logo-image

WHY PLAN AHEAD?

Why Should I Plan Ahead?

Not everyone likes to plan ahead, but pre-planning your funeral arrangements not only gives you peace of mind about your final wishes being honored, but alleviates some of the stress and burden your loved ones are going through as they experience the grief associated with the loss.
‍
The staff of James E. Humphrey Funeral Home is happy to assist you with your funeral pre-needs by helping you make decisions about your funeral service in advance and guide you in helping eliminate some of the unnecessary stress brought on by a loved one’s death.

Plan Online Now

BEGIN PRE-PLANNING

Benefits of Preplanning

Lets Your Wishes Be Known

The death of a loved one often brings about unwarranted stress and turmoil among families. One family member wants one thing, while another family member wants something different. By planning ahead, you help prevent those disagreements by letting your family know what your wishes are and how you want your funeral service to be carried out and your business handled.

Peace of Mind

Our staff guarantees we will carry out the arrangements you want, just as you directed. Once the plans have been arranged, you and your family can rest easy knowing at the time of death, those uncomfortable decisions have been made. In a time when a family should be able to easily grieve, preplanning allows for that to happen.

Flexible Funding Options

When you preplan your funeral arrangements, there are more options when it comes to funding the funeral. A preneed insurance policy, life insurance policy or other payment options can all be arranged before the time of death. At the time of death, services must be paid in full, so having options ahead of time can also reduce other stress related to losing someone.

Relieves The Burden From Family

Following the death of a loved one, there are more than 150 decisions that have to be made within the first day or two following the death. Those stressful decisions on top of the stress of grieving a loss can be eliminated by arranging your final wishes ahead of time. If those decisions are made, your loved ones aren’t left wondering what you would have wanted and how they should proceed with funeral plans. With those decisions out of the way, your loved one can begin the healing process sooner.

Common Questions About Preplanning

  • What’s involved with pre-arranging a funeral?

    Pre-planning a funeral is an effective way to make sure that a family member’s wishes will be represented after they die. We will sit down with you, family and friends, if desired, to discuss all of the options available, and help you decide with what choices feel most comfortable. Our pre-planning experts will meet with you at our funeral home, or at your own home if that’s more convenient.


    Costs can be discussed, or the planning can simply be about what types of services the individual wants.


    When pre-arranging a funeral, individuals consider many facets:

    • Traditional burial or cremation services
    • What type of visitation (viewing, wake or reception)
    • Where will services be held (funeral home, place of worship, cemetery)
    • Special considerations
    • Religious/spiritual ceremony vs. secular gathering
    • Specific music to be used
    • Specific scripture/spiritual readings to be used
    • Flowers preference; memorial contributions
    • Any unique and specific desires of the individual or family to personalize a service

    Once all of the pre-arrangements have been made, we’ll keep copies of all of the decisions on file at our funeral home at no charge.

  • What does it cost to pre-arrange a funeral?

    Individuals and families can pre-arrange a funeral at no cost to them. The arrangements will be available once death has occurred. But many individuals wish to pre-fund their funeral now, so that the burden and responsibility of paying for the funeral does not fall to someone else.


    For individuals who elect to pre-fund their funeral, they have different options from which to choose. They typically involve a cash purchase of an insurance policy or trust today, which will be cashed in at the time of death. The policy or trust is designed to increase in value over time to keep pace with any increases in funeral cost over that same period. Our inflation-proof and price-guaranteed pre-funded plans are offered through SecurChoice Annuity Trust administered by Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association and LCBA Life Insurance. Payment programs are also available.

  • Do I have to pay in advance?

    Preplanning is merely making your wishes known; however, most families who do this choose to pre-fund their funeral as well. Doing so will relieve the financial burden from your family and offer peace of mind to you.

  • Can I transfer my plans to or from another funeral home?

    If you have plans at another funeral home and would like to move them here, we will help you do that. If you move from the area and would like to transfer your arrangements to another funeral home, we will assist you with that as well.

Share by: