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How to take the sting out of end of life planning
This is an extremely difficult topic to think about for nearly every person but it’s important to consider it. More important to take action.
Anyone who has had a loved one pass away without a plan for after their life ends knows what a burden it is to deal with what remains when you’re already in the depths of grief, and sometimes if life ends suddenly, shock.
Thinking about your own death is a topic most people want to avoid as much as possible, especially when it comes with a whole host of different feelings and emotions like fear, discomfort, and sadness. However, it might be one of the best things you can do, and there’s even a growing trend that can help – what about planning your own funeral?
Thinking about how you want people to celebrate the life you lived, the beautiful memories you made together and the legacy left behind is a positive way to think about end of life and funeral or memorial planning. This more joy-based mindset will take the macabre factor out of this process for you and your loved ones.
There are many benefits to doing this yourself and I want to look at them more closely in this post.
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Take the burden off those you leave behind
One compelling reason to pre-plan your own funeral lies in the invaluable support it offers your grieving loved ones. Planning a funeral involves a myriad of decisions, ranging from selecting a casket to orchestrating the ceremony. For those grappling with loss, this responsibility can prove overwhelmingly daunting, exacerbating their emotional turmoil.
By proactively organizing your funeral arrangements, you extend a final act of kindness to your family and friends, alleviating them of this weighty burden. You can explore options at To take some of the overwhelm out of where to start you can take a look at a cemetery, funeral and memorial super store for some great ideas. Here you can draw inspiration for your ideal service, and thereby provide clear guidance to your loved ones.
Financial Planning
Funerals can impose significant financial burdens, often landing on the shoulders of grieving family members. Even if funds are available in your estate, they may not be accessible until after funeral expenses are settled.
By planning your funeral arrangements in advance, you can make sure there’s enough money to cover it all, so no one you love has to suddenly find themselves with a bill to pay that causes them additional stress.
Don’t forget a plan for any pets you may leave behind. Where they will live and who will take care of them so they don’t end up in a shelter if possible.
There are various pre-payment options that cater to diverse budgets, facilitating affordable funeral planning. Gathering information on these options proves prudent, benefiting everyone involved in the long term.
When one of my parents passed I recall the documents left that showed regular payment into a funeral service that covered the expenses that alleviated the extra stress of having to figure out all the details. It showed me clearly the final wishes of my loved one laid out in detail of what they wanted along with payment completed for it. I had only to deal with personal possessions left behind. Believe it or not that one step made me, as the child, feel loved and cared for after my parent was gone. They cared enough for me to have this taken care of.
Make It Personal
Your funeral is meant to reflect your life and show who you were as a person, and by planning it yourself, you can ensure that your final farewell does exactly that – after all, who knows you better than you do?
As mentioned in the beginning of this post, memories of joy, love, the special moments with the people you leave behind is an incredibly beautiful thing to celebrate. Memorials and funerals can be a celebration of life and you can design it to be exactly that.
Whether you’re looking for a traditional service or something out of the ordinary, if you plan it all yourself you can ensure it’s precisely what you want, and you’ll know that after you’ve gone, people will still be able to get a sense of who you are. That’s important to many people, and setting the tone by organizing your own funeral is a great way to make sure it happens.