If there is one subject that we all put out of our minds it is our own mortality. We would rather think about it later than sooner, if at all.
However, this does not mean that we don't still worry about meeting the cost of funeral arrangements. One way of easing this worry is pre-planning of funeral costs, which helps to protect our loved ones from future uncertainty and avoids the stress of facing unfamiliar choices at an emotionally difficult time.
Most people have little idea of what is involved, what the costs are and, more importantly, what final arrangements would be desired. Pre-planning enables the person to resolve one of life's most important and inevitable details in an intelligent, efficient manner. It allows one to make one's own choices, while keeping costs as low as possible. Usually the task of arranging for a funeral falls to a small group or a single survivor. For this reason, planning ahead may be a good idea: It makes good sense. Making your wishes known in advance can do much to help the family carry them out.

Discussing arrangements with your family is essential, as the funeral affects them most directly. You may wish to leave your requests flexible enough to allow survivors to make appropriate arrangements for the fulfilment of their own emotional needs. Sometimes people say in an effort to spare their loved ones expense or burden, "Don't go to any trouble for me - no funeral or any of that". However, people who would make such statements do not realise that the simplest way may not be the best way for their loved ones.

It happens all too often. A death occurs and without warning a family member or friend is left to make all the difficult decisions required for funeral and cemetery arrangements. Most have little idea of what is involved, what the costs are and, most importantly, what final arrangements the deceased would have wanted.

12 August 2002