Planning Ahead

Why Should I Plan Ahead?

Not everyone likes to plan ahead, but pre-planning your funeral arrangements not only gives you peace of mind about your final wishes being honored, but alleviates some of the stress and burden your loved ones are going through as they experience the grief associated with the loss.

The staff of   are happy to assist you with your funeral pre-needs by helping you make decisions about your funeral service in advance and guide you in helping eliminate some of the unnecessary stress brought on by a loved one’s death.


Since opening the new Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation Center, families have been asking if an existing pre-need policy for their funeral written elsewhere can be transferred to Callaway-Jones. The answer is yes, absolutely. Many individuals may not realize they have the option to transfer their existing pre-arrangements from one funeral home to another. This allows them to move their plans to a provider that better aligns with their needs and preferences, ensuring their wishes are honored without having to start the planning process from scratch. Knowing this option is available can offer peace of mind as circumstances change.

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Pre-Planning your funeral is an essential part of a well-tended life, as it provides you with time to plan ahead and make end of life decisions in a calm and rational atmosphere. Start the online planning process now, or meet with one of our pre-planning advisors. It just makes sense to plan ahead.


Absolutely no one should have to make these decisions for you. Pre-planning gives you and your loved ones greater peace-of-mind. You can live your life to the fullest, knowing you have done the right thing – for everyone.

When you plan ahead, you will be able to compare the many options available. You will be able to compare the services, the products and the prices among different companies. You will have the opportunity to make an informed decision about your funeral and cemetery arrangements, and the form of memorial you prefer. You will be able to make choices that are meaningful to both you and your family, and you will gain peace of mind knowing your family and friends will be relieved of the emotional and financial burden often associated with making arrangements when a death occurs. In addition, by prefunding your funeral and cemetery services, a guaranteed price contract will allow you to purchase at today’s prices, free from inflationary pressures in the future.

Benefits of Preplanning

Planning Ahead Lets Your Wishes Be Known

The death of a loved one often brings about unwarranted stress and turmoil among families. One family member wants one thing, while another family member wants something different. By planning ahead, you help prevent those disagreements by letting your family know what your wishes are and how you want your funeral service to be carried out and your business handled.

Planning Ahead Offers Peace of Mind

Our staff guarantees we will carry out the arrangements you want, just as you directed. Once the plans have been arranged, you and your family can rest easy knowing at the time of death, those uncomfortable decisions have been made. In a time when a family should be able to easily grieve, preplanning allows for that to happen.

Planning Ahead Offers Flexible Funding Options

When you preplan your funeral arrangements, there are more options when it comes to funding the funeral. A preneed insurance policy, life insurance policy or other payment options can all be arranged before the time of death. At the time of death, services must be paid in full, so having options ahead of time can also reduce other stress related to losing someone.

Planning Ahead Relieves The Burden From Family

Following the death of a loved one, there are more than 150 decisions that have to be made within the first day or two following the death. Those stressful decisions on top of the stress of grieving a loss can be eliminated by arranging your final wishes ahead of time. If those decisions are made, your loved ones aren’t left wondering what you would have wanted and how they should proceed with funeral plans. With those decisions out of the way, your loved one can begin the healing process sooner.

What would your family do if you died today?


It's understandable that most people prefer not to think about the arrangements that need to be made after they pass away. However, an increasing number of individuals are recognizing the importance of planning ahead for this inevitability. Recent National Funeral Marketing Studies reveal that over 85% of Americans aged 40 and older believe that making funeral arrangements in advance is a wise choice.


Many who hold this view have come to it through personal experience. Life's unexpected challenges often teach us valuable lessons, and we tend to gain insight after facing the "hard knocks" that catch us off guard. The loss of a family member can be emotionally devastating, and it also brings significant financial burdens. Grief can deepen when families find themselves unprepared for the associated costs, highlighting the importance of proactive planning.

Common Questions about Preplanning

  • What steps are involved in prearranging a funeral?

    The first step would be to write down your wishes. Indicate if you would prefer burial or cremation. Write down your ideas for the service you would like, cemetery choice, etc. If you've made those choices, or even if you're unsure, schedule a time to meet with one of our funeral directors who can explain the different service options, merchandise choices, as well as the different ways to pay for the funeral.

  • What information do I need to prearrange a funeral?

    You'll need basic information about yourself or the person you are planning for, such as date of birth, marital status, parent's full names, etc. Besides the biological information, you'll need to choose burial or cremation, what type of service you'd like, what cemetery to use, etc. Our caring staff will help you with this process.

  • Do I have to pay in advance?

    Preplanning is merely making your wishes known; however, most families who do this also choose to pre-fund their funeral. Doing so will relieve the financial burden on your family and offer peace of mind to you.

  • Can I transfer my plans to or from another funeral home?

    If you have plans at another funeral home and would like to move them here, we will help you do that. If you move from the area and would like to transfer your arrangements to another funeral home, we will assist you with that as well.

You can begin planning ahead by calling us at (979) 822-3717, emailing us at wecare@callawayjones.com,

or by completing our online pre-arrangement form.

You can visit the department of banking’s web site regarding prepaid funerals here.