Talking About Your Wishes with Your Family
As you reach retirement, there are a lot of decisions to be made. Where will you live? How will you budget your savings? And so on. One decision you might be avoiding is what happens to you when you die.
It’s an unpleasant thought, of course, but it’s a very important one. In addition to having an updated will, pre-arranging your funeral is something you should seriously consider. Without a pre-arrangement, your loved ones will have to make all the decisions, which can be overwhelming when someone they care about has just passed away. Not to mention, they will have to pay the full price at the time of your death. If you pre-paid, you pay today’s prices for a future event.
Meeting with a funeral director to discuss your pre-arrangement is important, but it’s important to also discuss your wishes with your family. You don’t necessarily need their blessing, but it can be helpful to let them know what you want, and that it’s being taken care of.
Be Sensitive to their Feelings
Even thought it’s your eventual death you are discussing, your loved ones may not want to hear it. Broach the subject with kindness and understanding. If they do not want to hear the details (the flowers you’ve chosen for yourself, the song you want played, etc.), you can spare them that, and just let them know where all the information can be found when the time comes. If you have children and grand-children, they might not be ready to think about a future without you in it – and it’s likely upsetting for you as well.
What if they object?
If for example, you wish to be cremated and a loved one objects for their own personal reasons, take the time to explain your wishes and why you feel strongly about it. The wonderful thing about pre-arranging is that you can discuss your wishes while you’re alive and well. This way your next of kin won’t have to wonder if they’re doing right by you when you pass.
Talking about death, even when everyone is healthy, can be difficult. If anyone has any questions or concerns, they can always reach out to the friendly staff at Chapel Ridge Funeral Home and Cremation centre. We can explain how pre-arrangements work, and the steps you need to take to ensure everything goes as planned.
