Recently my husband asked me for my Social Security number. This isn’t too weird, but unusual enough that I asked why. Turns out it was because he was going to an informational class about preplanning his funeral/ cremation (still not 100% sure why he needed my SSN for that, but that’s neither here nor there).
He’s only 57 and swears that no, he is NOT hiding any terminal disease from me. He is just a planner and organizer and wanted to get an idea on what the process looks like. He has his own obituary written (of course he updates it as needed). We have talked about what we do and don’t want to have for services and that we both want to be cremated. At least I think I do- I go back and forth 🙁
Most people don’t like to think about their own death, or the death of their loved ones. But we are all going to die. So it makes sense to be prepared for it, just like we prepare for anything else. We prepare to go on a vacation. We prepare to purchase a car or a house. We prepare for a job interview.
Does your partner/ parent/ child/ friends know what your last wishes are? Do you want to be buried or cremated? Do you want a service at a place or worship? Is there anything you absolutely do NOT want? Example- my father has made it very clear he does not want anyone placing anything with him in his casket. No notes, momentos, etc.
It’s not an easy conversation to have. No one wants to think about their loved ones dying, or dying themselves. But we are all going to die. It’s the one certainty in this world. So please do your loved ones a favor and instigate the conversation. Even if you aren’t 100% sure of everything yourself, you probably know at least a couple things you do or don’t want after you’re gone. Even if you are young and healthy now, you never know what tomorrow will bring, and having a talk now can make things easier for your family after you’re gone. Who wouldn’t want that?