Plan for Peace of Mind
Make thoughtful choices today—so your loved ones can focus on celebrating your life tomorrow.
Planning ahead means making decisions about your funeral and cemetery services in advance. While it may seem difficult to discuss, pre-planning is one of the most caring gifts you can give your family. By documenting your wishes now, you:
Pre-Planning: Understanding Who Does What
Pre-planning is one of the most thoughtful things you can do for yourself and the people you love—but it is important to understand that cemetery planning and funeral or cremation planning are two different parts of the process. A funeral home or cremation provider helps you plan for the care and preparation of the deceased and the services that take place before arriving at the cemetery, while Historic Lutz Cemetery helps you plan for the final place of rest and what happens at the cemetery itself. These arrangements may work together, but they are made separately—and choosing a funeral home does not mean you must choose a cemetery affiliated with that provider. By understanding what to plan with each, you can make informed decisions, compare options and costs, document your wishes, and help ensure the people you love aren't left trying to figure everything out during an already difficult time. This page walks you through both sides of pre-planning so you know what you can arrange today, who to work with, and how all the pieces ultimately come together.
Two Sides of Pre-Planning
A complete pre-plan usually involves two separate sets of decisions: what happens before your loved one arrives at the cemetery, and what happens once they arrive here. Understanding the difference helps prevent gaps, duplicated expenses, and assumptions that something has already been arranged when it has not.
Funeral Home or Cremation Provider
Care Before the Cemetery
Your funeral home or cremation provider is responsible for the care and handling of the deceased and the arrangements leading up to final placement. Depending on the services you choose, pre-planning with them may include:
- Transportation and care of the deceased
- Preparation or embalming, when selected
- Cremation
- Casket or urn selection
- Visitation, viewing or funeral ceremony
- Funeral-home or cremation-provider permits and required documentation
- Transportation to the cemetery
- Coordination with the cemetery
- Other funeral or cremation-related services
Think of this as planning the journey to the final resting place.
Historic Lutz Cemetery
The Final Resting Place & Cemetery Services
Pre-planning with Historic Lutz Cemetery focuses on where you or your loved one will be laid to rest and the services, memorialization, and arrangements associated with that place. Depending on your wishes, cemetery pre-planning may include:
- Burial or inurnment rights
- Traditional burial, cremation burial or columbarium niche selection
- Family burial options
- Opening and closing arrangements
- Burial or urn vault arrangements, when applicable
- Graveside or memorial service options
- Monument, marker and memorial planning
- Niche engraving or other memorialization
- Memorial flower placement and gravesite care options
- Recording your cemetery wishes and important information
Think of this as planning the final resting place—and how it will be remembered and cared for.
You May Choose Each Provider Independently
One of the most important things to understand is that choosing a funeral home does not require you to use a cemetery owned by or affiliated with that funeral home. You may pre-plan with the funeral home or cremation provider that best meets your needs and separately choose Historic Lutz Cemetery as your final resting place.
When the time comes, the funeral home or cremation provider and Historic Lutz Cemetery coordinate the necessary arrangements with one another.
The Goal: Plan Both Sides
Pre-planning only one side can leave important decisions for your family to make later. A more complete plan considers both the funeral or cremation arrangements and the cemetery arrangements, giving your family a clearer understanding of your wishes and what has—and has not—already been taken care of.
Two providers. Two different roles. One complete plan for the people you love.
Planning FAQs
Your questions answered—with compassion and clarity.
No one should have to guess your final wishes. Our experts address common concerns about costs, options, and the simple planning process.
Free Planning Guide
Your roadmap to meaningful preparation.
Download our helpful guide to explore options at your own pace—with no obligation.
Helpful Resources
Because knowledge brings comfort.
Access checklists, videos, and tools to make informed decisions with confidence.
Ready to Begin Pre-Planning?
You don't have to make every decision today. You just have to know where to begin.
Our team can help you understand your cemetery options, compare burial and cremation choices, document your wishes, and decide what you want to do now versus what can wait.
Whether you're ready to select a cemetery site or simply have questions, we'll meet you wherever you are in the planning process.
Prefer to speak with someone? Call Historic Lutz Cemetery at 813-564-0237.