Special Feature
One of the best gifts that I have ever received was from my mother, Maxine. She gave me many gifts throughout my life but long before her time on this earth was done, she gave me this special gift that I hold dear to my heart even now. Many years before she died, my mother wrote out her funeral in her handwriting. At the time, I was many years away from the ministry of Funeral Directing so pre-planning was not really part of my vocabulary but that’s exactly what she was doing.
When I mourned the loss of mother, I did not have to wonder what she wanted. In my grief and sadness, I knew exactly what songs she wanted sung at her funeral and found that it comforted me much more than I had anticipated when I heard those songs she chose. I knew what casket she wanted, her preference for flowers, and other details that made the arrangement of her funeral so much easier. I did not understand at the time and I am not even sure that she understood what a tremendous gift she was giving me. But perhaps she did. Her goal was always to make my life a bit easier and she left this world doing so.
Now I have the privilege of helping others do the same for their own loved ones. Pre-planning is a matter of taking the time to think about – and record – your end-of-life desires. It’s a thoughtful gesture to those you love, and a way to let go of anxieties about the future. Once done, you can relax, knowing your plans are in the hands of reliable friends or family.
Pre-planning Benefits. Given time to consider it, you’ll quickly realize that pre-planning is all about ensuring that your wishes are known, so they can be acted upon when the time comes. It’s easy. There’s no health questionnaire or physical exam required. Absolutely everyone can make a pre-plan, and there is no waiting for return documents. Complete the plan and put it on file in our office. Your pre-plan lets your family clearly know your wishes and relieves your family members of making very personal decisions on your behalf at the time of need.
Does Pre-planning Require Pre-payment? The simple answer is no. You can record your wishes and leave it for your family to pay for your desired services at the time of your passing. Or, you can protect you and your family from inflation, by pre-funding your plan. This ensures your expenses will be covered when you need them to be. Your money is put in a state-approved trust account or top-rated insurance company until required. After your pre-plan is paid for in full, our price is guaranteed. You will never have to pay more for the items you have already paid for.
Please consider giving this gift to your family as my mother did for me and my family. It will be appreciated more than you can imagine. As I sit across from families whose loved ones pre-planned, I never hear a negative comment about the pre-planning. The conversation always includes a statement about how grateful they are for the plan that was made.
Michelle Beasley, General Manager
The New Gardendale Funeral Home
2214 Decatur Highway Gardendale, AL 35071
205-631-8810
