Catholic Funeral Plan®
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a faith-based, pre-need plan that allows Catholic families to plan their funeral arrangements in advance. The plan ensures that, when you die, the funeral arrangements you’ve selected will be delivered at no additional cost to your family, and in accordance with the liturgical traditions of the Church.
Yes it is. After an extensive review, the Catholic Funeral Plan™ received approval from the Archdiocese of Hartford as a way to protect the Church’s teachings and to guarantee Catholic families an affordable funeral in the traditions of their church. It’s the only funeral plan that’s been approved and endorsed by the Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford. The Catholic Family Services Association, a subsidiary of the Catholic Cemeteries Association (CCA), has been established to administer the Catholic Funeral Plan™.
When you enroll in the plan, you select the funeral home of your choice. You determine the arrangements that best suit you, at a price you feel is appropriate. The funeral home will provide those arrangements at the time of death. The Catholic Family Services Association oversees this process so that your arrangements are carried out as specified and in the Catholic tradition.
The Catholic Funeral Plan™ is funded by an insurance policy. There are payment options available to suit the financial circumstances of every family. Once enrolled in the plan, if you should die while making payments, your funeral will be delivered with no further financial obligation to your family.*
The Catholic Funeral Plan™ is designed to eliminate the effects of inflation on your funeral expenses. The proceeds of the insurance policy are paid to the funeral home only after it has provided the funeral in accordance with your wishes and Catholic tradition. The insurance policy protects against inflation. It grows in value each year, keeping pace with–or even exceeding—price increases. If the policy benefit exceeds your funeral costs, the excess portion will be paid to your designated beneficiary.
The Catholic Funeral Plan™ provides a number of benefits:
- You’ll have the assurance that your funeral arrangements will contain all of the essential liturgical elements of a Catholic funeral.
- You’ll have peace of mind, knowing that your family will be spared the burden of making decisions about your funeral and burial, and that there will be no doubts or family disagreements as to your wishes.
- You’ll have the assurance that you have provided for the cost of your funeral in advance, regardless of inflationary price increases.
- You’ll know that the Catholic Funeral Plan™ will be there when your family needs it, regardless of changes that may occur in the funeral industry.
- As a Catholic, you’ll have the comfort of knowing that the Church’s sacred funeral rites and traditions will continue to be observed in future generations.
No. The Catholic Funeral Plan™ is not designed to replace any life insurance you may already have. It’s intended only to provide the funds needed to pay for your funeral, so your family is not burdened financially at the time of your death. It frees any existing life insurance to pay for other costs your family might incur, or to become a part of their inheritance. The policy’s proceeds have no current tax consequences for you and won’t be included in your estate. And the policy does not disqualify you from receiving Medicaid benefits.
The plan is transferable. Should you choose not to have your funeral in Connecticut, the policy can be transferred to any funeral home in your new community. The Catholic Family Services Association will assist you in locating a funeral provider to deliver the funeral as you have designed it.
Certainly! While the plan was designed for Catholics, it can be used by anyone who wants to pre-plan arrangements. The Catholic Family Services Association promises to ensure that arrangements are carried out in accordance with the wishes of the deceased, regardless of his or her religious beliefs.
Most other pre-need plans are simply agreements between the funeral director and the customer. The unique advantage of the Catholic Funeral Plan™ is the presence of the Catholic Family Services Association to oversee the entire process — from the time you make your funeral arrangements until they’re delivered. It assures that the arrangements will conform to your wishes and contain all the essential elements of a Catholic funeral.
Just call or visit one of our cemetery locations and speak with a Family Service Advisor. They will take you through the process and help your family get the security and peace of mind that comes from being well prepared.
* Depending on your health, there may be a modified death benefit during the first two years of the plan.
