When pre-planning a funeral, all of your thoughts and wishes are planned for. Your family will know what you want, and not what they think you want. At Olson Funeral Home, we'll help you put it in writing. Writing it down will help avoid family disputes, or involvement by others who may not know what your wishes are. Your loved ones won't question: "Did we do the right thing? Did we forget anything? Is this what she/he wanted? Did we spend too much?" All that is eliminated because you put it in writing.

Pre-planning is the first step. Many forward-thinking people are considering ways to fund their funeral. Funding the funeral assures that the goods and services selected will be provided at the time of need. Pre-planning along with pre-funding work together because they offer peace of mind. Your survivors will not be burdened with decisions regarding your funeral.

Since 1960, the number of pre-planned funerals has increased by 1000%. Why such a dramatic increase in Pre-Planned Funerals?

Pre-planning properly will assure that:

• Your wishes will be fulfilled.
• You will spare your loved ones from having to make many decisions.
• Under present laws, your funds will be exempt from county and nursing home attachments.

Pre-planning your own funeral makes sense because it allows you to take full control of your funeral right now. You can save your loved ones the trauma of making difficult decisions without knowing exactly what you have wanted.

Pre-planning allows you to confer with your loved ones and make your plans together, thus resolving your most personal matters with a clear mind, in a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere. In return, you will save the people you care about most from the emotional turmoil and burdensome decisions that an unplanned funeral can often bring.

In Minnesota, there are three primary ways to pre-fund a funeral: a bank trust, an annuity, or an insurance policy. To use a trust, we can provide you with special forms provided to set aside money for you in a trust at a federally-insured bank or savings & loan association.

You may ask us about purchasing a small-face value insurance policy. The cash proceeds of this policy can be used to pay for funeral and burial costs. The staff here will know of life insurance agents in your area who specialize in life insurance policies designed to cover funeral expenses.

Pre-arranging doesn't guarantee that all arrangements will in fact occur as planned, but it does offer your survivors the opportunity to follow your wishes. Because there is no advance way of knowing exactly when, where, how, and under what circumstances death will come, or what services or merchandise will be available in the future, the original plans could change. Still, sound planning significantly increases the likelihood that your desires will be met.

I have already made arrangements and funded my funeral in advance. What if I move or want to use another Funeral Home?
By making arrangements in advance, you were able to express your own wishes and relieve this emotional burden from your family. By funding your funeral in advance, you also relieved the financial burden from your family. These arrangements can be reestablished with another funeral home, are transferable by the owner to other funeral homes, and can follow you wherever you go.

Permission to use content from the Minnesota Funeral Directors Associaton.