I learned something about acceptance today.
A new client came in, just a few months short of her 90th birthday. She was recently put on hospice care and came in to tie up a few ends for her funeral and cemetery needs.
As I sat with this woman, I couldn’t help but marvel as she told me her story. More to the point, I was amazed how even with her age how she was still optimistic, hopeful and living life — rather than waiting to die.
She told me the biggest pain about all of this was that she couldn’t play golf anymore! She told me of her blessings and of her life and as she talked we became friends.
I admired that in the midst of all the sorrows that beset her she had the foresight to prearrange her funeral. She didn’t want to leave it to the family, she said, because they would have enough to deal with once she was gone.
I learn from my customers the value of preplanning every day and look forward to the lessons I’ll be learning from all my clients yet to come.
People in grief walk in every day unprepared for the financial burden of planning a funeral or cremation.
Everyone buys insurance for houses, cars, medical….but not many take advantage of buying insurance for funeral preplanning.
Last year AARP did a disservice to the funeral industry by recommending that folks NOT preplan. I’d like to tell you why you should.
First off, when someone you love dies, it would be really nice if you could concentrate on the event rather than your pocketbook. A recent young man, after finding out what a full body funeral and burial would cost, almost fainted. Seriously. His dad, in his mid 50’s had died unexpectedly, and he didn’t really know what to do.
I see it every day! And, it hurts my heart every time I do.
When you buy a preplanned funeral or cremation you need to make sure you are buying an insurance policy. that way your money is held in trust by an insurance company and can grow in value, too.
Make sure that when you buy cemetery product that it has an Endowment Care Fund that will provide perputual care.
When you make plans ahead YOU get to choose how you want your own funeral or cremation to go. YOUR wishes will be followed — no one elses. YOU get to decide just how much money YOU want to spend for your final footprint on earth and in the end, you’ve given those you love the best gift you could because you’ve lifted the financial burden from those left behind.
Contact me if you’d like more info on funeral and cremation preplanning.
I’ll keep writing about the benefits of preplanning on this site, so, I hope you look back soon!
Jan Shepardson, owner of Loving Eulogies, is a professional eulogy eriter and she will be sharing many of her thoughts and experiences on funeral planning, funeral service related items, grief and much more.
Check back often for the latest from Jan!
