Issue 30.12
“It’s like a huge burden has been lifted,” one lady told me as we finalized a funeral plan for her mother whom she was caring for. The weight of uncertainty was replaced with a plan of her choosing that would be carried out by trusted, caring people. Her worries about the unknown had now vanished. No wonder she breathed a sigh of relief.
Someone has wisely observed that the worst time to plan a funeral is right after someone has died. Making decisions in the emotion of your darkest hour is something best to be avoided. Our studies have shown that families who wait to plan until a death occurs will often neglect or forget important details, and in addition, they will pay $1,000 to $3,000 extra.
We all believe we have legitimate reasons for delaying and putting off death planning. However, advance planning is part and parcel to everything we do in life. We plan for marriage; we plan for schooling, for work, and for retirement. Why not plan for our farewell?
Planning a funeral, whether burial or cremation can seem to be a daunting task. Statistics reveal that in our lifetime, each of us will have the opportunity of planning two funerals. Because we have little experience it behooves us to investigate our options and choices. One of the best ways is to visit with a funeral professional. Consumer protection laws require funeral homes to provide a detailed price list. Equally important is the opportunity to identify the professionals you will entrust with your care.
Over the years that I have been helping families plan ahead, I have noted that there is always a look of relief (sometimes a sigh of relief) on the faces of those who no longer need to worry about what will happen, how much it will cost, and who will pay for it.
We view our funeral home as an education center and never charge for consulting or preparing a plan. We are located at 1316 South 400 East, Suite A-3, in St. George, just off Riverside Drive on the south side of the freeway.
Dick Johnson is a funeral planner and co-owner of SereniCare Funeral Homes. You may contact Dick at (435) 986-2085, or visit the website at www.SereniCare.com