Thinking about one's own mortality is not something that many people look forward to, but taking the time to make some funeral arrangements before you pass can help alleviate the stress your family members will feel after your death.

While selecting a casket and creating a funeral program are important things to consider, there are some lesser-known tasks that should be completed when making funeral arrangements as well. Here are three things you should do when planning your own funeral to reduce the stress your surviving family members will feel after your passing.

1. Compile a list of your vital statistics.

While your close family members might be familiar with your birth date or social security number, there are other vital statistics that might not be common knowledge. Taking the time to compile a list of your online accounts (complete with username and password information) will help your family members access bank records, social media accounts, and other important sites after your death.

You should also compile a list of any information pertaining to your military service, and a complete record of your employment history to help with the collection of retirement benefits that your family members could be entitled to after your passing.

2. Write a brief personal history.

Often times it is left to the children of a deceased individual to prepare a eulogy and obituary. While your children have intimate knowledge of you as a parent, they may not be familiar with personality traits or events that helped define you as a person before you had children.

Writing a brief personal history that includes any unique hobbies, achievements, or special memories you want to share with those who attend your funeral will help give your children a glimpse into your personal life and some direction when preparing their final remarks.

3. Create a notification list.

The pain of losing a loved one can make it difficult to focus on minor details that come along with planning a funeral, so you can help streamline the process a little by preparing a notification list as you make your own funeral arrangements.

Listing the individuals that you want contacted after you pass away (including those individuals your family might not consider like close work colleagues or church acquaintances) will help your family members spread the word of your death and pending funeral to those you cared most about during life.

Be sure that your funeral planning includes the compilation of vital personal information, the writing of a brief personal history, and the creation of a notification list to help alleviate your surviving family members' stress after your death. Contact a business, such as Morris Nilsen Funeral Chapel, for more information.