Are you ready to face it?

You may believe sincerely that you have prepared for death. Your insurance is in order. Your will is drawn. You have saved as much as you could. And you may be ready spiritually to face death. But if you are like most of us you may have overlooked one important thing. Allen did. His is a composite of the types of stories we hear often.

Allen was a prudent and thoughtful husband. He and his wife Jane budgeted carefully. Their modest savings were in government bonds. He carried as much life insurance as he could afford. They were buying a home. They planned a college education for their daughter.

Fate makes no appointment

Alien died on a February day after a long and expensive illness that consumed the family's savings. To meet medical and hospital bills the family's home had to be mortgaged, the car sold, and the life insurance pledged against a loan. Jane was exhausted from the days filled with the endless duties of caring for her sick husband and from sleepless nights filled with worry. Now, grief-stricken, lonely, and bewildered, she was faced with an array of strange and urgent tasks.

Among other things, there was the immediate need to select burial space. This task required a trip to the cemetery to pick a burial place for her husband. The sad news had to be broken to friends and relatives. The bank, the insurance company, Allen's lodge, and his employers all had to be notified. There were arrangements to be made with the funeral director, obituary notices to be prepared and sent to the newspapers ... in all, nearly fifty tasks to be performed, to which few of us give any thought until the fearful day arrives.

It could happen to you

It is possible that a widow might have to face death-related crises without money, regardless of the family's financial status. Death automatically ties up bank accounts. Until the will is read and probated, no property can change hands or be converted into cash. This often compels the widow to approach relatives and friends for loans, which adds to the already overwhelming emotional strain.

It is curious that many of us anticipate and plan for life's possibilities, yet neglect one important certainty. People save money for time of possible need ... we buy health and accident insurance. We buy and furnish a home. But too often we fail to purchase burial property until fate forces the issue.

Many prudent and foresighted couples and individuals face the problem and buy burial space before it is needed. They agree on location, price, and appearance just as they agree on the selection and furnishings of a family home. Because this purchase has been made before the need has arisen, the one that will be left behind has been relieved of a major decision at a time when emotional pressures may be unbearable. It also is a comfort to know that a loved one will be in a place of his or her own choosing. The departed has lifted a heavy burden from the shoulder of the survivors.

The modern cemetery

By planning ahead you will be able to investigate and to choose burial property that best suits your needs. Remember, this type of property is for all time. It deserves careful thought.

Each cemetery has its advantages. Some have beautifully appointed chapels or fine mausoleums. Others offer cremation and memorial niches for those who prefer this choice. You also may want to consider the location of the cemetery.

Future care of the space and grounds is of special importance. A growing endowment care fund, dedicated solely to maintenance, is your assurance that the surroundings will be well maintained. Cemetery personnel will be happy to explain to you the nature of this care fund.

Cost may be less than you think

The cost of a family burial lot or crypt space may be lower than you think. However, no general estimate can be given since circumstances may influence the amount spent. Most cemeteries have budget plans that allow you to pay for burial space in small installments. the purchase is less of a burden when paid for over a period of time.

Sentiment and practicality go hand-in-hand in the before-need purchase of a family burial place. The day of bereavement will be easier, financially and emotionally, if you have made these arrangements before your family needs them.

Are you ready to face death? Dismiss the thought, but you cannot dismiss the inevitable. It is better, therefore, to own cemetery space before you need it, than to need it and not have it.

A client of Idyll Mountain Internet