Selecting a Funeral Home
You may want to gather funeral home recommendations from those who understand your unique needs. Family, friends, clergy, or medical or healthcare professionals may offer to help make connections, or help you research area funeral homes.
Questions to Ask Your Funeral Home
Each funeral home offers different services, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. Consider location, culture, faith, and finances in your selection. Remember that you have choices and control. You deserve to feel heard and cared for, and your child deserves to be honored in a way that feels meaningful and respectful.
Consider asking the following questions when making your selection:
- What experience do you have with planning a child’s funeral?
- Do you offer products (such as caskets or urns) or services specifically designed for children?
- What experience do you have serving families of my cultural or faith background?
- Which death/funeral care services (such as embalming, cremation, burial, or transportation) do you provide? What are the costs associated with each service?
- Can you assist with official documentation?
- Do you have someone on staff to help support siblings and other children?
- Are your locations nearby? Are you open to other options or places to host a service?
- Can you recommend any service vendors, clergy, or celebrants?
- What level of personalized care can my family expect to receive? Will one funeral director or several care for my child and my family?
- What financial arrangements are available?
Ask Yourself:
Do I feel heard and cared for? Will they honor my child’s legacy? Will my child’s needs and my family’s needs be met? Does this “feel right?”
If the answer is no, then ask further clarifying questions. Always remember that you have choices and control. You do not need to agree to any final arrangements if you are not comfortable with your funeral home’s level of service. Simply connect with another funeral home and explain your situation. The new funeral home will arrange to transfer care to their location on your behalf.
Entrusting Your Child's Body & Your Family to the Care of Your Funeral Director
Your Funeral Director's Role
Funeral directors offer a unique touch point of support. They understand that their role is to care for the heart and soul of your family. When you are ready, your funeral care team will treat both you and your child with tenderness and compassion. From the moment your child's body is brought into their care, your funeral directors will work alongside you to plan a meaningful tribute to honor your child’s legacy, and help you shape the final moments with your child’s body.
