Planning for the End of Your Life

Any death is emotionally difficult and you probably don’t want to think about your death. However, making plans in the present can make the future easier for those you care about. What wishes do you have for how your body is handled and your life is remembered?

Burial or Cremation

What do you find comforting or peaceful? If your family has a plot in a cemetery, decide whether you would also like to have your body buried there. A gravestone creates a physical location where those who love you can visit and remember you. Burial, however, is not your only option. Find somewhere that offers cremation planning Brooklyn NY if this feels appropriate for you. Cremation may seem like a meaningful way to connect to the earth at the end of your life. Gravestones, urns, and plaques come in an array of styles, too, and can reflect who you were. 

Celebration of Life

Think about how you want others to remember you. Do you have any spiritual or religious practices that you would like people to observe after your death? Reach out to family members and friends for advice. Document your wishes. Churches, mosques, temples, or other spiritual centers may collect specific documents with your desires for a funeral or memorial service. For instance, do you prefer a type of music when people gather to remember your life? Would you like people to wear your favorite color or dress in traditional mourning attire? If you have any specific readings, art, or other ways for your loved ones to celebrate your life, write these down and speak to others about them. Express your intentions in multiple ways and to various people.

Taking time to consider your posthumous wishes now can remove a lot of pain in the future and allow people to celebrate and remember even while mourning.