by Doug Gaetz
Delta Funeral Home.
There’s no question about it. Thinking about our own mortality is not something that’s easy for any of us. But facing up to reality and making the necessary preparations for our own funerals – planning logistics, coordinating providers, and handling all the other details – may well be one of the most selfless and loving acts we’ll ever perform.
After all, leaving your family with the tasks of making choices and negotiating prices at a time of great emotional strain can only add to their grief and sense of loss. It may also result in their making selections that are not only unwarranted but needlessly expensive as well.
Even if you live near your family in a close-knit community, the choices to be made among funeral homes, florists, and cemeteries can be overwhelming to your family. And if you’re a relative newcomer to your community, or without family members living nearby, arranging your own memorial celebration ahead of time is absolutely essential.
Consider the following example …
In a recent letter to a popular syndicated columnist, a reader cited the experience of a close friend to show how lack of prior planning can create unnecessary anguish and confusion.
After becoming widowed, the friend was invited and moved in with her son and his family on the other side of the country. When she eventually died in her new community, family members knew only that she wanted to be interred with her husband who was buried back in their hometown. They had no idea where her legal documents, such as her will, cemetery deed and insurance papers were filed.
As a result, there was considerable chaos involving lawyers, bankers, and insurance companies in two different provinces – all of which could have been avoided with proper planning. Even more painful for the family was they had no idea what kind of funeral she may have wanted – or even where it should be.
The message is clear: failing to plan ahead can make things difficult for your family at the very moment they’re most vulnerable – and force them into making decisions they’re unprepared for. By shopping ahead and planning for your own funeral, you’ll be contributing to a legacy that is certain to be appreciated and cherished by those you leave behind. It is, in a very real sense, the ultimate expression of your love.