How Do I Pre-Plan?


Family members gathered around a table, reviewing documents, smiling. Bright room.

Planning Ahead

Planning a funeral, burial, cremation, memorial, or medical body donation service in advance has its advantages. 

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Planning for the future

Makes it possible to both “lock in” funeral-related costs and save (or pay for) the chosen services. Doing so will give you peace of mind and eliminate the need for immediate decision-making soon after the time of death and the stress and grief that accompany it for your family.


Texas residents may get additional information at prepaidfunerals.texas.gov. The link is below. Thank you.


www.prepaidfunerals.texas.gov

Preparing to Plan

Perhaps the greatest benefit is having the time to consider the many service options involved and to discuss them with your Funeral Director, loved one and/or family.

Some questions to help you prepare

  • What did the person like to do?
  • What was the person like (as an individual)?
  • What was their professional life like?
  • Was the person spiritual?
  • Was the person proud of their ethnicity or heritage?
People standing at a funeral, holding umbrellas, near an open casket.
Flower crown with pink and white roses, a black object, dark background.

To celebrate the individual

Some Suggestions

  • Display items used for their hobby; e.g. sports equipment, gardening tools, or collections. -Personalize the casket or urn with a symbol of their hobby or passion.
  • Display the trophies or awards they won.
  • Create a picture board or presentation featuring pictures of them engaged in their hobby. -Have someone speak about the person’s passion for the hobby.
  • Enlist us to create a Video Memorial Tribute DVD (advance notice required; extra charges apply) (Questions and Suggestions source: Texas Funeral Directors Association)

What is the Procedure?

Whether you are planning a funeral, burial, cremation, memorial, or medical body donation service in advance, or contacting us with an immediate need, it’s helpful to first know (generally) what procedures are involved.

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Learn about the choices you have and get help with arrangements

Our licensed Funeral Directors are available to serve you 24/7, and one of your first calls after the death of your loved one should be to us. We are here to guide you through and manage the process of:

  • Picking up and transporting the body of the deceased
  • Obtaining a death certificate
  • Reviewing your funeral and burial options
  • Preparing the obituary and other notifications
  • Contacting insurance companies, banks, etc.
  • Inform you of appropriate external resources that may be helpful (grief counseling, donation services, etc.)

Learn more about what is involved with our easy Online Arrangement process

Here at the Carnes Funeral Home, we have created an easy-to-use, step-by-step online form to help you understand the types of service choices you have.


The process is confidential, completely performed online, and involves no obligation.


Start planning online by clicking the button below.

Woman at a cemetery, wiping tears, placing flowers on a grave. Another person's hand on her shoulder.

Comprehensive funeral, cremation & donation services, affordably priced

Carnes Funeral Home can assist with, advise and take care of all pre-planning and at need funerals, cremations, burials, memorials, or medical body donation services of your choosing. We will also accept your pre-need plan, even if you purchased it at another funeral establishment.


Carnes Funeral Home provides services at lower than competitive prices, easing the pressure of your “at time of need” experience.