I Planned My Funeral, and It Was Fun
I just had such a fun time this afternoon. I began planning my funeral. It feels odd to plan your funeral. Most people can’t stand the idea of dying. But MyWonderfulLife.com is a comprehensive funeral-planning site that’s free and extremely easy to use. So, why not? Once you open your free account, you can choose burial or cremation, fancy casket or not fancy, visitation or not, what kind of music will play, etc., etc. Mostly I said I want it to be party-like. No black clothes, only bright colors. I can’t wait!
The founders of the site tell the story of how the sudden death of a spouse, at age 53, got them thinking how unprepared they were to hold a funeral that would have been what the deceased man would have wanted.
I will go back to the site at another time to fill in more information. Frankly, I think it’s ingenious. It just makes sense.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Considering that funerals have come from being the somber events that they once were to being celebrations of the deceased’s life, I think this is a great idea! I will have to check it out and start planning, After all, we Virgos love to be prepared and have every detail figured out!
August 21st, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I can see how it could be a good thing.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:53 pm
I can think of other awkward uses, like for an elderly parent/relative who might otherwise take offense.
Sometimes I think along these lines: “Um…Mom…We’ve never discussed this before…um…What are your favorite hymns?” (how’s that for subtle?)
August 21st, 2008 at 7:28 pm
You ‘can’t wait’?
duh?
August 21st, 2008 at 7:47 pm
I know exactly what I want. Something cheap – because money is for the living, and I want to leave as much of it to my family as possible. I think I probably want to be cremated and laid to rest in Forest Hills.
August 21st, 2008 at 8:57 pm
I always think you have to be famous or rich to get into Forest Hills.
August 21st, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Boomie, I love a party.
August 21st, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Rhea, that’s fine BUT unfortunately you won’t be at this one.
As for me, it’s in my will that I am to be cremated and my ashes are to be spread at the beach I love d’jour.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:44 pm
I’ve been planning mine for about 15 years. At first my son freaked out but now just goes along with me. At least now he knows my preferences. My mother and I have talked about her funeral. We’re Southern, so funerals are social events in some ways. I’m going to that site and check it out!
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:52 am
Coincidence: I was talking to my uncle the other night, and he told me that he and his partner just paid for a plot in Forest Hills. He said they’ll be right next to Eugene O’Neill, so he expects to be entertained through eternity
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:19 am
Oh, so ordinary people CAN be buried at Forest Hills. I am surprised the plot next door to the famed O’Neill was available.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:19 am
Joy, I didn’t know funerals were social events in the South. I’m headed there now…
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:04 am
Brilliant! Thank you. I helped organise the funeral for my teacher’s mother – she had told me a book to get about 6 months before she died and had left a list of her favourite poetry etc in the back of her address book. I’ve decided the music I want, who, from my Order, to be celebrant and the place for my ashes…and whenever I go to ‘my’ place now and look at the wonderful view I feel delighted, even though I know that ‘I’ won’t be there when my ashes are there! I’m going to use the website, even though the info there doesn’t cover the UK, because when we die the people who are to take care of these things are in a state of shock, so this is a service to them. And they want to do ‘what we would have wanted’, even though ‘we’ won’t be there, as a final act of love and service for us. Since that first funeral I’ve been priest at a number of funerals and it has been very moving to work with those who are left, to fashion a funeral for the person they have lost.
This pre-planning makes such sense and can be such a joyful activity.
August 25th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Sounds like a great way to help family during a tough time.