Why Your Funeral Shouldn’t Depend on GoFundMe

Nobody likes to think about death.

It’s uncomfortable. It feels far away. And for many people, funeral planning becomes one of those things they mean to get around to “someday.”

But when “someday” never comes, families are often left with hard decisions, emotional stress, and one more painful question:

How are we going to pay for this?

More and more families are turning to GoFundMe, benefit dinners, donation jars and social media fundraisers to cover funeral costs. While there is nothing wrong with a community helping a family in a time of need, it is important to understand one simple truth:

Crowdfunding is not a funeral plan.

A GoFundMe campaign may raise thousands of dollars — or it may raise very little. Some campaigns receive no donations at all. Even when people want to help, there is no guarantee the money will come in fast enough or in the amount a family needs.

That is why planning ahead matters.

Many people have told their family something like:

That may express a preference, but it does not answer all the important questions.

Which funeral home should handle the arrangements?
Will there be a visitation or service?
What kind of obituary is wanted?
What clothing should be used?
Where should burial or cremated remains take place?
Who has the paperwork?
How will it all be paid for?

When those answers are not in place, grieving families are left to guess.

One reason many people avoid funeral planning is because they assume it means paying for the entire funeral in advance.

That is not always the case.

Even if a person is not financially able to prepay, they can still do something very important: make their wishes known and put a basic plan in writing.

That might include:

That alone can spare loved ones a great deal of stress.

Life insurance can be a helpful tool, but it is not the same as preplanning a funeral.

A policy may help with expenses, but questions still remain:

Having money available helps.

But it is still better if the plan itself is already in place.

Many people think funeral planning is about themselves.

In reality, it is often more about the people left behind.

When a death occurs, families are grieving. They may be exhausted, shocked and emotionally overwhelmed. Asking them to make major decisions — while also worrying about money — only adds to the burden.

Planning ahead helps remove some of that weight.

It says to your family:

“I cared enough not to leave all of this on your shoulders.”

You do not have to do everything at once.

But you should start somewhere.

Talk with your family.
Contact a trusted funeral home.
Ask what preplanning options are available.
Find out the difference between preplanning and prepaying.
Write down your wishes.
Make sure someone knows where they are.

The most important step is simply to begin.

If you do not make funeral plans, someone else eventually will.

The question is whether those decisions will be made calmly, thoughtfully and ahead of time — or in the middle of grief, stress and financial uncertainty.

GoFundMe may help in an emergency. But it should never be your funeral plan.

If you value practical information, local news, public-safety updates, community stories and reporting that matters to Eastern Kentucky, subscribe to The Morehead Minute.

We cover the stories that affect our communities — and we deliver them directly to your inbox.

Subscribe today at TheMoreheadMinute.com.

For especially high-traffic or breaking-news articles, I’d make the CTA a little stronger:

Don’t miss the next important local story.

Subscribe to The Morehead Minute for local news, public-safety alerts, government coverage, community features and more — delivered directly to your inbox.

Join us at TheMoreheadMinute.com.