Pre-Arrangements

When it comes to your final arrangements, shouldn't you make the decisions?  The arrangements you make will reflect your exact wishes and desires.  Pre-arranging your own service will help to ease the burden of your loved ones.  It will also alleviate any questions, problems or differences, which can occur among family members.

Pre-payment will protect you from the rising cost of prices, and it will not be a financial burden on your loved ones. When you plan ahead you know that your wishes will be fulfilled.

Arrangements can be made in the comfort of your own home by clicking the button below.  Fill in as much as you are comfortable with and we'd be pleased to meet with you to discuss further.  See the form below for details.


Why pre-plan your services?

When a loved one dies, grieving family members are often confronted with dozens of decisions about funeral arrangements, all of which must be made quickly. By pre-planning your funeral, you relieve your family of having to make important decisions during a period of stress and grief, a time when your family may not know what to do because your wishes were never known. No one likes to think about death, let alone plan for it, but this topic should be discussed and planned for well in advance of your death.

In our busy lives, we don't tend to spend much time thinking about what we want at our funeral. For some, this can be because think of death as something that only occurs in the distant future, leaving plenty of time to make our arrangements. However, it is an unfortunate reality of life that unexpected things occur. And unexpected grief is compounded by still more decisions and expenses unexpectedly incurred by those who remain to deal with the loss.

Still others avoid thinking about arrangements because -- understandably -- contemplating our mortality can be scary and uncomfortable subject. At McGann Hay, we understand that and strive to make the process as easy as possible. Understand that we are, essentially, in the business of empathy and compassion -- and that we deal with folks just like you, every single day. People who are planning for their own funeral arrangements, as well as people who, in dealing with the loss of a loved one, are suddenly confronted with their own mortality as well. Whatever your story, we are with you every step of the way.

It is important to know that pre-planning does not necessarily mean pre-funding. However, there are many options available to pre-pay your funeral expenses, including payment plans, the most critical part of arranging a funeral in advance is the exchange of information. This can be very informal and as simple as spending a little of your time with a member of our professional staff. We can guide you step by step through the planning process and gather information from you that may be difficult to obtain from surviving members of your family once you pass away.

Special note regarding "final expense" insurance campaigns

Television advertising campaigns by large national insurance companies for "final expense insurance" -- or unsolicited contact by insurance agents -- may be confusing. Please note that purchasing a policy from an independent insurance broker, regardless of what it is called, will not guarantee funeral costs. Only arrangements made through an licensed funeral home have prices guaranteed.

You see, prepaid funerals through McGann Hay, and accumulated interest, are protected by state legislation. Prepaid funeral plans apply the total funds prepaid, along with all accumulated interest, towards the current cost of the funeral at the time of need. Once the payments for a preplanned funeral program commence, the services and selected merchandise are guaranteed against inflation. It is peace of mind for you and your family.

We understand that the loss of a loved one is, without a doubt, one of the most difficult events we experience in our lives. We have seen how much easier it is for families to not have the added burden of arranging funeral services during a time that is meant for grieving. It is important to note that these are decisions that are made only once in a lifetime, and often must be made by people who are in no state of mind to be making important decisions. When funeral prearrangements are made with a licensed funeral director, we help ensure that our families and friends will be left not with decisions and invoices, but with only fond memories, their own peaceful contemplations, and the company of their comrades in grief.

There is one other component of planning to consider. Such is the relevance of funerals in our lives that, through three generations of family ownership, the McGann and Hay families have come to realize that a funeral or memorial service is a ritual not so much for the deceased, but for the living. We encourage you not to under-estimate the importance that you have in the lives of your loved ones. We all have a habit of forgetting to remind our loved ones how much they mean to us. Take it from us, as we have watched many, many families and communities grieve over the years: Because it saves them the added burden of decisions and costs, but also because can, if you so choose, guarantee them a time and space to come together and process their loss, pre-planning your funeral can, truly, be a priceless final gift you give to your family.

Regardless of whether you plan to reach out to us, we encourage everyone to sit down and discuss these details with your friends or family. Such conversations can be difficult, but they can also be enlightening and bring people closer together. It can also clear up any misunderstandings, since many people incorrectly assume that their friends or family intuitively knows what they want. 

If you have any questions about pre-arrangements or would like to make an appointment, we invite you to call one of our caring staff members at 574-232-1411, email pat@mcgannhay.com or fill out a contact form here on our website. We will always respond within 24 hours. You may also print out the form below (see below) to fill out in your spare time, then bring it in or mail it to us.


Sincerely, 

J. Patrick McGann

Bonnie Hay

McGann Hay Pre-Plan Form

Click on the graphic on the left to download the file.

Download this form and fill it out to begin the pre-planning process. When finished filling it out, you may bring or mail it to the following address:

2313 E. Edison Rd., South Bend

South Bend, Indiana 46615

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to call us at 1-574-232-1411!

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