At Mississippi Valley Cremation and Direct Burial, we believe that preparing for the end of life doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Preplanning your funeral or cremation wishes—whether or not you choose to pay in advance—provides clarity, control, and, most importantly, peace of mind for your loved ones.

Why Preplanning Matters

Losing a loved one is never easy. Families often face dozens of decisions within a short amount of time, all while coping with grief. By recording your wishes in advance, you remove uncertainty and relieve your family of the burden of making difficult choices. Preplanning ensures that your story is honored the way you want it to be remembered.

Even if you don’t want to pay for arrangements ahead of time, simply outlining your preferences gives your loved ones a meaningful gift: reassurance and direction during a challenging moment.

A Simple Way to Get Started

We make the process simple. Start by creating a file that contains important personal and family details. You can store this file at home in a place where your family will know to find it, or you may choose to keep it with your funeral home of choice.

Essential Information to Include in Your File

• Full legal name and date of birth
• Birthplace (city and state)
• Parents’ names
• Mother’s maiden name
• Education level
• Career occupation and industry
• Military service details (if applicable)
• Marital status and spouse’s name
• Children and immediate family members
• Social Security Number and your name as it appears on your card
• Obituary
• Insurance Policies (if applicable)
• Preferred interment choice (cremation, burial, donation, etc.)

These are the details most often needed to complete required documents, prepare an obituary, and make necessary arrangements.

How Do You Want to Be Remembered?

At Mississippi Valley Cremation and Direct Burial, we provide families with a helpful guide: How Do You Want to Be Remembered?. This worksheet walks you through thoughtful questions such as:

• Interment – Do you prefer cremation, cemetery burial, entombment, or donation to medical science?
• Funeral Services – Would you like a traditional funeral, direct burial or cremation, a memorial service, or a graveside ceremony?
• Celebrations – Do you want a celebration of life, special music, favorite foods, flowers, or a charity recognized in your honor?
• Digital Legacy – What would you like to happen to your online accounts, such as Facebook, Instagram, or email?

By completing this outline, you’ll give your family clear instructions about how you wish your life to be honored and celebrated.

👉 You can download the worksheet on our website: www.mvcremation.com under the "Resources" tab.

Peace of Mind for Your Family

Preplanning gives your loved ones confidence. Instead of second-guessing your wishes, they’ll know exactly how to carry them out. This thoughtful step helps reduce stress, prevents conflict, and allows your family to focus on celebrating your life.

Ready to Begin?

At Mississippi Valley Cremation and Direct Burial, we are here to guide you through the process. Whether you want to prepay or simply record your wishes, our compassionate team makes it simple.

Call us anytime at 309-798-9798 or visit us at 1811 15th Street Pl., Moline, IL 61265 to get started.