Planning Your Funeral
Have the talk of your lifetime
In this country, most of us aren’t comfortable talking about our own mortality. Planning your funeral probably isn’t high on your list of priorities right now. After all, it’s hopefully a long way off and there are a whole host of more pressing issues to deal with.
Planning Your Funeral
At Robson & Stephens, we think it’s very important to ‘Have the talk of your lifetime’. A conversation of this nature can really help families to discover the things that matter most to a loved one. The discussion can help to determine how a person’s life story can be best remembered and honoured in a meaningful way.
Funeral services can now be so much more personal than they used to be. Today, (quite rightly) a funeral service can really reflect a person’s life story, their values, the interests and hobbies they held dear and the experiences which helped to shape them. There are so many more options available, from customised coffins and caskets to unusual transportation methods to the service. Some choose a theme or dress code for the memorial. Any of these can help to give a very personal send-off.
Funeral Wishes
Why is it important to have the talk? Well, deep down, most of us want to know that we, in some way, made a difference in this world. Having the talk of your lifetime can make the difference of a lifetime.
Sitting down with loved ones to talk about their lives can be rich and satisfying. Learning about memorable events, favourite places and activities and the people who provided a positive influence can bring people closer together. The talk helps to reaffirm how much a loved one has impacted on a life. These talks can help give clarity to family members or friends on last wishes. It enables those planning the funeral to do so with confidence.
“Family is not an important thing, it is everything.”
Who Should Have The Talk?
You can have the talk of your lifetime with anyone you hold dear; parents, children, grandparents, aunts and uncles, a spouse or a friend. It can happen anywhere you and your loved one are most comfortable. And it could happen spontaneously. While there is no right or wrong place, a discussion like this should not necessarily be left until the end of life’s journey is in sight.
Raising The Subject
Sometimes a visual prompt, such as a photo album, souvenir, or memento, can be a great way to start a conversation. Memorable places – the church where your loved one was married or a favourite park from childhood could help someone to begin to open up and share a poignant story or two.
It could be the sharing of a memory about a family holiday, a special piece of advice, a sentimental song or the reasons why a loved one will never be forgotten. (If your memory isn’t what it was, jot down some notes or make a recording.)
Offering Practical Advice
Our friendly team can offer families practical advice and the tools to help them have conversations about the things that matter most and how they hope to be remembered when they die.
Robson & Stephens is holding the first ‘Talk of your lifetime session’ on Thursday 24th September in The Hub, Angel Place Shopping Centre, Bridgwater from 2pm until 3pm. A free booklet, ‘‘My Funeral Wishes’ will be available to take away. It should help you and your loved ones to make some incredibly important decisions together.