Many
of us avoid discussing our mortality and leave our loved ones
dealing with difficult decisions and lots to sort out.
Grief
is not the best space in which your loved ones should make
decisions that have a permanent impact.
We all come into
this world with nothing, but it’s in our nature to acquire
things during our tenure here. Each item we acquire has to find
its place when we leave…. and we can help those left behind
to do that with ease and minimal fuss. The last thing we want
for those we love is to be having to deal with stressful decisions
at a time when they are in shock and mourning over our passing.
You don’t
need to help from ‘the other side’ - you can do
it here and now, long before it becomes an issue. And you can
‘rest easy’ knowing that everything is in order
for when your time on this earth is up.
There really are
so many decisions that need to be made based on your spiritual,
social and/or religious beliefs. Our Rest-Easy Journal
will guide you through the process step by step and provide
you with an opportunity to consider the issues that could arise
at your death and how you would want them handled.
What's in
the Rest Easy Journal?
The Rest Easy
Journal is loaded with questions that will prompt and guide
you to provide all of the information your loved ones will need
to facilitate your passing, including where your documentation
is kept, who to phone; concise instructions for your funeral
ceremony; what to do with your pets—right down to any
‘skeletons you may have kept in the closet’. This
64-page, wire-bound journal will help you to put your affairs
in order, and our complimentary 'useful links' brochure will
point you in the right direction for making decisions about
how your passing can be facilitated with little fuss.
Before you fill
in the journal you may like to research your options more. Our
FAQs and Links Page will give you some
great ideas.
The Cost
of Dying…
It costs money to
die, just as it costs money to live. Most people have no idea
just what has to be paid for when a person dies, so here is
a list to start you off.
Doctor’s
Certificates; Registering a Certificate of Death
Transporting
the deceased to the morgue
Newspaper notices
Funeral Director
service fee which may include:
Transporting
the deceased to the funeral home
Any
special preparation (eg. embalming)
Casket
Cemetery
or cremation costs
Church
or chapel costs
Transport
of family to the ceremony
Headstones
Collection
of ashes or interrment
Floral
arrangements
Clergy
or celebrant fee
Music
Some of
the decisions you need to make now…
Do I want to
be buried or cremated?
Do I want a full
funeral or a memorial service?
Do I want an
elaborate or simple service?
Do I want to
be embalmed?
Where do I want
my body/ashes to rest?
Do I want floral
tributes or donations to charity?
Who do I want
to prepare and read my eulogy?
What music do
I want played?
Am I going to
put aside money for the cost of my death? If so, where, and
how can I make it easily accessible?
Keep
it simple…
These days, with
the environment to consider, ‘less is more’ can
be a creed to live and die by. Some of the most heartfelt
ceremonies I have experienced have been the simplest. Here a
some tips on reducing the cost of your passing….
Think about
what you want beforehand. Decide whether a simple cardboard
casket will suffice instead of a satin-lined solid oak casket
with brass fittings.
It costs a
great deal less to be cremated shortly after death and have
your ‘cremains’ scattered at a memorial service
than it does to have your body buried in a cemetery with
a headstone.
Talk about
what you want ahead of time (or fill in the Rest Easy
Journal) with your loved ones. That way they won’t
feel guilty or obliged to bring out all the bells and whistles.
Respecting your wishes can simplify the process for them.
Shop around.
The cost of funeral services can vary dramatically. Many
people think it’s simpler to hand over everything
to a funeral director, but sometimes having family members
involved in the preparation themselves can not only save
money, it can help the grieving process.
Consider donating
your body to Science. Accepting your body will depend on
the circumstances surrounding your death, but if they do
there may be minimal cost to the family. You can sometimes
have the 'cremains' returned to the family later.
It is possible
for people to arrange a funeral without the involvement
of a funeral parlour. It may take a little time to organise,
but it is possible and it could give your loved
ones a great sense of satisfaction and closure if you choose
to do so. If you're interested, access www.bereavementcare.com.au
for a book by Leah Munro titled the Do-it-Yourself Funeral
Book.
However you choose
to celebrate your departure from this planet, I hope this web
site and the Rest Easy Journal (just $14.95 + $5 p&p)
will help you to do it with a positive impact on the ones you
leave behind!
