The Art of Giving a Eulogy…and More
Category: Family and Retirement
August 13, 2015 — One of the unpleasant aspects of being a baby boomer at this stage of our lives is realizing that our own mortality is inevitable, after all. Loved ones and dear friends are starting to pass on in growing numbers… some day we are pretty certain we will too. Dealing with that loss has many difficult aspects, so this article launches a series of how-tos on the subject.
Nextavenue.org, one of our favorite websites, had some great articles on the topic recently. We will add our thoughts to two of those here, and provide you with
Comments on "The Art of Giving a Eulogy…and More"
Kate says:
Difficult topic. Writing your own obituary is a good tip, keeping in mind that you don't actually need an obituary at all. (Having recently been through the death of a spouse, it was helpful to have an obit pre-written, so that I didn't have to come up with one quickly.)
This is just one part of pre-planning. I'm sure people have very strong feelings about everything related to this topic. Funeral arrangements can be incredibly expensive (pre-paid arrangements can be excluded from Medicaid buy-down). Funerals are an opportunity for loved ones to gather, and to celebrate a life. Some families don't see each other except for weddings and funerals, so they are important to cement family relationships. And
there are religions that require certain funeral arrangements, and have not yet accepted cremation. If retiring in a location away from family, decisions might also have to be made funeral and burial plans. A friend held two funerals for his Mom -- one where she died, and another memorial service in the town where she had lived for 50 years.
On the other hand, many people feel that funerals are the ultimate waste of money, which can be better used by the living, whether a spouse, children, or a charity. I admit that I'm coming around to this point of view, which was my husband's strong belief.
I'll be interested in these blogs. Morbid, perhaps, but having been through it recently I understand how relevant this topic is to senior-life and retirement planning.
Jan Cullinane says:
Important topic.
If you haven't read this poem, it's definitely worth a minute of your time:
http://www.linda-ellis.com/the-dash-the-dash-poem-by-linda-ellis-.html
Jan Cullinane, author, The Single Woman's Guide to Retirement (AARP/Wiley)
Kate says:
Wonderful poem, Jan. Thanks for posting the link.