Dealing with the unexpected loss of someone you love is a difficult challenge for anyone to handle. If you find yourself suddenly thrown into planning a funeral, it's important that you take the time to gather all of the information you need to allow the process to proceed as smoothly as possible. That means gathering information and putting yourself in a position to avoid uncertainty.

Below, you'll find a guide to some questions you should be sure to ask a funeral director when planning a memorial service. Having the answers to these questions will help guarantee that no stone is uncovered and that no question is unanswered, allowing you to take comfort in knowing you've done everything you can to properly respect the memory of the one you've lost.

Ask About Publications

One of the most difficult challenges facing bereaved people is figuring out how to spread the word of an untimely death. Making individual phone calls can be impractical as well as painful, so finding alternate methods for disseminating information is extremely valuable.

Your funeral director will help you work with local newspapers and other publications to spread the word of the death as quickly and widely as possible. These notices and obituaries can also serve as moving tributes to a person you've lost, so you should be sure to utilize the opportunity to share your feelings as well.

Ask About Handling Flowers

Sending flowers is a time tested method of expressing grief and condolence, but often times, the amount of plants sent to a funeral home in memorial of a lost person can be overwhelming. If you're concerned about finding a home for so many plants, you need to be aware of ways to make sure they're taken care of.

Often times, local businesses will accept funeral plants as donations for fertilizer or even repurposed decorations. In some circumstances, you may even invite guests at a funeral to take plants home with them as a personal memorial. Your funeral director will work with you to find the best solution for you and your family.

Ask About Personalization

No funeral service has to follow a script, and you don't have to be beholden to traditional expectations of a memorial service. If you're concerned about properly honoring the memory of a person you've lost, there are steps you can take to make the proceedings unique and individualized. Be sure to ask your funeral director about ways you can make the deceased's personality truly shine through, allowing you to host a true memorial of the person you've lost.

To learn more, contact a funeral home like Bolton & Lunsford Funeral Homes.