You've made it through some of the first big steps. You've chosen a funeral home, made burial or cremation decisions, set a date and time, and written the obituary. Those decisions alone can feel incredibly overwhelming.

Now comes figuring out what the service itself will look like. Many funeral homes and churches have templates you can follow, which can be helpful when your brain feels like it has stopped working. But if you'd like to make it more personal, there are additional choices to think about.

Below are some ideas, questions, and possible formats to help guide you. Remember, this is deeply personal. There is no perfect service, and there is no wrong answer. The right choice is whatever feels meaningful to you and your loved one.