• What are the Benefits of Advanced Planning?

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Our experience shows that it is more comfortable for your family to review one's prior wishes than to try to make difficult decisions after death occurs. In keeping with that experience, we offer Heritage advance planning.

By advance planning, you eliminate the many decisions that your loved ones will have to make when they are under the most stress. At a time when they should be gathering in support of one another and celebrating your life they will not be burdened with the details of funeral service planning.

We understand that funerals in general and one's own funeral in particular, are difficult topics of conversation for most people. We consider it part of our mission to help alleviate at least a portion of the anxiety associated with funeral planning and funding.

The Advance Planning program we offer here at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A. is a safeguard against rising cost. By planning and funding now, you not only offset today's funeral costs, but you also have the opportunity to choose from a variety of flexible payment options rather than having to pay the entire amount at the time of need. Many families prefer to make one lump sum payment while others select a payment plan designed to meet their financial capabilities.

Your Advance Plan allow your life insurance benefits to assist your survivors with living expenses for the future. Your funeral cost won't be taken from their income. It's really a matter of thoughtfulness as well as providing sound financial management. Anyone can qualify. The rate of delivering a quality service increases regularly. By making your Advanced Plans today you will ensure sure that this spiraling inflation never raises the price.

We truly hope that we will be able to count you among our families who have often used words like: valuable, rewarding and worthwhile when relaying their planning experiences to us. Surprised? Don't be. Arranging your funeral in advance can be a real gift to your loved ones, especially in light of the impact your death will have on those closest to you. It is also a very practical financial decision for you.

• What are the steps to Advance Planning a Funeral?

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Step 1
You can easily arrange a consultation in your home or at any of our eight locations seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., by calling (410) 758-3987.

Step 2
Prepare for a meeting with our Advance Planner by asking yourself these questions:

1. What would you prefer regarding the service: traditional (religious) or non-religious?
2. Would you want to be buried or cremated?
3. Do you have a particular cemetery in mind?
4. What type of music would best reflect your life and passions?
5. Are there readings or poems that would add meaning to your ceremony?
6. Are there other gestures you would include? (i.e. having a tree planted in your memory; having a faithful pet in attendance; releasing balloons; integrating important cultural traditions).
7. Who are the people who need to be notified in the event of your death?
8. Make a list of important papers, such as wills or insurance policies, and their location.
9. Remember to mention religious affiliation, cultural customs, or other meaningful items that could be included in the service.
10. Think about personal information relating to your life you might want to include in a newspaper notice.

Step 3
Meet with our Advance Planner, who will help you to explore your answers to the above ten questions - and help you to create the perfect advance funeral or cremation plan. Pre-payment options and benefits will be explored at that time.

• Misconceptions of Planning your Funeral in Advance

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1. "I don't need to talk about it."
No, you don’t want to talk about it. But who does? No one wants to think about his/her death. But have you ever purchased automobile insurance? Fire insurance? Life insurance? Arranging your funeral, like purchasing life insurance is one more provision you can make for a time when your family must go without you. You answer the difficult questions. You select the funeral service you want. You decide how much to spend. Doesn’t that make sense?

2. "My insurance will take care of everything"
NO, IT WON’T. No insurance policy tells your family how to plan your funeral, which funeral director to choose, or guarantee the funeral will be paid in full. Insurance only provides money, financial security for your heirs. Traditional insurance will not protect the costs of your funeral from inflation. Your family will still be faced with decisions you could have made a head of time for them. If you use this as an excuse, your family may make an emotion-laden decision that won’t be in their best interest, and your insurance benefits may not go toward the purposes you intended. Sometimes, too, an insurance policy has to be cashed in because of financial need, especially when a person lives to a ripe old age. You deserve the piece of mind that comes from having your funeral expenses taken care of.

3. "I can't afford it."
A funeral purchased when a death in the family occurs usually must be paid in full before interment. That often makes a huge dent in a family’s budget. When you set aside funds you may choose from a variety of payment plans that meet your budget. You save by planning and funding tomorrow’s funeral at today’s costs.. Also, when you buy today, you pay today’s prices. Funerals, like everything else in the world, are affected by inflation, rising costs and the market place. They’re going up all the time. Your family will pay more later, and they’ll pay it all at once. You can afford to make funeral plans ahead of time, and we’ll help you choose a payment plan that’s right for you, setting aside funds so they may be used for funeral expenses only.

4. "My children/brother/uncle/friend/lawyer will take care of everything when the time comes."
How fortunate you are to have close friends and family who will help make decisions when you are no longer there. And there will be many decisions to make, many reasons for your spouse to call on the expert advice of loving friends. But you can make this decision with none of the pressures that occur when there is a death in the family. And do you really want your children, that trusted friend or favorite brother-in-law to make a decision that you should make? Get the facts, learn the alternatives, educate yourself- be in charge. It may not be wise to depend on other people.

5. "I don't need to plan because I want to be cremated."
There’s probably a note in your will that states your desire to be cremated. The trouble is that wills aren’t generally read until long after the funeral takes place. Then, it’s too late for your wishes to be carried out. You guarantee that you get what you want by making your own arrangements. You’re the decision maker.

6. "My family knows my wishes"
Perhaps you have talked to your family in passing or in jest about the kind of funeral you’d like, but do they really know your wishes? Most of us handle discussions about death by joking or changing the subject, and families are, therefore, unprepared when they walk into the funeral home to make arrangements. And they’re overwhelmed. Our years of experience with families convince us that it is more considerate, as well as more economical, to make your own funeral arrangements in advance. Loving family members are sometimes so moved by emotion that they spend more than you would have wanted or less than you deserve.

7. "I'm a veteran-The Government will take care of me."
If you are on active military duty at the time of your death, the government will take care of your funeral expenses. If you are a veteran NOT on active military duty, the government provides a small allowance toward the cost of your funeral if you die in a VA hospital or have VA pension. And claim processing takes time. Your family will still have to make arrangements. All funeral arrangements and costs must still be handled by the family at a time when the family is moved by emotion, not reason.

8. "I'm not from this area, and I don't know where my funeral will be."
We live in a mobile society. The area in which you grew up may no longer be your home. It may be years between visits to your childhood home, yet you may want to be buried “back home.” Or, you may decide to make funeral arrangements in the area in which you now live. You may want to move closer to your children, or move to a retirement community. Maybe you’ve already done so. Today, many funeral plans are transferable. When you make your funeral plan, you may take that plan with you. The choice is yours when you make funeral arrangements in advance.