One of the important duties that you'll need to perform after a family member dies is picking the date for the funeral service. You don't want to schedule it too quickly after the death, as doing so may leave you short on time to prepare. However, you also don't want to schedule it too far down the road — especially if the person's body has been embalmed and is waiting for burial. This means that you might be looking at a few choices, perhaps between four and six days after the death, for example. If there's a notable date that falls at this time — Independence Day, Memorial Day, or even the Super Bowl — you'll have to decide whether you want the funeral to take place on that date or not. Here are some pros and cons.

Pro: It Can Be A Nice Memory

Having a loved one's funeral on a notable date can make the date in question even more special in your mind as the years progress. It can be easy, given the busy nature of life, to fail to think about the special nature of certain notable dates. However, should you always remember that you had your parent's funeral on a specific notable date, for example, you'll easily be able to remember the date and can reflect on their memory each year.

Con: Attendance May Be Low

Lots of people make advance plans for notable days, including being away on vacation. This means that if you plan the funeral for such a date, you may be looking at lower attendance for the funeral service. This can be challenging for you, as you'll lack the sympathy that many attendees will provide, and also for those who can't attend, who will regret that they're unable to do so.

Pro: However, Attendance Could Also Be Better

Conversely, scheduling the funeral service on a notable date could yield better attendance. It all depends on the date in question. For example, if families are home because of a state holiday, they may be able to more easily attend the funeral than if they were working, as some people may be unable to get the day off work. You should always assess the specific nature of the day in question, and confer with your funeral director for guidance.

Con: It May Hinder The Date For You

While remembering your loved one each year on the anniversary of the funeral might be pleasant for some people, others may find that the funeral could hinder the enjoyment of a certain date. For example, if you hold a loved one's funeral on Super Bowl Sunday and you're an avid football fan, you may annually feel upset on a day that should bring you lots of excitement.

To learn more, visit http://www.fosterwarnefuneralhome.com.   

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