In the years after you’re no longer walking this world with your loved ones by your side, where will they find you? Many people answer the question by saying where they want to spend their eternity in their final resting place, but not everyone finalizes those plans before the day arrives when they depart this world.

Studies show that 69 percent of adults over 40 wish to pre-plan for their services and final resting place, but only 17 percent actually make such arrangements. Whether you want to be buried or cremated, making your burial plan in advance can be a gift not only to you but to the people you love.

What are the benefits of pre-planning?

Let’s start with the benefits to you, personally. In your final days, you can find reassurance and confidence in the fact that you will spend your forever where you want to most. During the pre-planning process, you can visit cemeteries and explore their beauty and tranquility. You can choose a burial plot where you feel most at peace.

When you pre-plan, you can also do it with the people you love most, like your spouse. You and your partner can go through the planning process together, taking comfort in one another as you choose a burial plot where you can rest side by side.

Pre-planning can help you uncover your many different burial options in a cemetery. When many people think of a burial in a cemetery, they envision a traditional, in-ground burial plot, but you have many more options than you might know. In addition to in-ground burial, you can also have an above-ground burial in a mausoleum, a beautiful building found in cemeteries that provides a place for loved ones to gather when they visit you.

Even if you choose cremation, you can still choose to be buried at our cemetery, either in-ground or above ground in a columbarium, which is similar to a mausoleum but offers a location for cremated individuals to rest. During your pre-planning sessions with a Family Service Advisor, you can come away with a complete picture of your options, knowing that you’ve chosen right for your needs and desires.

When you pre-plan, you leave behind a gift for your loved ones because you alleviate the stress that can come from making burial plans while in the midst of grief. Your loved ones want to do right by you, but if they don’t know where you want to spend forever, they’ll have to confront many difficult questions. Rather than worrying about whether they’re making the plans you would like most, they can spend their time finding comfort in one another, grieving together without added stress or concerns.

Where should you start?

The best place to start when considering pre-planning your services and burial plans is to call one of our cemeteries.  We can answer any questions you may have about what your options are, and you can discover the place where you find the most comfort and peace. Once you’re ready for the next steps in the pre-planning process, we can be a guiding hand, ensuring that you always feel informed and confident in your choices. You an find our contact information on our website at ccacem.org