Funeral planning checklist

A funeral can quickly become overwhelming because many decisions have to be made in a short time.

The easiest way to stay organised is to work through the arrangements in order and make sure one person or small family team is responsible for keeping track.

This checklist can help.

1. Confirm the immediate legal and medical steps

Before making funeral bookings, confirm:

• the death has been officially confirmed
• any required medical or police process is complete
• the body is cleared for transfer
• the death-registration process has begun
• the necessary burial or cremation permit will be obtained

If the death was sudden, unexplained or under investigation, allow the required process to finish before fixing arrangements that depend on release of the body.

2. Choose the mortuary

Confirm where the deceased will be kept and ask about:

• admission charges
• daily storage fees
• preservation or embalming
• viewing arrangements
• release requirements

Keep the receipts and paperwork together.

3. Agree on the burial or cremation plan

The family should decide:

• burial or cremation
• burial location
• funeral date
• church or religious service
• expected number of mourners

These decisions affect almost every other part of the funeral.

4. Choose a funeral home

Ask for a clear written quotation.

Confirm which services are included, such as:

• casket or coffin
• hearse
• body preparation
• pallbearers
• lowering equipment
• flowers
• transport
• programmes
• photography
• video or livestreaming

Make sure the family knows who the main funeral-home contact person will be.

5. Build the funeral budget

List the essential costs first.

Then add adjustable and optional items such as catering, tents, flowers, décor, extra vehicles and media coverage.

If the family needs to raise money, use the budget to set a realistic harambee target.

6. Arrange the funeral programme

Confirm:

• service venue
• clergy or religious leader
• speakers
• tributes
• funeral songs
• obituary
• programme order
• arrival and departure times

Someone should be responsible for keeping the programme moving on the day.

7. Organise transport

Plan for:

• transfer from the mortuary
• hearse or funeral vehicle
• family transport
• long-distance travel where necessary
• church or service stops
• final journey to the burial site

If the funeral involves travel from Nairobi to Kisii, Nyamira, Migori or another county, discuss the full route with the provider early.

8. Prepare the burial site

Confirm that the grave has been prepared in time and that access is suitable for the hearse, family vehicles and mourners.

Also arrange any required tenting, chairs, lowering equipment and graveside sound.

9. Arrange food and hospitality

Estimate the likely number of mourners before ordering food.

It is better to work from a realistic attendance estimate than to keep increasing quantities simply because more people may come.

Confirm who is responsible for serving and cleanup.

10. Prepare the family for the funeral day

Before leaving for the mortuary, make sure someone has:

• the burial permit and necessary documents
• funeral-home contact details
• programme copies
• payment records
• transport contacts
• church or venue contacts
• the final list of services booked

The immediate family should not be the people chasing suppliers on the burial morning.

One final check

Ask:

What has not yet been assigned to someone?

Anything without a named person responsible is easy to forget.

A good funeral plan should leave the family with fewer things to manage on the day itself.

The goal is not a perfect funeral. It is a dignified farewell that allows the family to be present.

Need help coordinating the funeral?

Executive Funeral Services can help your family organise the practical details from the mortuary to the graveside.

📞 0798 994 015, available 24/7
🌐 executivefunerals.co.ke
💜 Dignity in death. Compassion in grief. Hope beyond the grave.