Have you ever had a disagreement with someone in your family? Can you imagine how it could add stress to planning a funeral? If your family isn’t all on the same page when it comes to funeral decisions, then it could lead to heartache.

Having more than one person responsible for funeral decisions has both benefits and disadvantages. Can you see where mediation from the funeral home staff could help?

If you’re interested in learning more about solving family disagreements in funeral decisions, then spend 20 minutes listening to Forever in their Hearts, where host Erik Reynolds interviews Valerie Martell, Director of Operations for Martin Brothers Funeral Services about Martin Brothers’ strategies for helping with that type of situation.

Grief makes it more difficult to make decisions about a funeral. The British Columbia Bereavement Helpline* says those who are grieving are more likely to be irritable or confused, and cry more easily. This interview explains how to cope when decisions turn into family disagreements.

When Families Disagree over Funeral Decisions

The episode starts out with Erik posing a question to Valerie about how families handle disagreements that come up while planning the funeral of a lost loved one.

Valerie answers with examples based on actual experiences she’s had during her work in the funeral home.

If you have just one family member helping with funeral plans, then you are at risk for experiencing some type of disagreement.

Finding Help from Seasoned Professionals

Then Valerie discusses how a funeral director and other members of the funeral home staff can help settle these disagreements. She also answers these questions:

- Does everyone in my family need to agree on every single decision?
- What if my family is divided on the issue of cremation vs burial?
- How much of a family member’s last wishes need to be honored?

Now ask yourself these two questions: Do I anticipate family disagreements when planning a funeral for a departed loved one? Could my family use a funeral director’s help? If you answered “Yes” to either question, then you won’t want to plan without having this person present.

Who the Person with the Final Say Is

Next Valerie turns to who has the final say when it comes to disagreements in funeral decisions, and how that choice is determined.

A disagreement of this caliber, with so many emotions attached, can cause a rift between family members. A funeral director knows the steps to take to help prevent that from happening.

There are so many factors that could cause families to disagree. What’s keeping you from accepting help from a funeral director who can mediate the planning process for your family?

Valerie wraps up the episode by sharing some final thoughts about what happens when families disagree during funeral planning.

Is Your Family Ready to Discuss Funerals?

Do you want to avoid disagreements in funeral decisions? Is your family in need of a funeral director who can help iron the wrinkles? Leave your questions and comments about this or any other funeral-related topic in the area below, where we can discuss them with you.

Martin Brothers Funeral Services has more than 100 years of experience in providing thoughtful, dedicated services to families dealing with loss. If you are ready to take care of funeral pre-arrangements, have additional questions about their services, or are dealing with a loss, please contact them at their Vancouver office.

Martin Brothers Funeral Services

Vancouver: Funeral Services Centre
3398 Dunbar Street
Vancouver, BC Canada V6S 2C1

Telephone Number: 778.330.7799
Toll Free Number: 1.800.382.2901
Fax Number: 778.330.7633

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MartinBrothersFuneralChapelsBcLtd
Twitter: https://twitter.com/martinbrothers1

*http://www.bcbereavementhelpline.com/grief/