Because…
- We
all die.
- 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!