Unfortunately aging brings certain wisdom through ( gasp) experience. These experiences are sometimes not so memorable or worth remembering yet we use the lessons learned to impart seemingly sage advice with often no regard as to applicable use. I personally strive to couch my “advice” in my own experience along with perceivable outcomes or endings. Even experience is vastly over or under rated depending on your viewpoint. The assorted viewpoints are what color experience’s impact. Age on the other hand many times allows a long look back on personal and shared experience creates a unique perspective that becomes advice. I think the worst part is the avoidance of final arrangements. The last arrangements when done at the very end are not as well done as they could be and a tremendous burden on the remaining family. Future arrangements are a lot easier but still no one likes to talk about it. It is easy now to make arrange ments and purchase a policy that will take care of the “arrangements”. Thing you need to do:
1. Gather pictures of your self or spouse
2. Be sure all papers for the services are done and done the way you want (not someone else)
3. You can in modern times make arrangement years before your expected demise.
Take the advice of an old guy, make the arrangements while the price is low (age makes a difference) and make it easy for your family. Points about Illinois, you have to be embalmed within 3 days if you plan on burial, In Illinois you need to have a concrete vault that the box (coffin, casket, etc) has to rest in. This may go against the grain of many but cremation allows for a smaller amount paid out for services and you can spread the remains anywhere that is appropriate and the remains (cremains is the actual term) can be distributed among the family members (if they want them). This is not a morbid subject but more a proper way of approaching the death of a loved one. Think about this, even the gangsters pay due respect!!
Michael1942's Blog 