If you are planning a funeral for a loved one, or even contemplating your own funeral, you are no doubt going through a difficult time. Fortunately funeral homes today are making the funeral process more personal for consumers, which may have positive results for you. Here are four trends in the funeral industry that may impact the way you plan a funeral.

Funerals Are Less Generic

Funerals today are much less generic and much more personalized than they were in the past. Frequently, rather than mourn the loss of loved ones, family and friends are opting for a celebration-of-life event. While they still grieve the loss of the deceased, attendees are putting a more positive spin on the memorial and choosing to emphasize the good times they had with the deceased.

One reason funerals are more personal is that people are choosing to preplan their own funerals or those of loved ones. By preplanning, they can make sure their favorite music or flowers are present, as well as any other personal touches they like. Many people choose to have favorite items buried with them.

Sometimes preplanning involves partial payment for the funeral service, but not always. Financial preplanning ranges from putting nothing down and simply agreeing to a future payment to paying for everything up front. The latter option can take away worry about leaving family members with large debts or cumbersome details to handle at a challenging time.

Funeral Homes are Using Technology

To help make celebration of life events more personal and engaging, funeral homes today are utilizing technology. Rather than framed photos or collages at memorial services, video and slide presentations are possible now. Photos or films can be sent online to the funeral home to streamline the process.

Funeral homes can even offer live online streaming of funeral events for people who are not able to attend in person. These broadcasts can be saved on DVD for family members to cherish in the future.

Green Funerals Are Becoming More Frequent

Preplanning helps consumers take advantage of another funeral trend: environmentally-friendly funerals. Just like with other green processes, funerals can make use of a range of eco-friendly initiatives:

• no use of formaldehyde or other toxic chemicals
• no embalming
• use of recycled products
• biodegradable casket
• organic flowers
• locally sourced merchandise
• green transportation
• natural grave markers

Cremation Is on the Rise

The rise in funeral personalization has increased the choices available regarding the disposition of the body, and cremation is increasing in popularity. Much of this has to do with the funeral industry dispelling common myths and answering questions about cremation.

Some religions that were previously opposed to cremation now allow it. Additionally, people are realizing that cremation doesn't necessarily preclude a memorial service. And cremated remains can sometimes even be interred with another loved one in the space above a casket.

If you need to plan a funeral, the more time you have to take advantage of these trends, the better, so preplanning makes sense. Know that in this most difficult time, funeral homes are willing to work with you to make the event as painless and personal as possible.