An Emotional Investment for You and Your Family’s Future

 Hello STEEMIT family.  Brad here.  Sorry for my morbid first post, but I feel it is something really important I can share that may help someone takes steps to have an easier time when dealing with the death.

 

My wife’s mother unexpectedly passed away at the young age of 73 last week.  This wasn’t my first experience with the death of someone I was close to, but it was my first experience sitting in a funeral home and going over the incredibly intimate and important details of planning a funeral only hours after the shocking news.  It was in this meeting with her sisters and their spouses that I realized how difficult the days ahead were going to be.  Not only from the grief, but from the mess of no one knowing anything about life insurance, a will, financials, or any wishes she may have had about her own funeral. 

My wife lost her father many years ago when she was a senior in high school.  Her mother was a rock in her family and a constant source of love and stability during the years after his death.  Even after going through the experience of his funeral and planning, she never made her own arrangements or preparations for her own death in order to make things easier for her children.  Now, she did have to suddenly raise four children on her own, but many years did pass (close to 20) and she kept putting it off and it was never discussed or planned. 

 

I am blessed to have both of my parents still living.  Her mother’s passing gave me the gift of incredible insight and opportunity to bypass some of the pain when that inevitable time comes.  I can have this conversation with my parents today.  Yes, it is uncomfortable and difficult, but it is an emotional investment for that day when it comes.  You can too. 

Funerals aren’t cheap.  It was a little over $11,000 for hers.  We found out her mother had about $60,000 in the bank that can help cover the costs, but she also had a loan with a balance of almost $70k that no one knew about.  They are still working through all this now and all I can say is that it is a mess. 

Grab some beers and have a conversation with your parents today.  Start planning your arrangements today. Research online.  There’s a wealth of easily accessible info online for free that can get you started.

 
I promise you’ll be glad you did.