Planning a Funeral

By Anna Zoromski-Linde, Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Homes and Crematory Inc.

As my son completes another year of school, I find myself reflecting on how quickly the years have passed. Being a mother has taught me that one of my greatest responsibilities is caring for my family and doing everything I can to ensure their well-being.  Part of that responsibility is planning ahead and putting important things in order for the future.

We carry insurance for our lives, home, vehicles, and potential injury. We never expect or hope to use it but having that protection provides peace of mind. If something were to ever happen to my husband or me, we know we have taken steps to safeguard our family. Most importantly, we have the comfort of knowing that our children will be cared for and supported, no matter what the future may bring.   

A funeral, however, is one event we know will happen someday. While death is a reality we all face, it is often a difficult topic to discuss. We may occasionally share our wishes with family or friends, but how often are those wishes actually written down and documented?

In the days immediately following the loss of a loved one, families are faced with countless decisions and details that must be addressed during an already emotional time. Pre-planning a funeral can ease that burden significantly. By discussing and documenting your preferences in advance, you provide your family with a clear guide to follow, helping them navigate each step with confidence and peace of mind. Instead of wondering what you would have wanted, they can focus on honoring your life and supporting one another.

A few things that to consider when you decide to plan your funeral:

-Choose a licensed funeral director that has been in business for several years and has a good reputation within the community. Know where the owner lives. Do they live in Wisconsin or another state? Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home owner, Greg Zoromski lives in Marathon County and is a lifelong Wisconsin Resident. 

-How long have they been in business?  At Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Homes and Crematory we are in our 112th year of our family serving other families, we want you to know that no one understands the importance of family more than us. 

-Are the dedicated funeral care providers friendly, professional, compassionate and experienced? At Peterson/Kraemer we’ve carefully chosen each member of our staff to ensure that our families receive professional and compassionate care. Our highly trained, caring experts are here to guide you through every step of the arrangement process and support you during this difficult time.

-If choosing cremation, ask if they have an onsite crematory? Or will they be transporting your body somewhere else to be cremated? At Peterson/Kraemer, we have an onsite crematory, which means your loved one will never leave our expert care. You can take comfort in knowing our trained professionals will handle every step of the cremation process with dignity and respect. 

-If you pre-fund, ask where the funds will be placed? And how will they be protected? Are there guarantees for the funds invested? Are there ways to secure today’s prices to protect against inflation? At Peterson/Kramer we guarantee our services and protect your assets for the future. 

-Keep a copy of the agreements and make sure to let others know where you are storing the information. Your family should also have copies as well as your executor or person responsible for your affairs after death. 

We guarantee that if you ask other funeral and cremation providers these questions, you will not receive the same answers. We encourage you to talk with your family about stories that are important, lessons learned and how you want to be remembered-this could be of great comfort to a loved one during their grieving process. 

As funeral and cremation professionals, we are always available to answer your questions and provide guidance on these topics, as well as any other matters that are important to you and your family. For more information or to set an appointment to start the preplanning process, call or email, Anna Zoromski-Linde, Certified Preplanning Consultant, or Sue Kurth, Preplanning Specialist, 715-845-6900 or info@petersonkraemer.com