A Proper Goodbye

Chances are that no one in your family wants to talk about it, let alone think about it, but at some point everyone needs to plan a funeral service. Many funeral homes offer pre-needs, documents that allow individuals to share their wishes and in some cases pre-pay for funeral expenses.

Those who have grieved or are grieving a loved one know that planning a memorial service and funeral is an extremely emotional and difficult task, especially if there is conflicting information about what the deceased might have preferred. If there isn’t any written instruction left, you do have options beyond a traditional funeral. These options can be less expensive, more eco-friendly and in line with your and your loved one’s beliefs—you can scatter the ashes in a man-made reef, or just have a simple backyard ceremony.

Even if you’ve already had a funeral, you may consider another memorial at a later date to celebrate the life of the person in a way that honors their memory and spirit, as the family of the writer Norman Mailer did recently. What you do isn’t as important as how it makes you feel—remember that keeping the memory of a loved one alive is an important part of your own healing process, and as you move through grieving, you’ll find ways to do it that make sense. [New York Times]