Helping a parent plan their funeral: how to go about it
1 min readGuideObseques.ch, independent information
Raising the subject of a funeral with a parent is never easy. Yet with tact and at the right moment, it is a relief for the whole family.
Choosing the right moment and tone
There is no need to wait for an emergency or to dramatise. Most often, the subject opens up naturally from the wish to "put things in order", calmly. The goal is not to settle everything at once, but to open the conversation.
What is useful to clarify together
A few points are enough to greatly relieve the family: cremation or burial, the desired level of ceremony, particular wishes, and how all of this will be funded.
Knowing the rights linked to their municipality
In Geneva, the municipality of residence often covers part of the costs. Checking this together, beforehand, avoids unnecessary spending and guides the right choices. It is also reassuring for the parent to see how much is already provided for.
Keeping a record
Put the wishes in writing, simply, and consider a provision account or a mandate if needed. Our personalised diagnosis can serve as a neutral starting point for the discussion, done together in a few minutes.
Plan your wishes in a few minutes
A few simple questions, at your own pace. You get a clear view of the steps, and you spare your loved ones difficult decisions when the time comes.
- A few minutes
- At your own pace
- Confidential
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Independent, verified information. Sources: RTS (2026), City of Geneva (official tariffs). Amounts are indicative and depend on your municipality.