When a loved one passes away, things move fast and it’s easy to get lost in the chaos of planning a memorial service. Parkland, WA funeral homes can help you take charge of the process and make the key decisions you’ll need to ensure the deceased gets the treatment they deserve. We’ve put together a step-by-step list of everything you need to know when planning a funeral, and how the right funeral homes can help.

Step One – Call the Funeral Home

The sooner the funeral home enters the picture, the better. They can take custody of the body and handle all the paperwork with the state and any involved facilities. At Weeks’ Dryer Mortuary, we pride ourselves on our customer service and believe this difficult time can be easier without all the responsibility falling on your shoulders.

Step Two – Burial or Cremation

The next important decision you’ll have to make is whether you want to have your loved one’s remains interred or cremated. With burial, we’ll help you choose the proper casket, memorial stone or plaque, and burial arrangements. With cremation, where the body is reduced to ashes, we’ll help you arrange a memorial ceremony and your long-term plans for the ashes.

Step Three – Choose Your Funeral Package

The best funeral homes have burial and cremation options for every budget and are ready to work with you to create a memorial suited for your needs and means. We offer a variety of funeral packages with services including visitation and an on-site chapel. If you choose cremation, we offer similar memorial services to celebrate the departed’s life, and we also offer a basic cremation package if you prefer to plan an independent memorial or scattering.

Step Four – Arrange the Effects

Now that the essentials of the funeral are planned, the next step is to choose the decorative elements. This includes critical elements of the funeral including the casket, headstone, or urn, and we offer an extensive catalog of options provided through vendors known for high-quality construction. If you wish to include personal effects like belongings of the deceased, we’re happy to include them in the memorial service.

Step Five – Assemble the Guest List

One of the biggest factors in arranging a funeral is deciding how big you want to make the guest list. We offer packages suitable for both small and large funerals, and we’re happy to work with third-party facilities to make sure a large group of mourners is comfortable at the service. We’ll ask early if you have an idea of the size of funeral you want, but late additions are possible.

Step Six – Arrange Transportation

How the deceased and your guests get to the funeral is a key element of planning the event. Many people choose to have a traditional hearse followed by a procession of cars. If the departed loved classic cars or horses, we can incorporate those into the procession to arrange a personal touch.

We think the personal touch is what makes Weeks’ Dryer Mortuary distinct among Parkland, WA funeral homes. Visit us for a consultation at our main office at 220 South 134th Street, Tacoma, WA, 98444, less than two miles from Parkland, WA, or reach us on our website or by phone at (253) 537-0253.