Think about your expectations and then follow common sense. Does the facility match your needs? Is the staff compassionate? Can the funeral home accommodate your religious needs? Is it locally-owned or part of a large conglomerate? The most important reason for selection should be that the funeral home offers a meaningful and affordable tribute to your love one.
In addition, it is possible to formally arrange your services in advance with a provider and then pay in advance, whether all at once or through installments. There are many reasons why people enter into these "preneed" arrangements, including removing the burden of making difficult decisions once death occurs; to prevent financial hardship on survivors, or to spend down their assets in order to qualify for certain federal benefits.
Fellow members need your help in answering critical questions. As an exclusive service to members, the OFDA's Q&A page allows you to share common questions and maybe not-so-common answers. You can even share your stories of unique and/or interesting services that you have provided. Maybe your story will answer someone's question before they even ask it!

