The planning concept has been part of daily life from the beginning of time. To plan for any endeavor, occasion, or event simply ensures that it is more likely to take the form intended. Pre-arranging for funeral services is no different; it affords you the opportunity for making decisions at a less stressful time, as well as opting, if you so choose, to secure the financial obligations at today's costs. We encourage you to take the time to review the information on this page, especially the Frequently Asked Questions at the bottom of this section. Discuss any questions or concerns openly with family members, clergy, and your funeral director before making any final decisions.

Then to make your arrangements requires only that you sit down with a funeral director and record your wishes in a confidential funeral home file. A copy of the funeral decisions should also be kept with other important personal documents, accessible to surviving family members. It's that simple and Schoen Funeral Home never charges for advanced planning consultation.

You may want to go a step further with advanced planning and want to pay funeral expenses in advance. Strict federal regulations govern the prepayment of funeral expenses to assure the funeral purchaser's funds are protected.

Some families today are finding the need to "spend down" assets for an elderly or ill parent or family member. Circumstances have forced them to seek assistance from SSI or Medicare. These families have been instructed that the affected person cannot receive assistance until their assets are depleted to a specific amount. Before this occurs a family is advised to consider an "Irrevocable Funeral Agreement." This agreement allows for prepayment of funeral services using the affected person's funds. These funds, while still under the purchaser's control, are exempt from their assets, as they must be used only for their funeral expenses. There is no "look-back" time constraints on pre-planned funerals.

We endorse the concept of pre-arranging. It is smart, makes good sense, and is an economically sound decision. We urge you to talk to family members and friends about their experiences in planning funerals, with or without those services being pre-planned. Throughout the years, Schoen Funeral Home has offered advance planning as part of our services to the community. Those who complete this procedure find that it is one of the most thoughtful acts they can accomplish for the people they love. Should you desire to ask any questions, receive further information, or discuss making pre-arrangements, please call us at (785) 738-2235.