About Funeral Planning for the Terminally Ill
If you are a loved one are terminally ill, you will need to begin funeral arrangements as soon as possible. These arrangements are so the family you leave behind knows what to do with your body; you may want a casket or cremation. They will need to know what to do with your house, car and pets and other important items when you are gone.
It is important to decide who you would like to carry out your wishes now before you begin your planning. The executor of your will should be someone you trust so do exactly as you have ordered after you are gone. This person will be in charge of everything regarding your funeral, your will, debt and distribution of monies or items you wish loved ones to have as keepsakes.
Paperwork
Gather all your important paperwork. It would be beneficial to have it all together in a binder or other type of folder. This folder should contain your will, any do-not-resuscitate and end of life orders, funeral arrangements and directives for your belongings as well as where your pets are to go when you pass.
Meet with an accountant to go over how your debt will be paid when you are gone. You do not want to leave that for your heirs to handle. You will also want to meet with a lawyer to finalize your will.
Tell your executor where the folder of important paperwork is located. It should be somewhere in the house where it is easily found but not in plain sight.
Bequests
There are two ways to handle your bequests. You could list them in your will and allow the executor execute them upon your death. The other way is to begin your bequests now. Some items, those of less real value and more sentimental value, could be given to the individual you want to have them while visiting with them. This may mean more to them then having a lawyer or the executor hand them over. Handwritten letters, to be opened after you are gone, would also be something of a memento for friends and family to cherish.
If you are a volunteer or belong to an organization, you may want to leave them some money and this could also be done at any time. High schools and collages you went to are another place to leave money, no matter how big or small the amount, everyone is grateful for kindly being remembered.
Memorial Services/Celebrations of Life
Some terminally ill patients would prefer a celebration of life while they are still alive rather than a memorial service after they are gone. If this is the case, ask your family to help you plan a celebration. Sometimes a family reunion would be a good type of celebration for a terminally ill patient to say goodbye to everyone he loves.
If a memorial service after your passing is more inline with what you want, try to allocate money for this in your will. If you want money instead of flowers, to go to a charity, make sure this is spelled out in writing in your important paperwork and the executor knows about it as well.
Your Remains
There are three options for what to do with your remains after your death. You could be cremated and someone takes your ashes; you could donate your body to science or you could be buried. This is a personal choice and one that should be written out and left with the important papers. Your decision should also be told to the executor of the estate or will so that he knows of your wishes before the paperwork is opened. This is important so he can tell the hospital what to do immediately.