Flanner Buchanan

What Is Needed from Next of Kin for Burial and Cremation in Indianapolis, IN?

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:00:15 GMT

Summary

The next of kin typically provides legal authorization for burial or cremation.
Funeral homes often request identification, vital information, and signed authorization forms.
Documentation needs may vary by state and individual circumstances.
Funeral professionals help guide families through each step with care and clarity.

What Is Needed from Next of Kin for Burial and Cremation

Families throughout Indianapolis, Indiana often ask what is needed from the next of kin when planning burial or cremation . According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), funeral professionals rely on the legal next of kin to provide written authorization before arrangements can move forward.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) explains that authorization supports transparency under the Funeral Rule, helping families understand their rights and choices. Next of kin most often includes a spouse, adult child, parent, or legally appointed representative.

Identification and Essential Documentation

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes the importance of accurate information when preparing an official death certificate. Because of this, funeral homes often request the following from the next of kin:

A government-issued photo ID for the person authorizing arrangements.
Vital details about the deceased, including legal name, date of birth, parents’ names, and Social Security number.
Signed authorization forms for burial or cremation.
Information required to complete and file the death certificate.

Why Authorization Matters

Authorization confirms that the individual making decisions has the legal right to do so. For burial, families may need to confirm cemetery property or permit information. For cremation, a signed Cremation Authorization Form is typically required, and some situations may involve a brief waiting period.

FAQs

Who is considered the next of kin?

The next of kin is typically a spouse, adult child, parent, or legally appointed representative authorized to make final arrangements.

What documents are usually required?

Most funeral homes request identification for the next of kin, vital information for the death certificate, and signed authorization forms.

Do requirements vary by state?

Yes. Documentation and authorization requirements may vary by state or circumstance, so families are encouraged to seek local guidance.

Written for Flanner Buchanan Cremation and Burial, proudly serving families across the greater Indianapolis region with compassion and care.

About Flanner Buchanan Cremation and Burial

Flanner Buchanan Cremation and Burial provides burial and cremation services for families throughout the greater Indianapolis area. Families may call (317) 387-7000 to receive compassionate guidance and support during a difficult time.

www.flannerbuchanan.com

Why Do Funeral & Cremation Costs Vary in Indianapolis, Indiana?

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:00:26 GMT

Summary

• Funeral and cremation costs may vary based on regional expenses, facilities, staffing, and service options.

• Families in the Indianapolis area may notice different prices depending on service type, personalization, and available gathering spaces.

• Professional care, documentation support, and the level of involvement chosen often influence total cost.

• The FTC’s Funeral Rule ensures every funeral home provides clear, itemized pricing so families can make informed decisions.

Why Do Funeral and Cremation Costs Vary?

Families across the Indianapolis area often wonder why funeral and cremation costs differ from one funeral home to another. According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), price variations are common nationwide due to differences in operating expenses, staffing levels, and available service options. All cost-related insights referenced here are accurate as of 2025.

Regional and Overhead Differences

Funeral homes serving metropolitan regions like Indianapolis experience a range of operational expenses. Staffing needs, facility maintenance, utilities, and property costs all influence how pricing is structured. These regional considerations help explain why similar services may be priced differently between providers.

Facilities, Service Options, and Personalization

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires funeral homes to provide families with an itemized General Price List (GPL) to promote transparency. Pricing may vary depending on whether a funeral home offers on-site cremation, multiple chapels, reception areas, or other specialized gathering spaces.

Service selections also play a meaningful role. Options such as a full funeral service, cremation with a memorial gathering, or direct cremation involve different levels of preparation, staff time, and facility use. Personalized elements —such as music, flowers, printed materials, video tributes, and catering—may add to the total cost based on each family’s wishes.

Professional Care, Expertise, and Documentation

According to the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), funeral and cremation arrangements require skilled professional care. Transportation, preparation, planning guidance, and assistance with necessary documentation all require training and time, which are reflected in overall service costs.

Families may find it helpful to review GPLs, ask questions, and compare options so they can choose the funeral home that best matches their needs, values, and budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do funeral homes charge different prices for similar services?

Pricing often reflects regional operating expenses, facility offerings, staffing levels, and the degree of personalization a family chooses.

Does the FTC require funeral homes to provide detailed price lists?

Yes. Under the FTC’s Funeral Rule, every funeral home must provide a General Price List (GPL) so families can review services and costs before making decisions.

Can preplanning help manage funeral or cremation costs?

Preplanning may help families clarify their wishes, reduce emotional stress for loved ones, and bring greater predictability to future expenses.

Written for Flanner Buchanan Cremation & Burial, serving families throughout the greater Indianapolis region with compassion and care. Families may contact the team at ( (317) 387-7000 for guidance and support.

About Flanner Buchanan Cremation & Burial

Flanner Buchanan Cremation & Burial is part of the Flanner Buchanan family of funeral homes, serving families across the Indianapolis region with thoughtful guidance, professional care, and meaningful service options.

www.flannerbuchanan.com

How Much Does Cremation Cost in Indianapolis, IN?

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 13:00:11 GMT

Summary

• According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the national median cost of a funeral with cremation is $6,280 as of 2025.

• Direct cremation, which typically does not include a ceremony, generally ranges from $2,800 to $3,000 nationwide.

• Cremation costs vary depending on the type of service, level of professional care, and merchandise selected.

• Families in the greater Indianapolis region often appreciate cremation for its flexibility and simplicity.

How Much Does Cremation Cost?

Families in Indianapolis, Indiana, often ask how cremation pricing compares nationally and locally. According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) 2024 General Price List Study, the national median cost of a funeral with cremation is $6,280, accurate as of 2025.

This cost often includes professional services, transportation, care of the loved one, and the use of facilities for a service or memorial gathering.

Direct cremation is generally the most affordable option, with national averages typically ranging from $2,800 to $3,000.

This option usually includes the essential steps of cremation and required documentation without a formal ceremony.

What Influences Cremation Costs?

Cremation costs vary based on whether families choose a full service, memorial gathering, or a simple arrangement.

Merchandise choices, such as urns or keepsakes, may influence the overall cost.

Local considerations, including Indiana regulations and facility resources, can also affect pricing.

The Federal Trade Commission Funeral Rule requires transparency through a General Price List, helping families make informed decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cremation typically more affordable than burial?

Cremation is often more affordable because it does not usually involve cemetery property, a burial vault, or a casket. Costs vary depending on services selected.

Can families have a service with cremation?

Yes. Many families choose to hold a funeral or memorial service before or after cremation.

What is generally included with direct cremation?

Direct cremation typically includes transportation, basic professional services, required documentation, and the cremation process itself.

Written for Flanner Buchanan Cremation and Burial, proudly serving families throughout the greater Indianapolis region with compassion and care.

About Flanner Buchanan Cremation & Burial

Flanner Buchanan Cremation and Burial serves families throughout the greater Indianapolis region with cremation and burial services focused on dignity, flexibility, and thoughtful guidance. Families may call (317) 387-7000 to learn more about cremation options and service planning.

www.flannerbuchanan.com

How Much Does a Funeral Cost in Indianapolis, IN?

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 13:00:32 GMT

Summary

• Funeral costs vary based on the type of service, personalization, and regional factors.
• The NFDA reports a national median cost of $8,300 for a funeral with burial.
• A funeral with cremation has a lower national median cost of $6,280.
• Planning ahead helps families make informed, thoughtful decisions.

How Much Does a Funeral Cost?

Families in Indianapolis, Indiana, often ask how much a funeral may cost and what influences pricing. While every service is personal, national data offers helpful guidance.

According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the national median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial is about $8,300. A funeral with cremation typically has a median cost of $6,280, based on the 2024 General Price List Study. These figures are accurate as of 2025.

Funeral costs often vary based on service type, facility offerings, and personalization . Services typically include professional care of the deceased, coordination by funeral staff, use of facilities, and transportation.

Some families choose burial with a traditional viewing, while others select cremation followed by a memorial service. Each option carries different considerations, and merchandise selections may also affect overall cost.

Planning ahead allows families to ask questions, explore options, and reduce uncertainty during a difficult time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in the cost of a funeral?

Funeral costs often include professional services, care of the deceased, transportation, and use of facilities. Specific offerings vary by service type.

Are cemetery costs included in funeral pricing?

Cemetery-related costs are typically separate from funeral home charges and are not included in NFDA averages.

Is cremation less expensive than burial?

Cremation often has a lower overall cost than burial, though total expenses depend on service choices.

Written for Flanner Buchanan Cremation & Burial, proudly serving families throughout the greater Indianapolis region with compassion and care.

About Flanner Buchanan Cremation & Burial

Families across the greater Indianapolis area can turn to Flanner Buchanan Cremation & Burial for compassionate and professional guidance when planning funeral or cremation services. Their caring team can be reached at (317) 387-7000.

www.flannerbuchanan.com

Why Funerals Matter

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 18:43:40 GMT

by David Stamile, M.A., M.Div., BCC

Years ago, I made the decision to skip my own graduation. I told myself the ceremony would be long, tedious. and mostly forgettable. So, I stayed home. But what surprised me in the weeks and months afterward was how unfinished everything felt. I had worked so hard for that diploma, but without the ritual—the cap, the gown, the moment of crossing the stage—it never quite felt real. I had left something behind by not showing up to mark the moment.

I remember this moment when I hear people downplay the significance of funerals. “I don’t want a big fuss,” they say. “Just cremate me and be done with it.” I understand that impulse. But just like I didn’t realize what the graduation ceremony might have offered until it was gone, we often don’t realize the emotional and spiritual significance of funerals—until we are left without one.

The Theory Behind the Funeral

Grief scholar and clinician, J. William Worden names four essential tasks of mourning, and the first is accepting the reality of the loss . Attending a funeral or memorial service helps us do just that. Have you ever known in more conscious moments that a loved one has died, but out of habit picked up the phone to call them or been a bit surprised when they weren’t in their chair? If so, then you have experienced what some grief scholars call “middle knowledge” where you know your loved one has died, but in another sense you do not know. In other words you are likely working on the task of “accepting the reality of the loss” (Worden, 2018)

We need funerals to help us know more deeply that our loved one has died. We need moments of shared remembrance to allow us to bear witness—to what was, to what is no longer, and to the grief we carry together. When there is no service, it can feel like the loss never quite settles into our hearts. We are left with a quiet ache and a lingering sense that something was left undone.

Funerals play a vital role in helping people take the first steps in that process. They mark a clear moment in time when we stop what we’re doing, gather in community, and say: “This person mattered. This life had meaning. This loss is real.”

More Than Tradition

Some assume that funerals are only about religion or outdated custom, but that misses the larger picture. A funeral is a communal act of love and witness. Whether traditional or modern, religious or secular, elaborate or simple, the core purpose is the same: to gather, to name the loss, and to honor the life. Psychologists have found that people who participate in rituals after a loss—even small ones—often feel more supported and more able to cope. (See the study reviewed below in the section, Research that Matters for more explanation of this matter).

Funerals help people begin the difficult process of integrating a death into the ongoing story of their lives. They also send a message to the wider community: This person lived among us, and we remember.

Funerals are not just for the deceased; they are for the living. They are one of the ways we tend to each other’s grief, and to our own. The older adults I serve tend to be more in touch with our shared need for funerals. One resident in my community recently commented, “I didn’t even know they had died. I would have liked to say goodbye.” There was no drama in their voice; just a quiet disappointment. It is something I’ve heard from many: how hard it is when a neighbor dies and there’s no opportunity to gather, remember, or mark their absence together.

I suspect this quiet protest over the absence of funerals is, in part, an indirect way of saying, “I hope that when I die, someone will care enough to have a funeral for me.” The thought lingers: “Their life came and went with barely an acknowledgment; I wonder if that will also happen for me,” an idea suggested by Hoy (2025).

There is a certain stoicism in our culture that makes it hard to say directly, “I want a funeral, and I want it to be meaningful. I want people to come.” Instead, we come at it sideways: “It’s not right. Why didn’t we hold a funeral for them?"

Making It Easier to Talk About

It can be hard to talk about funerals ahead of time, but doing so can be one of the greatest gifts you leave behind. When families are left to guess what someone would have wanted, it can compound their stress and sorrow. When clear plans are in place—whether in writing or through a conversation—it allows survivors to grieve with fewer burdens.

Pre-arranging a service or even simply expressing a desire for one can help ensure that your life will be honored in a way that brings comfort and meaning to those who remain. A funeral doesn’t have to be somber or grand. It just needs to be true—a gathering that tells the story of life, surrounded by those who knew and loved.

References.

Hoy, W.G. (2025). Creating meaning in funerals: How families and communities make sense of death. Routledge.

Worden, J.W. (2018). Grief counseling and grief therapy: A handbook for the mental health practitioner, 5 ^th ed. Springer.

The Author : Holding an M.Div. from Truett Theological Seminary, David Stamile is a board-certified chaplain and a student in the Doctor of Ministry program at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas. Since 2020, David has been chaplain for Providence Village, an Ascension Living continuum of care community in Waco, Texas. Beginning August 8, David will be Director of Spiritual Care at Martha Jefferson House in Charlottesville, Virginia. He and his wife Erin have one son, Ben.

www.flannerbuchanan.com

Holiday Conversations

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 18:45:03 GMT

Lots of folks will have the opportunity to sit down and talk with their parents, siblings or children over the next few weeks. For some, the holidays may be the only time during the year has at least one hot topic it’s best to avoid. But there is one subject that should be tackled, even if it seems hard, while everyone is together.

It’s not the birds and bees talk. It’s the final wishes talk. Has the burial or cremation question been answered? Does everyone know about funeral preferences? Open casket or closed casket, religious or not, what do your parents want their closing ceremony to look, sound, and feel like?

How in the world does one approach this subject? Probably not at the dinner table or while opening the gifts or after too many egg nogs. Find a quiet time. Maybe over a cup of coffee in the morning or on a walk after dinner. Consider putting a frame around the questions that establishes why it’s important to you, to know.

Something like this, “I love this family. It’s always so great when we get together. You know I think about all of you even when I am not here. Sometimes I worry about how we will all handle the tough times when they come. What happens if one of us is sick or dies. It would help me if I knew what you would want us to do if you were sick or if we needed to put together a funeral. Can you help me?”

It’s a tough conversation to have. But it was also hard for your parents to talk to you about birth control and drugs. Still, those were important conversations and they helped. This one will help as well. Getting started is the hardest part. The reward might be holding your family together through what is always one of the toughest times for any family. When a parent dies.

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Veterans Day - Thank You for Your Service

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 18:40:43 GMT

Because you are there we all sleep better at night. You serve in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. Some of you serve for two years, some for twenty or more. Some enter into service at a tender age looking for opportunity. Some are following a longstanding family tradition. You are mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters. We, thank you for your service.

You spend days, weeks, and even years away from your family. You are not always there to teach your daughter to ride her bike; perhaps you missed your son’s first steps. Because you serve, you can’t always be counted on to attend the baseball game or the teacher conference. With your service comes sacrifice. Sacrifices made by both you and your family. We thank you and your family for your service.

Thank you for being ready and on alert so that we can go about our business without even thinking about the “what ifs”. Thank you for putting yourself in harms way. Thank you for giving us your time, your energy and your youth. Thank you for representing us with honor where ever you are stationed.

Regardless of whether you serve us at home or in foreign lands, in time of war or peace, we thank you for your service.

On Memorial Day we remember those who gave their lives in our service, on Armed Forces Day we honor those currently serving. On Veterans Day we honor all who have served our country from the Revolution in 1776 to today. Thank you.

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What is the Day of the Dead?

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 18:37:33 GMT

Day of the Dead is a two-day Mexican celebration beginning on October 31 and ending on November 2. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. In Mexican culture, death is viewed as a natural part of the human cycle. Mexicans view it not as a day of sadness, but as a day of celebration because their loved ones awake and celebrate with them.

It is a lovely celebration. The spirits are not feared but are embraced. Prayers are offered to help the deceased on their journey. Graves are tended and decorated with flowers, usually marigolds. Whole families go to the cemetery, they bring favorite foods and memories about the deceased are shared.

The holiday dates back 2,500 – 3,000 years to the ancient pre-Columbian culture of ancient Mexico. Although Day of the Dead festivities happen at the same time as the American holiday Halloween, they are not the same. The tone of Day of the Dead celebrations is full of color and joy whereas Halloween is dark and mysterious. In the ancient Mexican tradition, the dead are still considered members of the community, kept alive in memory and spirit.

Altars built to honor the dead include the four elements, water, earth, wind, and fire. A water pitcher sits on the alter for the spirits to drink from. Wind is represented in small colorful flags that flutter in the breeze and a candle is present to represent fire. Finally, the food, especially bread, symbolize earth.

This year when you see the those brightly painted skeletons, you’ll understand that they are not about Halloween but are part of a holiday that celebrates family and friends who have gone before. How nice is that?

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Funeral Humor – Creating Levity in a Stressful Profession

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 18:33:17 GMT

As a subject, death can often make people uncomfortable. And as a result, that discomfort extends to how people feel about the funeral profession. For many people, the first time that they enter a funeral home is when a loved one passes. Because of this connection, many people associate funeral homes and what’s inside them with morbidity.

So, it can be a bit of a shock to find that funeral directors most often aren’t the caricatures we see in movies and storybooks. They’re not as frightening as one might expect, nor are they creepy, despite the fact that some may find what they do a bit scary. Just like with many professions, working as a funeral director is a multi-faceted role. And, believe it or not, some funeral directors may even try to bring some comedy into their position. Why is it essential to create a little levity as a funeral director? Although not every funeral director attempts to be funny, here are a few reasons why one might.

Why Your Funeral Director May Be Funny

1. Death makes people uncomfortable.

Funeral directors know that, for many people, death is an uncomfortable subject. It’s scary to think about a time when you’re not physically here anymore, and it’s upsetting to remember that there will be a time when your loved ones can’t be with you in person. But funeral directors also know that there’s a way to break through the uncomfortableness of death: humor. It can be disarming to hear a funeral director be funny. And that unexpectedness can give you a little shock to your system. Though you were uncomfortable moments before, your surprised giggles can make you feel more at ease.

Funeral directors are inherently very adaptable people. They strive to provide the form of comfort that you need the most during this stressful time in your life. For some people, being made to laugh is the best way to give them comfort. Although not all funeral directors are naturally funny, they aim to do their best to provide the care that you require.

2. Humor can help you cope with grief.

Laughter does a lot for us, perhaps more than we know. It helps our immune system, combats pain, and boosts our endorphins. And it also helps us when we grieve. Many bereavement groups incorporate humor for this exact reason. One study found that widows and widowers who could laugh and smile about their loved ones experienced less depression and anxiety . Laughter cannot remove the pain of losing a loved one, but it can help us grieve with less severe symptoms.

Grief is complicated. Though we usually experience the strongest symptoms of grief for only a few months after a loss, those feelings often turn into integrated grief. Though integrated grief is easier to live with, it’s also longer-lasting. Grief becomes a part of our lives, which is why it’s essential to continue to find humor. As the study of the widows and widowers shows, finding humor can help both during the initial period of loss and the subsequent years with the overall grieving process. Funeral directors may not be grief counselors, but they strive to help us in any way they can while we mourn the loss of our loved ones. Creating levity through the funeral planning process can be one way to help.

3. Humor can help you cope with stress.

Funeral planning itself can be stressful. Hundreds of decisions must be made. There’s a lot on the planner’s mind about whether or not they’re making the right choices. Would the funeral they planned be the one that their loved one wanted? Those kinds of questions can inch their way into the mind of the planner, causing stress over their decisions. There’s often a feeling of anxiety as a funeral nears. Will everything go right? Although a funeral director and their staff will always do their best to assuage these fears in families who come to them in their time of need, it’s often hard to get their stress to dissipate.

Like grief, humor can do a lot to help stress . Laughing actually activates your stress response. A strong belly laugh increases your blood pressure and heart rate, but only briefly. Once you’ve calmed down again, your heart rate and blood pressure decrease, giving you a calm feeling. Laughing also soothes tension and aids in muscle relaxation, helping to decrease the physical signs of stress. In the long term, laughter improves your ability to cope with difficult situations and overall mood. A funeral director may find ways to incorporate laughter with the goal of relieving some of your funeral planning stress.

4. Funeral directors want to help you continue on with your life.

Funeral directors aren’t afraid of talking about death, but they do know that many people would rather not think about it. And they also know that no one comes to them for funeral planning in a happy mood. When most people plan a funeral, they are doing so with some distress as they’re just beginning to live a life without the person they love. These people are struggling, and the funeral director wants to help them through this new way of life.

A part of helping is telling them that it’s okay to keep living. And a big part of living is finding the humor in life. When you’ve just lost a loved one, you’re likely experiencing acute grief, a period of grieving when your symptoms may prevent you from going about your everyday life. You may find it hard even to smile. It can feel wrong to laugh again when you’ve just lost someone you love. But a funeral director may try to encourage you to laugh again and to let you know it’s okay to find joy in life, even when you’re missing someone you love.

Not all funeral directors are the same. Some funeral directors prefer to remain more serious through the funeral planning process. And that’s okay too. But if you begin working with a funeral director who brings some levity to your situation, you may find that it’s helpful to your stress levels and your grieving process. Funeral directors aren’t the frightening figures of childhood stories, and they certainly don’t want to scare you. Some of them will even try to make you laugh, making a stressful situation a little bit lighter and a little bit easier.

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Is Go Fund Me the Best Way to Pay for a Funeral?

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 18:27:11 GMT

Funerals are a way for people to celebrate the lives of their loved ones, but these celebrations often have a price tag that can be very high for the average family. A funeral with a viewing and a burial can cost upwards of $7,000 . And when you consider that many families are also attempting to pay off additional expenses, like medical costs, after their loved one passes, they can quickly struggle under the weight of their financial burden. It’s no wonder why so many families turn to GoFundMe to ask for help covering all the costs, but is there a better way to pay for a funeral?

Should you use GoFundMe to pay for a funeral?

When GoFundMe launched in 2010, it changed how everything from novel inventions to wedding ceremonies were funded. It’s likely that at some point in your life, someone you know has used GoFundMe, and maybe you’ve donated through it yourself. GoFundMe has also changed the way that we pay for funeral expenses.

In most cases, a decedent's family will pay for the funeral and disposition of their loved one. With GoFundMe, more of the burden is relieved from the immediate family. Suddenly, people you didn’t even know your loved one knew are donating through GoFundMe. Students of a teacher they haven’t seen in years want to donate. Coworkers from companies your loved one hasn’t worked at in decades decide to contribute. Neighbors, friends, and even friends of friends want to help in any way that they can. GoFundMe can be a wonderful resource that just goes to show how many lives your loved one has touched throughout their life. But although GoFundMe has proven to be a valuable resource for many families attempting to pay for funerals on their own, the best way to pay for a funeral is to pay into the costs before they happen.

Is there a better way to pay for a funeral?

Although it can be unpleasant to think about a time when you’ll no longer be around, planning for your funeral is a gift to your loved ones. And that includes planning for the expenses that come with a funeral and disposition. Although many people believe that having life insurance is enough, life insurance often doesn’t end up covering the total cost of a funeral, which can lead to your family paying out of pocket for funeral expenses later on. But there are other ways to pay toward your funeral.

One option is to talk to your chosen funeral home about planning and paying for your funeral in advance. When you preplan your funeral, you can decide to pay for your plans in advance. You’ll work with the funeral home to make your arrangements, including what services you want to hold, whether you’d like to be buried or cremated, and what type of casket or urn you’d like. After you decide on all these details, you’ll be able to pay for them through the funeral home.

Funeral homes typically offer a variety of payment plans, including the option to pay for your funeral and disposition in full. By making these payments in advance, you’re saving your family from financial strain later on. When you pay in full, you’re guaranteeing that the funeral you plan is the one that your family will be able to hold for you. There will be no need for a GoFundMe after you pass because you already funded your funeral yourself.

GoFundMe has undoubtedly changed how we fund funerals, but the best way to pay for a funeral is always by planning ahead. As you plan your funeral, talk to your funeral director about your options for prepaying for your funeral and disposition. By paying for your funeral ahead of time, you’ll save your family from surprise expenses down the road. If you’re covering the cost of your funeral now, your family won’t need GoFundMe later.

If you’re looking to cover the costs of a funeral for a loved one who did not preplan or prepay, your funeral home may be able to help. Some funeral homes offer a crowdfunding service that functions similarly to GoFundMe. Before making a GoFundMe account, talk to your funeral home about what kinds of crowdfunding services they offer.

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Three Reasons To Preplan Your Funeral When Your Family Doesn’t Live Close

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 17:32:55 GMT

Reason Number One:

The need to make that first call, the one to the funeral home, nearly always catches people unaware and off guard.

Even when a death is clearly coming it is almost always unexpected. “Mom was 96 but we just talked to her on Sunday, and she was fine. Hospice told us it was just a matter of days, but we just stepped out to the store for a few minutes, and he was gone. She was doing so well, we were surprised.”

When a person dies the first order of business is calling a funeral home to come and take the body into their care. When family doesn’t live close, they may not be familiar with the funeral homes in the area. Which funeral home should be called?

Even with all of today’s wonderful ways to connect it can take hours to track down immediate family members. This one is in a meeting, that one is picking up kids at soccer practice, someone is at the gym and has their phone on silent. It can take a while to reach everyone and get them to weigh in on the decision about which funeral home to call. In the meantime, someone waits.

Reason Number Two:

The people who you love and who love you are going to be very busy just getting there. It’s not a good time to be making the big decisions. Burial or cremation, church or not, celebration of life, which minister, what restaurant, wood casket or metal, visitation the day of service or the night before?

Your far-flung family will be trying to book flights, pack suitcases, arrange for the dog to be taken care of, get someone to fill in for carpool, and get time off work. Their minds will be racing. It’s not a good time to make decisions that they will live with forever. Funeral decisions carry a lot of weight. Everyone wants to get it just right. No one wants to wish they had buried mom in her red dress instead of her blue dress for the rest of their life. Just think how much better it would be IF they just had to get there and meet with the funeral director you selected to review the plans you left for them.

Reason Number Three:

Your family needs time to be together. They need each other. They need to remember the stories, look at the pictures, cry together, and hug one another.

The plan you leave for your children, grandchildren, sisters and brothers, and friends is a gift. You give them the gift of time to lean in and realize that they have lost you. This is precious time they have together. There will still be much for them to do but when you have lifted the weight a little, you leave room for them to work together and be creative. They can pull their talents and put their own touches on the framework of the funeral plan you provided for them.

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My Financial Advisor Doesn’t Think It’s a Good Idea To Preplan my Funeral

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 15:27:01 GMT

The butcher, the baker, the candle stick maker. Does anyone go to the butcher for a candle? Would anyone even think of asking the funeral director for investment advice? The financial advisor, while very knowledgeable about money and investments, has little experience in helping a family honor the life of someone they love. Yesterday you could hold the hand of your loved one, today you must figure out how to say good-bye. Tomorrow you will begin the difficult task of living without the one you love. In the midst of all of this you will need to plan and pay for a funeral service. Helping families navigate those difficult days or to plan for this inevitable event is the job of the funeral director.

Accessing the dollars to pay for a funeral is where the financial planner can help. A financial planner who is familiar with a family’s financial resources can help them decide how and when to pay for a funeral. In a perfect world the investor, that’s you, would not die on a day the market was down, or just as his stocks were on the rise. He would die when it is a good time to take the cost of his funeral out of his investments. His heirs would not be burdened with tax consequences. Truth be told, life just does not always work out perfectly. We do not decide when we die.

This is what you can do. Plan the funeral with your funeral director. Talk to her about service options that will help your family cope with your loss. Talk to her about how much you are comfortable spending. Become educated about the advance payment options that are offered through the funeral home.

Ask if you can pay for your funeral in monthly payments over a few years. Ask what happens if you die before you complete all payments. Many funeral homes fund funerals with insurance products designed just to pay for funerals. That can mean the funeral will be paid for by the insurance company should death occur before your payments are completed.

Ask what happens if the cost of your funeral increases between now and when you die. Is there protection available for funeral inflation?

Talk to your spouse. If you die first, who will pay for the funeral? Where will the money come from? Will there be tax consequences? Would it be easier for the one who will be responsible if the funeral plan were funded? Decide what will work best for your family.

Now, go to your financial advisor. Ask him if you should pay for your funeral in one single payment now, or should you take advantage of one of the payment plans? Share all the information you receive from the funeral home. Get financial advice, not permission, from the one who looks through the lens of the dollars, the financial advisor. Get your funeral planning advice from the one who helps families cope with death, the funeral director. Make your decisions for the ones you love, with the ones you love, your family.

www.flannerbuchanan.com

How to Build a Family Tree With Online Tools

Wed, 21 May 2025 10:45:00 GMT

Tracing Roots, One Name at a Time

If you’ve ever tried to trace your family roots, you know how quickly things can get tangled.

Names repeat, dates blur, and stories—well, they often depend on who’s telling them.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need to be a tech wizard to start building a meaningful family tree. A few simple online tools can help you organize what you already know, and maybe even discover a few surprises along the way.

As someone who’s more comfortable with a good book than a dozen browser tabs, let me walk you through how to begin—step by step, without the digital overwhelm.

Step 1: Start With What You Know

Before you even touch a keyboard, grab a notebook or a piece of paper.

Write down your name, your parents’ names, your grandparents, and any birthplaces or dates you know. Don’t worry if you’re missing details. Just start with the names and connections that come to mind.

Ask your relatives for help filling in the blanks—older family members often have a goldmine of information in their memory (and maybe in an old shoebox of photos).

Step 2: Choose One Online Platform to Try

There are dozens of websites out there, but here are three I personally found approachable:

Ancestry.com – Easy to use, with options to build your tree and explore historical records. They offer a free trial, though many features require a subscription.
FamilySearch.org – Completely free, created by a nonprofit. It’s less commercial but still full of tools and resources. Good if you’re just dipping your toes in.
MyHeritage.com – Another option with a modern interface and tools for building trees and uploading photos. Also has a free trial and subscription model.

Pick just one. That’s my best advice. It’s easy to get stuck comparing them. Just choose one and see how it feels.

Step 3: Enter What You Know

These tools will walk you through adding family members one at a time. Start with yourself and work backwards.

Once you get a few names in, the magic begins—they’ll start suggesting possible matches from public records, census documents, or even other users’ family trees.

You’re not obligated to accept everything they suggest, but it can be a helpful starting point.

Step 4: Add Photos or Stories (If You Have Them)

Many of these sites allow you to attach pictures, obituaries, and even personal notes.

This is where it gets meaningful. You’re not just building a chart—you’re preserving a legacy.

Even if it’s just a quick story about your grandfather’s homemade pickles or the summer your aunt drove across the country in a Volkswagen Beetle—it belongs there.

Step 5: Don’t Try to Finish It All at Once

Building a family tree isn’t a race. It’s a journey. And like any family, it takes time to connect the pieces.

Set aside 30 minutes here or there. Follow one branch at a time. If it starts to feel frustrating, take a break. Come back later.

The goal isn’t perfection—it’s preservation.

One Final Thought

Whether you’re pre-planning for your own family or simply curious about where you come from, building a family tree is one of the most powerful ways to connect past, present, and future.

And you don’t need to be “good with computers” to get started. You just need curiosity, a few names, and the desire to pass something meaningful on.

That, to me, is what legacy is all about.

The Role of a Funeral Home in Pre-Planning

Tue, 20 May 2025 10:36:03 GMT

Here for More Than the Day Of

Many people think funeral homes are only for the day of the service. In reality, we’re here long before that moment.

Here’s what we do in the pre-planning process:

We educate. There are so many options, from green burials to personalized memorials. We walk families through their choices so they feel confident.
We document your wishes. We make sure every detail is recorded, from music selections to financial arrangements, so nothing is left unclear.
We offer emotional support. Planning a funeral forces people to think about their own mortality, and that can be hard. We are here to make it easier.

A good funeral home doesn’t just provide a service—we provide guidance, care, and reassurance. If you’re thinking about pre-planning, know that you don’t have to navigate this alone. We’re here to help. Connect with us today.

Flowers and A Priceless Memory

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 13:22:20 GMT

"Connecting Circles"

I often describe what I do for work as “connecting circles.” Let me explain.

As the representative of a 142-year-old family-owned business, I can attest that our roots in the community run deep. Besides the tens of thousands of individuals who visit our facilities over a year’s time, I can say we have touched most every family in Indianapolis at some point. It might be through a funeral, family or school connection, work, or community service. Just recently I met a man who said, “I knew your Don and Sunny,” referring to my aunt and uncle from decades ago. He said it in such a familiar tone, almost as if he believed that I should know who he is. These interactions are what I call connecting circles.

Today, I had an extraordinary circle experience. While making my daily rounds I had the honor of watching a family gather around the casket which contained their patriarch. The service had ended, and they stood there, linking arms, for close to fifteen minutes. They were saying their final farewells before the casket lid was closed. They shared tears, but also laughter.

The tenderness of this experience of shared love is one I hope my family will share when I die. It was extremely touching, and I felt honored to be allowed to witness their loving togetherness.

As the family proceeded out, each greeted me with a smile and a thank you. As I turned to leave, our funeral director brought the widow back to meet me. I don’t expect to interact with family members at the conclusion of a service as this is a very private time for someone who is grieving. But this woman warmly held out her hand to say hello. She then began telling me about when her husband worked at a gas station next to our mortuary at Meridian Street and Fall Creek Boulevard. I asked her for the year. She said, “around 1952.” With a smile she said her husband would get left-over flowers from our mortuary and bring them home to her. Obviously, this was a special memory she wanted to share with me, almost 70 years later.

As she told me the story her daughter brought her a red rose from the spray on his casket. She said, “here mom, this one is from dad too.”

This connecting circles story will be a hard one to match. My profession grants me the privilege of being with a family when they are most vulnerable, but more importantly, when they are willing to show the most love.