionals. By pre-planning your funeral, you can tell your wishes to the funeral home manager, such as the theme, the venue, the flowers, the music and more. However, make sure you involve your loved ones in funeral planning, as it plays an important role in grieving.
 
It saves you money - Another major advantage of prepaying your funeral is that you can save a lot of money. When you plan ahead and prepay your funeral, you pay according to the current price and the cost of the funeral will rise due to any reasons, even inflation.

In closing

When it comes to prepaying your funeral, it is not only empowering but also brings a great sense of peace of mind. This is because your loved ones don’t have to experience financial and decision making stress after your death. Instead, they can take part in your funeral, which is an important part of grieving.

Michael Scarpaci:Everything you need to know about the wake!

Everyone has to go through the pain of losing a loved one. Whether or not you have ever experienced this, it is important to get yourself familiar with all the “after-death rituals.”

“Wake” is one such ritual that plays a great role, says Michael Scarpaci. 

What is the wake? - It is an intimate gathering of the deceased’s family before a funeral service. Today, people host wakes at a funeral home or house of worship. This can either be held on the same day as the funeral or the day before. 

However, there may be slight variations in the wake service. The purpose remains the same. The wakes are typically hosted to console the deceased’s loved ones and family and to say goodbye to the lost loved one. The guest list of a wake includes close friends, family or colleagues.

According to Michael, the wake is an opportunity to gather, and comfort each other after the great loss. 

What you should say?

The wake is the gathering involved a few people. This means it is difficult to escape the ceremony without saying anything. Most often people have no idea about what they should say to the deceased’s family and friends at the wake. Never say cliche lines, such as “I understand how you feel,” or “He or she is in a better place”. 

Instead, share a short story or memory that you have with the deceased. And, never forget to sign the guest-book before leaving. Always remember, grieving doesn’t end with the funeral. It is a journey that can last for months, years, or lifetime. Hence, it is important to stay in touch with the grieving person and help them heal. 

What can you wear?

When it comes to the dress code for a wake, it is similar to what you wear to a funeral service. Although it's not necessary to wear black, you should pick simple clothing that represents the somber nature of the occasion. You can also attend the wake in your work clothes if you’re directly coming from your office. Just remember, stick with the basics and you’re good to go to the wake. 

What to expect?

In the wake, an obituary or death notice will be read to tell the mourners about the place and time of the services, such as funeral, and memorial.

These are things to keep in mind while attending a wake. For more tips and suggestions, consult Michael Scarpaci. 

Insight into memorial service etiquette by Michael Scarpaci

Memorial services are important says Michael Scarpaci. 

Scarpaci Funeral Home in Staten Island, Michael Scarpaci understands that it’s stressful for both friends and family to deal with the loss of a loved one. The funeral or memorial service time is very vulnerable, and people are still high on emotions. In such a condition, even the smallest mistake can cause an outburst. Hence, it is extremely important for you to behave properly at the memorial service and respect all the rules. 

What are memorial services? - These rituals usually take place in the absence of the body after it has been cremated or buried. This service involves people saying prayers, singing songs, delivering eulogies, and reading passages from the scripture. 

Memorial service is a somber occasion. Therefore, if you behave or dress inappropriately, it can hurt the feelings of the deceased’s family and friends.  

If you have a memorial ceremony to attend and it's your first time, here are the memorial service etiquette you need to know.  

Where to sit? 

The venues for memorial service can range from a theater to fire station, cultural arts hall, restaurant, and a nature preserve. If it's your first time to a memorial ceremony, it is important to know that the front seats in the memorial service are usually reserved for the family and intermediate relatives. And other guests can sit anywhere. However, if you arrive late for the funeral service, make sure you take a place at the back without disturbing others.  

How to dress up? 

Well, the place and time play an important role in deciding the dress code for the memorial service. For example, if the service takes place on a beach, lose those high heels. Overall, you can dress formally for the service. These days, families even have a dress code for the memorial service, so make sure you follow the dress code and dress accordingly. 

What to say?

The main purpose of having a memorial service is about sharing memories about the deceased person. This includes who the deceased was and talking about the good and positive things. If you have any beautiful memories related to the deceased person, memorial service is an ideal place to share it with the deceased's friends and family. 

In fact, some people even organize an open mic at a memorial service where guests can speak publicly about the memorable moments with the deceased. If you’re not comfortable talking publicly, you can share your best thoughts with the deceased’s family in private. But make sure, keep it real. Using canned phrases such as “ she’s in a better place” or “I know how you feel right now,” can make things worse than comforting. 

The bottom line

Usually, a memorial service is organized to honor and remember the deceased loved one. And every guest should behave properly to avoid making it more stressful for the deceased’s family and close friends. These are some of the things you need to consider while attending a memorial service. 

For more tips and suggestions about memorial or funeral service, consult Michael Scarpaci. 

Tips on overcoming funeral fears by Michael Scarpaci

Do you feel overwhelmed every time you think of attending a funeral service? Don’t worry!

 You’re not alone to feel that way. Many people live with the fears to attend to funeral service. 

According to Michael Scarpaci manager of Scarpaci funeral home in Staten Island, funeral fears 
may also cause you to think whether or not you should attend the funeral. However,these fears 
shouldn’t keep you from honoring a deceased person and bidding farewell.

There are a number of reasons that you could feel stressful with the thoughts of attending a
 funeral service. For instance, a person with social anxiety might not feel comfortable 

attending a funeral ceremony where they have to meet or interact with various people. 

If you’re struggling with funeral nerves, Michael Scarpaci has given tips to overcome funeral
 fears. Read further!

Talk about your fears and anxieties - The best way to calm your funeral nerves is to talk about 
your fears and anxieties you feel while attending a funeral. You can open up about your fears
 with your family member or a close friend to let some of the stress away and to cope with your
 emotions better. 

Never be scared to show emotion or to cry - Always remember, it’s absolutely okay to express
your emotions. There is no need to suppress your tears or maintain your self-control while attending
a funeral ceremony. Don’t be scared of what will people think if you get carried away with your
emotions during a funeral service. Don’t worry! People will understand.

Find a partner for support - If you find yourself overwhelmed with funeral nerves, make sure
you have a friend or partner who can accompany you at the funeral. This way you will not alone
in the funeral service. With a helping hand and some support, it can be helpful and comforting for
you to deal with your emotion.

Calming funeral nerves using dog support - Using dogs as a comfort companion at a funeral
has been gaining popularity in the US. Losing a friend or a family member can lead to a distressing
time. So, having dogs in a funeral service can help people to relax for a while and distracting from
an overwhelming emotional time.

Besides these, you also need to be kind to yourself. Mindfulness is one of the best techniques
you can use to regulate your breathing and feel restful. On the other hand, aromatherapy oils
like chamomile or lavender and a hot bath can also be a soothing way to prepare yourself to
attend a funeral ceremony.

4 Tips To Navigate Go Through A Funeral Reception By Michael Scarpaci

Death of a close friend or a family member is traumatic. The pain to lose a loved one takes time to heal. However, when someone has to host a funeral, the pain and the grief needs to be kept aside to ensure the proper planning and hosting of the funeral. Michael Scarpaci, manager of Scarpaci funeral home in Staten Island and Brooklyn provides the following tips to easily navigate through the funeral and reception with ease and poise.

• Plan the reception thoroughly in advance:- The first thing that needs to be properly done is the planning of the reception. Managing the grief is tough but do not let it get in the way of giving the loved one a proper send off. Make sure the catering is organized and all the work is done so that you can mourn with others. Even a small disarrangement or problem could lead to state of heightened grief. 
•  Keep your outfit simple:- Attire plays a huge role in the funeral reception. Right outfit keeps you from feeling uncomfortable. Wear the dress and shoes that are comfortable and somber for the occasion. Try to think your outfit ahead of the time. Many people keep an extra outfit to ensure that they can change when they want to.
• Surround yourself with support:- Generally a funeral is only for the friends and family of the deceased which means that there are going to be a variety of people that you may like and a few you do not. If you feel out of the place, surround yourself with the people you love and who are able to understand you grieving and mourning.
• Maintain distance from conflict:- Having a conflict in a funeral is rough. It will not only affect your mental well being but that of the  loved ones attending the funeral. People respond differently to the stress of losing someone. It is not only the loss of the loved one but the pressure of the funeral expenses, finances and the unresolved conflicts that often lay dormant until the funeral. Thus, before you feel yourself lashing out. Avoid the conflict and be polite to everyone you see.

The above mentioned four tips help the loved ones to navigate through the grief and pain. Planning a funeral requires a lot of grit. A funeral director helps the family to make the right decisions and work towards planning a proper funeral and its reception.