plan ahead
Losing a loved one is hard enough. Add in the many logistical and financial decisions that come with arranging a funeral or memorial service, and it can feel overwhelming and stressful. By planning yours in advance, you can remove these extra burdens from your loved ones during an already difficult time, and allow your family the space to remember, connect, and begin to heal. You also make sure your final wishes are carried out how you want and not decided through someone else’s best guesses.
By making your final arrangements ahead of time, you also save your family an added financial burden. Not only does it eliminate the difficult question of who will pay, preplanning locks in inflation-proof rates for years to come. We also offer flexible payment plans, making advanced planning a more convenient option.
Planning Ahead Let's Your Wishes Be Known
The death of a loved one often brings about unwarranted stress and turmoil among families. One family member wants one thing, while another family member wants something different.
By planning ahead, you help prevent those disagreements by letting your family know what your wishes are and how you want your funeral service to be carried out and your business handled.
Planning Ahead Offers Peace of Mind
Our staff will carry out the arrangements you want, just as you directed. Once the plans have been arranged, you and your family can rest easy knowing at the time of death, those uncomfortable decisions have been made. In a time when a family should be able to grieve, preplanning allows for that to happen.
Planning Ahead Offers Flexible Funding Options
When you preplan your funeral arrangements, there are more options when it comes to funding the funeral. A preneed insurance policy, life insurance policy or other payment options can all be arranged before the time of death. At the time of death, services must be paid in full, so having options ahead of time can also reduce other stress related to losing someone.
Planning Ahead Relieves the Burden From Family
Following the death of a loved one, there are more than 150 decisions that have to be made within the first day or two following the death. Those stressful decisions on top of the stress of grieving a loss can be eliminated by arranging your final wishes ahead of time. If those decisions are made, your loved ones aren’t left wondering what you would have wanted and how they should proceed with funeral plans. With those decisions out of the way, your loved one can begin the healing process sooner.
Why Plan Ahead?
Planning ahead isn't about preparing for death—it's about taking care of the people you love.
By making your wishes known today, you provide clarity, guidance, and peace of mind for your family in the future. Whether you're making decisions for yourself or helping a loved one begin the process, preplanning can be one of the most thoughtful gifts you leave behind.
At Nelson-Doran Funeral Home, we're here to make the process simple, comfortable, and completely pressure-free.
It's Easier Than You Think
Many people put off funeral planning because they believe it's complicated or uncomfortable. In reality, getting started is often much easier than expected.
You can complete arrangements online, meet with one of our staff members in person, or simply begin by having a conversation. There is no right age or stage of life to create a plan, and your preferences can always be updated as circumstances change.
Your Wishes. Your Story.
Preplanning gives you the opportunity to make choices that reflect who you are and what matters most to you.
Whether you prefer a traditional funeral, a celebration of life, burial, cremation, military honors, favorite music, meaningful readings, or personal touches that tell your story, planning ahead helps ensure your wishes are clearly understood.
Many families find comfort in knowing they are honoring decisions that were thoughtfully made by the person they love.
A Gift to Your Family
When a death occurs, families are often faced with dozens of decisions while navigating grief and emotional stress.
Having a plan in place removes uncertainty and allows your loved ones to focus on what matters most—supporting one another, sharing memories, and celebrating a life well lived.
Many families tell us that preplanning was one of the greatest gifts their loved one ever gave them.
Financial Peace of Mind
When it comes to funding your prearrangements, there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Our goal is to help you understand your options and determine the approach that makes the most sense for you, your family, and your financial situation. In many cases, the best funding source may be something you already have in place, such as an existing life insurance policy, a bank certificate of deposit (CD), savings account, or other available assets.
If you're starting from scratch and would like to establish a dedicated funding vehicle, we often recommend National Guardian Life (NGL). We appreciate their straightforward application process, excellent customer service, and the flexibility they provide to families.
One feature we especially value is their Return of Premium Guarantee. If you choose a payment plan and pay more over time than the original amount of your arrangements, your family receives the full amount paid into the plan to help cover funeral expenses. We believe that's an important benefit and one that provides additional peace of mind.
Equally important, NGL's claims process is simple and efficient, helping families access funds quickly when they are needed most.
We also understand that many people already have trusted professionals helping them make financial decisions. We are always happy to work alongside your financial planner, attorney, accountant, insurance agent, or other advisors to ensure you fully understand your options and feel comfortable with the funding method you choose.
Our role isn't to tell you what to do—it's to help you make informed decisions that fit your goals, protect your family, and provide lasting peace of mind.
What If I Move?
Life changes—and that's okay.
If you relocate, your prearranged funeral plans and pre-funded arrangements are generally transferable to another funeral home anywhere in the United States. We'll help ensure your wishes remain accessible no matter where life takes you.
Getting Started
The hardest part is often taking the first step.
We encourage you to begin by reviewing our preplanning checklist and thinking about the things that matter most to you. From there, you can complete arrangements online or schedule a conversation with a member of our staff.
There's no pressure, no obligation, and no need to have all the answers.
We're simply here to help you create a plan that reflects your wishes and provides peace of mind for the people you love.
Ready to Begin?
Call us at (218) 829-4755 to schedule a complimentary preplanning consultation, or start the process online at your convenience.
A little planning today can make a world of difference tomorrow.
Common Questions about Preplanning
What steps are involved in prearranging a funeral?
The first step would be to write down your wishes. Indicate if you would prefer burial or cremation. Write down your ideas for the service you would like, cemetery choice, etc. If you've made those choices, or even if you're unsure, schedule a time to meet with one of our funeral directors who can explain the different service options, merchandise choices, and the different ways to pay for the funeral.
What information do I need to prearrange a funeral?
You'll need basic information about yourself or the person you are planning for, such as date of birth, marital status, parents' full names, etc. Besides the biological information, you'll need to choose burial or cremation, what type of service you'd like, what cemetery to use, etc. Our caring staff will help you with this process.
Do I have to pay in advance?
Preplanning is merely making your wishes known; however, most families who do this also choose to pre-fund their funeral. Doing so will relieve the financial burden on your family and offer peace of mind to you.
