subject: Tips On Buying A Cemetery Plot [print this page] More Folks Making Early Funeral Plans More Folks Making Early Funeral Plans
Millie Griffin has had her share of grief.
Her husband died four years ago. Just recently, her 49-year-old son died. The Anderson resident has had other family members who have died in recent years, and in every case she has found herself in the midst of making funeral and burial plans.
She said it's the one area of her life in which she'd rather not have such expertise.
No one wants to think about death, much less plan for it. But in the end, when the inevitable happens, if plans haven't been made in advance, the responsibility falls to someone, usually a family member.
There's a push nationwide for making arrangements long in advance of sickness or emergency need. In 2002, an Alabama law was passed regulating how money paid in advance for funeral arrangements is secured. It can be done by either a licensed and bonded insurance company or a trust. Both must be approved by the Department of Insurance for the State of Alabama. The cost is locked in once the contract is signed.
When the time comes, the full amount, plus interest, is paid, even if it has been transferred to another service provider.
Since the law took root, there's been an upsurge in advanced planning for death.
Griffin said her husband's death jolted her into making pre-arrangements, even though, at 71, she remains in good health and continues to work.
Griffin has made arrangements for her own funeral and said even her 41-year-old son began planning after his brother's death.
"The loss of his brother really impacted him, and he knew this was the time to be making plans," Griffin said. "The only certainty is that you just never know when death is coming. Like I told him, you're never too young to make these arrangements.
"I don't want my children to have to pay for their own funeral. I know we could sit back and not make plans but we're all going to die and none of us know when. You're either prepared or you're not, and I want to have everything in order."
Amy Puckett, owner of Rogersville Funeral Home, said more people are making advanced arrangements. Not only does it make it easier on survivors, it allows the individual to personalize every aspect of the funeral and burial.
"The time to do this is even before you realize it is necessary," Puckett said. "Pre-need is something people should prepare for in their 40s and 50s, if not earlier. Many people think it's morbid, but it's simply necessary. People don't realize there are more than 125 items to be discussed before a funeral takes place."
Payment plans are available and clients can take up to five years to pay in some instances, Puckett said.
"I talk to people about personalizing their service and making it truly reflect themselves," she said. "No matter how well a person knows you, the only way to get the exact funeral and burial you want is to plan it yourself."
Puckett said pre-planning means choosing flowers, music, who will speak, who will do the hair of the deceased and even pre-determining what photos are to be used for memorial videos.
Advanced preparation also includes making a will. Florence attorney Will Motlow said for an average price of $150, such documentation can prevent a great deal of family stress after the individual dies.
"One of the best reasons to have a will is to prevent family fights after someone dies," Motlow said. "It can go the other way, to probate court in litigation, but most people prefer to keep peace in their family."
Motlow also suggests simplifying life for the executor of the will by specifying that the executor is exempt from having to do an inventory of the estate, which can be costly.
"I'd suggest getting a durable power of attorney, especially for older people who are losing mental reasoning skills," he said.
A durable power of attorney simply means the document will remain in effect, or take effect, if a person becomes mentally incompetent
Griffin said her best advice is to have the end of life in order because "it's coming, whether we're ready or not."
