Issue 26.17
Of all the things you can do for your family, planning and funding your funeral may be one of the most considerate and caring. In my 25+ years of serving families of Southern Utah when the death of a loved one occurs, I have helped both those who have taken the time to plan ahead and those who have not.
I have seen the emotional impact and financial strain that can be placed upon a surviving spouse, children or extended family when a death takes place weather expected or unexpected, A little will do as much to ease minds and comfort them in their time of loss as planning ahead. It’s something each of us will face in our lifetime. By planning ahead we truly make it easier for those we love, and give you the peace of mind that your family is taken care of.
Here are 5 great reasons why you should plan your funeral:
It lets you make your wishes known, so your loved ones won’t have to worry. Do you wish to have a traditional service at your local church, or do you wish for more of a simple service for family and close friends? Maybe your wish is to be cremated and your cremated remains scattered at your favorite mountain site. By planning ahead, your family won’t have to second guess if they made the right choice.
2. It eliminates emotional overspending due to grief or guilt. All too often when a family experiences a loss of a loved one, decisions have to be made quickly, sometimes causing emotions to cloud our judgment of what is best for the deceased or the loved ones left behind.
3. It gives you a chance to personalize your funeral and make it a celebration of your life. It’s a way to get your loved ones involved and make it a positive, healing experience.
4. It helps relieve you and your family from future financial burdens. One of the great benefits to pre planning and funding a funeral is the cost guarantee that your mortuary can provide. In these economic times it not only is an emotional benefit but a sound financial decision.
5. It gives you & your loved ones total peace of mind. Planning is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can leave.
I recently assisted a family in arranging their husband, and father’s service. They came to the mortuary prior to his death and indicated his desire for a specialized casket to show his avid support of the USC Trojans (University of Southern California). This gentleman was a diehard USC Fan.
His desire was to have his casket customized to show his support of the school. He was an owner of a local body shop. The casket was purchased the funeral was pre-arranged.
At the time of his passing the casket was delivered to his professional auto body shop where staff with dignity and respect took the casket that would hold their beloved employer. We returned a couple days later to find this casket customized with the USC colors of Crimson and Yellow it had a big USC logo and the Trojan mascot proudly displayed on the lid of the casket. It was perfect and so professionally done that one would think it came that way.
The staff carefully placed it in our car and had tears in their eyes as we drove away. His funeral service was a perfect tribute to a man who loved USC sports and life.
Because he had the wisdom and vision to plan ahead, his wife and family were able to honor those wishes appropriately and give him the tribute of his life and what was important to him.
At the end of one’s life, it’s not what we became or what we have, or who we know, but rather what we did for others and the relationships we made with our family and friends.
There are many options out there to pay for your funeral; the most trusted method is to speak directly to your local funeral director. His advice and experience will give you the options necessary in making the right decision for you and your family.
Just as you go to your doctor for medical advice, your mechanic for car issues, and your favorite florist for that special floral arrangement, your local funeral director will guide you through one of the most important parts of honoring one’s life. Thus helping you achieve the peace of mind we all look for. Remember doing something is always better than doing nothing. Please feel free to contact me anytime with questions or to set an appointment.
Todd C. Bonzo can be contacted at Metcalf Mortuary (435) 673-4221.