Part Six - Final Thoughts

Would you like to live on through the good work of others? Is there a charity you support? Or an organisation that means something to you? Most funerals these days provide an opportunity for people to donate to charity. Sometimes those charities reflect the manner in which a person died (Cancer Research UK), or help they received (The Air Ambulance). Contributions may also go towards the places in which loved ones were cared for (Hospice Funds). Or sometimes donations reflect the interests of the person themselves (English Heritage) or causes they care about (NSPCC). If you have a charity you feel reflects you or your interests in some way, you might want to make a note of it. It’s not unusual for donations to be divided between two organisations, so there could be one of your choosing and one chosen by your family, when the time comes.

Something to remember you by…

Several years ago I did a funeral ceremony for a 60-year-old woman who’d had cancer. She wanted to be remembered in a positive way, not associated with illness, but happy and healthy.  She loved her garden and flowers, so she asked for lily bulbs to be handed out to people at the end of her ceremony, so they could plant these bulbs and think of her each time they bloomed. A beautiful gesture and much appreciated by everyone, including me. I too was given a bulb and every year a gorgeous lily unfurled its petals and I thought of that lovely lady and her family.

There have been similar gestures requested by individuals or their families over the years… from packets of forget-me-not seeds, to tea bags and golf balls. One lady who was terminally ill even knitted dozens of little sunflower heads which her family turned into brooches for everyone. There is no pressure to do any of this, of course. It’s just another idea which may appeal to you. Just remember how you felt about some of those mementos and hidden treasures you've held on to over the years – reminders of the special people in your life. Sometimes the smallest things can make a big difference. 

Raising a glass

Gathering together to share food and drink in the company of loved ones and friends is a vital element as we mark the key stages and events of life – from birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas, to weddings, new arrivals, and, inevitably, departures. Refreshments after a funeral ceremony give family and friends an opportunity to relax together, comfort each other, catch up on missing years, raise a glass in your honour, and, of course, continue sharing memories of you without the restrictions of ceremony timings or wondering what may be ‘appropriate’ in a funeral setting. 

Refreshments can take the form of anything from a cup of tea back at the family home to buffets at local venues, such as pubs or hotels, or even a picnic on the beach.  Where you gather may depend on the type of funeral you’ve had – you may have a ceremony and refreshments in the same venue, or travel from one to another. Ideally this doesn’t want to be too far away or complicated for people to find who aren’t familiar with the area. Cost will also play a part. Some families can afford waiter service at the golf club, while others enlist the help of friends to bake cakes and make a few sarnies. Either way, it’s the gathering of people that matters. You may have a favourite watering hole where you’d like everyone to gather after your ceremony. Perhaps you have a favourite cake that everyone can enjoy a slice of or a much-loved tipple that can be shared out, whether that’s a gin and tonic, or a hot brew.

Sharing Your Wishes

While you’ve been brave enough to look to the future, not everyone is going to be ready to discuss your choice of coffin or final resting place, especially the people who love you and want to keep you in their lives for as long as possible. So here are a few suggestions for how to make your wishes known to the people who matter…

•  If they know you’ve been doing this course then that’s an easy way to get the conversation going. Especially if you’ve been sharing with them as you go along.

•  If the news that you’ve been thinking about your funeral ceremony comes out of the blue, it might be wise to pick your moment to open up the discussion. Perhaps if a celebrity or news-worthy individual has passed away, or a story-line in a TV soap or drama covers end of life matters or a funeral ceremony, you could say “That’s what I’d like…” or “I’d want my flowers to be white like theirs, not red” or whatever…  You might find yourself on a car journey and pass a sign for a natural burial ground or hear one of your music choices on the radio.  Just pass comment and see if you can get a conversation going.

•  If you think they can be told you’ve given it some thought, but going into detail will be too much, then simply tell your loved ones that you’ve written some of your wishes down, that they are being kept in a certain place, and you’re happy to go through them at any time. Do your best, of course, to reassure them that all is well and you’re just being organised.

•  This might not be a conversation you wish to have now, and that’s fine. Just make sure your wishes can be found when the time comes.

A gentle word…

Such is the unpredictability of life, we don’t really know who will be there to carry out our wishes but, whoever it is, they will certainly be faced with the considerations of cost (even if you’ve set some money aside for your funeral). They will also have to consider dates and timings for the ceremony, and, assuming they are your loved ones, be able to make their own mark on proceedings – to have their feelings and tributes expressed in some form on the day.

So, if you are planning a four-hour extravaganza with dancing horses and fireworks but want a crematorium ceremony, you may have a problem. The same goes for a sit-down meal and champagne for everyone on a budget of £5 per head. And if you have chosen everything down to the very last flower and written all the words, can anyone else have an input? I am exaggerating (possibly!) and I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you not to bankrupt your precious family or break any hearts. Just a gentle reminder in case that £30,000 marble coffin with your hand-carved image on the lid had made it on to your wish list…

One thing to bear in mind, without getting too much into financial advice territory, is that as soon as you die, costs will begin to incur for your loved ones. Registering the death, booking venues, buying flowers, reserving plots… The only things that aren’t pre-paid are the Funeral Director’s own costs, but they will have to be paid within days of the ceremony. So if you do want to help your family with the cost of your ceremony, the money will need to be instantly accessible to them the moment you are gone. Or given to them before you go. If it’s tied up in an insurance policy or your bank account, it could be weeks, even months, before Probate grants them access.

AND FINALLY…

Hats off to you!

I think it’s fitting that you take a moment to congratulate yourself. Not everyone has the courage to face the inevitable and no matter how much or how little you’ve planned or written down, you have acknowledged the prospect of your own funeral. That’s a wonderful thing.  

I’m hoping this experience has given you peace of mind knowing your farewell wishes accurately and meaningfully reflect the person you are and how you’d like to be remembered. And, I hope, you are left with an overwhelming surge of gratitude for the years you’ve lived and the life still to come. Now you can put those wishes to one side and focus on the present, doing the things you love with the people you love. That’s what really matters…

if you are interested in more courses…

Do you need a reminder of how uniquely special you are?
Would you like re-focus on your life and where it’s going?

‘Celebrate You’ is an inspiring course that gets to the absolute core of who you are and how much your life matters. It provides the opportunity for you to take stock, appreciate the journey of your life so far, focus on where you want the rest of your life to take you, and the positive legacy you can leave behind. Whether you find yourself at a cross roads, dealing with the unexpected, entering a new phase, or simply looking for a confidence boost, ’Celebrate You’ provides a positive sense of self-worth and direction, leaving you feeling uplifted, valued, in love with life and ready to make the most of your precious years.