Funeral Considerations

Personalization can be achieved through various elements including photo displays highlighting special memories, playing favorite music, readings of meaningful texts, displaying personal items or hobbies, incorporating themes related to their interests or profession, having family members share stories, and creating memorial videos. For Caribbean families, incorporating cultural traditions like specific music, prayers, or customs can add profound meaning. We work closely with you to identify and implement personal touches that create a service as unique as the life it celebrates.

Documentation for international shipping typically includes: certified death certificate, embalming certificate, consular certificate from the embassy or consulate of the destination country, permit for transport of the deceased from health authorities, airline acceptance forms, and sometimes a non-contagious disease certificate. Each Caribbean country may have specific requirements beyond these standard documents. Our international shipping specialists can provide detailed information for specific destinations and handle the entire documentation process to ensure all requirements are properly met.

Balancing family opinions can be challenging during an emotional time. We recommend: first checking if the deceased left any written wishes; identifying who has legal authority to make decisions; holding a family meeting with a funeral director present to facilitate discussion; focusing on honoring the deceased rather than personal preferences; considering compromise options that incorporate multiple viewpoints; and sometimes creating multiple opportunities for remembrance to accommodate different needs. Our experienced staff can mediate these conversations with sensitivity and suggest creative solutions that respect various perspectives.

Pre-planning offers several advantages including: time to carefully consider options without emotional pressure; ability to make decisions together with family input; opportunity to record personal wishes in detail; protection against inflation by locking in current prices; ability to spread payments over time; reduction of family stress during bereavement; and prevention of emotional overspending. At-need arrangements, while necessary in many circumstances, often involve making complex decisions under time pressure and emotional strain. Our staff supports families compassionately in both scenarios, but we encourage pre-planning when possible for these significant benefits.