Planning a Funeral: A Step-by-Step Checklist for the First Week

If you are planning a funeral, start with three things: confirm the legal pronouncement of death, choose a funeral home or cremation provider, and gather any written wishes your loved one left. Everything else can wait a day. This funeral planning checklist walks you through the first week one small step at a time, so you are never facing the whole thing at once.

You do not have to do this perfectly. You only have to do the next thing.

What do I do in the first 24 to 48 hours?

In the first day or two, the goal is simple: care for your loved one and make a few essential calls. Nothing more.

• Get a legal pronouncement of death. In a hospital or care facility, staff handle this. At home, call the appropriate local number or hospice line.
• Contact a funeral home or cremation provider so they can arrange transport.
• Tell immediate family and one or two close friends.
• Look for written wishes, a will, or prepaid funeral arrangements.
• Find important documents: ID, insurance papers, and any veteran records.

If you are unsure who to call first, the funeral home can guide you through most of it. This is what they do every day, and a good one will move at your pace.

How do I choose between burial and cremation?

This is usually the first big decision, because it shapes timing and cost. If your loved one left instructions, follow them. If not, talk it through with close family.

A few questions that help:

• Did they ever mention a preference, even in passing?
• Is there a family plot or a meaningful place already chosen?
• Do you want the service before or after the burial or cremation?
• What feels manageable for your family right now?

There is no right answer here, only the one that fits your loved one and your family. Ask the provider for a written, itemized price list so you can compare honestly, without pressure.

What decisions come next?

Once the basics are handled, the middle of the week is about shaping the service. Take these one at a time.

1. Choose the type of service. A traditional funeral, a graveside service, or a celebration of life that feels more personal.
2. Set the date, time, and place. Coordinate with the venue, officiant, and any travel for close family.
3. Pick an officiant. A clergy member, a celebrant, or a family member who can lead.
4. Decide on viewing or visitation. Whether to hold one, and when.
5. Plan transportation. For the family, and for your loved one if needed.

Write each choice down as you make it. When grief makes everything blur together, a short written list keeps you from re-deciding the same thing twice.

Who do I need to notify?

Telling people is heavy, so share the load. Make a short list and ask family or friends to split it with you.

• Extended family and close friends
• Employer and any colleagues your loved one was close to
• Faith community, clubs, or groups they belonged to
• Their doctor, and Social Security or relevant benefits offices
• Banks, insurance, and any accounts that need closing later

You do not need to reach everyone in the first week. Start with the people who would want to be at the service, and let the rest follow.

How do I write the obituary and gather photos?

The obituary does two jobs: it announces the service and it honors a life. You can keep it simple.

If the words feel impossible right now, our gentle guide to writing an obituary gives you a clear structure and examples to follow. Even a few honest sentences are enough.

While you are at it, begin a shared photo folder. Ask family to add images for the slideshow, memorial table, or program. Gathering photos early takes the pressure off later in the week.

What goes into the service itself?

By mid-week, you are shaping what the day will actually feel like. This is where small, personal details matter most.

• Order of service. The flow of the ceremony, from opening words to the final farewell. If the term is new to you, here is what an order of service includes.
• Readings and music. A favorite hymn, a song they loved, a poem, or a short passage.
• Who will speak. A eulogy, plus anyone offering a reading or memory.
• The printed program. A keepsake guests hold and take home.
• Flowers, photos, and personal touches. Items that reflect who they were.

Choosing readings can feel daunting. A handful of short funeral poems and readings may give you a starting point when nothing comes to mind.

What can I prepare in the final days before the service?

The last stretch is about details and rest. Try to delegate as much as you can.

• Confirm timing with the venue, officiant, and any musicians.
• Finalize and print the program and any prayer cards or bookmarks.
• Arrange food or a gathering afterward, if you are having one.
• Set up a guest book so visitors can sign and leave a note. Here is how to set up a memorial guest book.
• Prepare yourself: eat something, sleep if you can, and let people help.

When it comes to the printed program, you do not have to design it from scratch. A simple Botanical Funeral Program Template lets you drop in the order of service, a photo, and a few words, then print it at home or at a local shop. You can find other printable memorial templates for prayer cards, bookmarks, and slideshows in the same place, so the keepsakes match.

A gentle word for the week ahead

You will not get everything right, and you do not need to. Lean on the people around you. Let the funeral director carry the logistics they are there to carry. Make each choice with love, then move to the next one.

One step at a time is enough. That is the whole checklist, really.