F unerals are really for the living.

While this may be difficult to understand, the fact is that funerals are for those suffering the trauma of a death, whether it be the loss of a family member or friend.

A funeral should be considered as other celebrations and ceremonies in our lives…simply a rite of passage. A funeral is a public declaration and celebration of a life that was lived and a death that has occurred. By offering family and friends the opportunity to gather, we also offer hope of healing the pain and trauma associated with death. Funerals often signify the beginning of the healing process. As an acknowledgment and understanding of the loss, a funeral or memorial service allows friends and family members to move through the natural period of grief.

B y prearranging your own service, you can express your personal preferences, likes and dislikes, as well as your hopes and desires. Funeral prearrangement also enables one to exert a type of control over the last event of his or her life. But, most of all, it eases the burden for those making tough decisions for a loved one's funeral service during a time of grief and stress.

F rom our long experience in helping families make funeral arrangements during a time of sorrow, we know that it is better to plan a funeral before the need arises. There are also financial advantages in prearranging a funeral. The price of the funeral is fully determined and will not increase or be affected by inflation as time goes by. If you would like more information about prearrangement planning, please contact us. It is a helpful service we are pleased to offer at Edwards Funeral Home.