Saying Goodbye Your Way
by: John F. Llewellyn
Contents
1. The Inevitable
2. What Is A Funeral? The “Simple” Service • “Traditional” Funeral Services • Graveside Service • Memorial Service • The Weight of Traditions • Why Have Funerals? • Who Are Funerals For? • A Funeral Is… top
3. It’s Personal The Rules • Celebrate A Life® • It’s About Dad • Having It Your Way top
4. Grief & Mourning Emotional Reactions • Physical Reactions • Talk About It • Goodbye Your Way top
5. Ceremonies Where Should A Ceremony be Held? • How Long Should It Last? • Who Should Speak Or Participate? • The Open Mike • Family Member Participation • Casket (Pall) Bearers • Humor? • Religion • Clergy • Clergy Honoraria • Music • Visitation • Objects For Reflection • Memory Table • Videos • Obituaries • Mini-Biographies • Casket at a Ceremony? • Open Or Closed Casket? • Flowers Or Contributions To Charity? • What Happens to the Flowers? top
6. Cremation A Process, Not An End • Cremation With A Ceremony • More Options • Urns An Keepsakes • Scattering • Description Of Cremation Process • The Right Cremated Remains? • Crematories • Shipping Cremated Remains • Planning for Goodbye top
7. Why Prearrange? Common Reasons • Change When Decisions Are Made • Talk About This, Too top
8. How To Prearrange Prearranging • Price Or Delivery Guarantee • Things To Think About • Financial Tools • Insurance • How Insurance Works • Trusts • Surety Bonds • Cancellations & Changes • Portability • Non-Prearrangement Options • Estate Plans & Wills • Durable Power Of Attorney • Organ Donations top
9. Where To Buy? Mortuaries • Professional Services • Comparing Mortuaries • Cemeteries • Comparing Cemeteries • What Is An Endowment Care Fund? • Memorial Societies • Cremation Societies • Monument Dealers • Retail Casket Sellers • Price Comparisons • Do It Yourself top
10. What Do I Need To Buy? Caskets • Choosing A Casket • Rental Caskets • Sources And Prices • Special Caskets • Cemetery Property • Outer Burial Containers • Memorials, Monuments, & Markers • Practical Goodbye top
11. When Death Occurs Who to notify • When To Make The Call? • Decisions To Be Made • Which Mortuary To Use? • Contacting The Mortuary • Embalming Or Refrigeration •
What To Take To The Mortuary • Arrangement Conference • Who Has The Right? •
Autopsy • Death Certificates • Delays In Burials • Out-Of-Area Deaths • Moving Remains To Another Cemetery top
12. The End of Life Death With Dignity • Hospice top
13. Help & Resources The Role Of Government • Federal Trade Commission Funeral Rule • State Regulatory Agencies • If Things Go Wrong • Where To Start • Financial • Social Security • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) • Veterans Benefits • Public Aid Funerals top
Appendices
A. Your Information
B. Goods And Services
C. For More Information
Glossary
Bibliography
About the Author