Why Pre-Planning a Funeral Brings Peace of Mind
Pre-planning a funeral means writing down your wishes for burial or cremation, service style, and who should be involved, ahead of time. It spares your family from making difficult decisions while grieving, keeps your choices clearly on record, and can be started online or in person with Sig's Funeral & Cremation Services in Bellingham, WA.
Thinking about your own funeral, or a spouse's, isn't easy. Most people push the thought aside because it feels too far off, or too heavy to sit with today.
But taking a little time now to write down your wishes is one of the kindest things you can do for the people you love.
Sig's Funeral & Cremation Services has been serving Bellingham families since 2010, and founder Sig Aase has worked in Whatcom County funeral service since 1977. This article will help you understand why it makes sense to pre-plan a funeral now, and how to get started when you're ready.
What Pre-Planning a Funeral Is (and Isn't)
Pre-planning is simply the act of putting your wishes into writing before they're needed. It covers things like whether you'd prefer burial or cremation, the kind of service you want, readings or music that matter to you, and who you'd like involved in making decisions.
It isn't the same thing as pre-paying, and it doesn't have to involve any money at all. You can complete a full planning ahead worksheet today and decide later whether to fund it. If you'd like to understand how the two pieces fit together, our guide on pre-planning versus pre-paying breaks down the difference in plain terms.
How Pre-Planning Eases the Burden on Your Family
When someone dies without any wishes written down, their family is left guessing. Should there be a viewing? Burial or cremation? A big gathering or something small and quiet? Every one of those questions has to be answered in the middle of grief, often within just a day or two.
A written plan removes that guesswork. Your family already knows what you wanted, so they can spend their energy on each other instead of on decisions you could have made for them. Many families also use a pre-planning conversation as a chance to share your life story, the details, memories, and people that matter, so that whoever leads the service has something real to work with.
In our experience working with Bellingham families for well over a decade, the families who've pre-planned tend to describe the arrangement conference as calm rather than overwhelming. They already know the answers. They're just confirming them.
Why Families in Whatcom County Choose to Plan Ahead
Whatcom County has a strong tradition of neighbors looking out for neighbors, and pre-planning fits naturally into that mindset. It's not about expecting the worst. It's about making sure the people you love aren't left scrambling.
We also hear from a lot of veterans and their families here in Bellingham. If military honors matter to you, writing that down as part of your plan makes sure it happens the way you intended. Whatever kind of Bellingham funeral services you envision, having it in writing means nothing gets left to chance or guesswork later.
The Purple Cross Program at Sig's Funeral & Cremation Services
Sig's Funeral & Cremation Services offers the Purple Cross prearrangement program to help families put both a plan and, if they choose, funding behind it. We have represented the Purple Cross Forethought Funeral Planning program for years, guiding Bellingham-area families through it.
Washington state law requires at least 90% of money paid in advance under a prearranged funeral contract to be placed in trust (RCW 18.39.250), and our team can explain exactly how a Purple Cross plan's funds are held. Payment options can often be spread out rather than paid in a single lump sum. To see exactly how the program works, visit our page on the Purple Cross funeral plan.
Getting Started, Online or In Person
You don't have to figure this out alone, and you don't have to do it all in one sitting. Some families prefer to sit down with a funeral director face to face. Others would rather work through it quietly at home first.
Sig's makes both paths available. You can start pre-planning online at your own pace, or call our Bellingham office to schedule a conversation. Either way, it helps to know ahead of time what information needed to pre-plan so you're not searching for documents later.
Our online cremation arrangement option was built specifically to reduce in-person costs, and we pass those savings on to the families we serve. It's one more way pre-planning can work around your life, not the other way around.
What to Expect After You Pre-Plan
Once your wishes are on file, that's it, you're done unless something changes. There's no ongoing obligation to check in, though we're always happy to update your plan if your preferences shift over the years.
When the time eventually comes, your family calls Sig's Funeral & Cremation Services, and our team already has your wishes on hand. That one phone call, instead of a dozen unanswered questions, is often what families tell us they're most grateful for.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pre-Planning a Funeral in Bellingham
What is the difference between pre-planning and pre-paying a funeral?
Pre-planning means writing down your wishes, such as burial or cremation, service style, and who you want involved. Pre-paying means setting money aside ahead of time, often through a trust or insurance-backed plan. You can pre-plan without pre-paying, but most families find the two work best together, since a written plan with funding behind it leaves nothing for your family to guess or cover on short notice.
Is pre-planning through Purple Cross the same as buying life insurance?
Not quite. Purple Cross is a prearrangement program built specifically for funeral and cremation expenses. Sig Aase is a licensed insurance agent with Purple Cross Forethought Funeral Planning and can walk you through exactly how it works.
Can I change my pre-planning arrangements later?
In most cases, yes. Life circumstances change, and a pre-planning agreement can typically be updated to reflect a new address, a different service preference, or a change in who you'd like involved. If you move away from Bellingham, we will help you transfer your arrangements to another funeral home. Ask your funeral director to walk through the specific terms of your agreement.
Does pre-planning mean I have to pay for everything at once?
No. Many families choose a payment plan instead of a lump sum, spreading the cost over time rather than all at once. The specific options available depend on the plan you choose, so it's worth having a conversation with a licensed funeral director or Purple Cross representative about what fits your situation. Sig's staff can walk you through the choices without any pressure to decide on the spot.
How do I start pre-planning with Sig's Funeral & Cremation Services?
You can start online through our pre-planning form, or call our Bellingham office directly to set up a time to talk in person. Either way, a licensed funeral director will walk you through your options, answer your questions, and help you put your wishes in writing. There's no obligation, and our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you'd rather just talk it through first.
Whenever you're ready, we're here. There's no pressure and no obligation, just people who know how to help. Call Sig's Funeral & Cremation Services at (360) 656-5459, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or begin your plan online whenever it suits you.
