Funerals are very costly affairs, and no one wants to cut costs on giving their departed loved one a dignified funeral and memorial. Your family be faced with a large amount of debt following your death there are undertaker expenses, cremation costs, coffin costs, burial plots all of which must be payed for. The average family does not have the financial stability to be able to meet these expenses off hand. The last thing you would want is for your family to have to borrow money and suffer further financial strain during their period of grief and mourning.

Funeral plans are different from life insurance, as with life insurance there are often a lot of delays with payout as insurance companies investigate for any evidence to suggest foul play and insurance fraud. A funeral plan however is exactly that – a policy for funerals, the policy will payout the listed beneficiary without any delay upon receipt of necessary documentation, so that your family and loved ones will have immediate access to the money you have arranged for them to receive to help them meet any debts they may be faced with.

Death is something we cannot predict, but we can have the foresight to know that death is inevitable, and take out a funeral plan to ensure that our loved ones do not have to suffer as they attempt to give us as dignified a funeral memorial ceremony they desire to.

That is the reason why it is so important to get a funeral plan early on in life. It becomes some sort of a net for your family to fall back on if something terrible had to happen to you. Funeral plans have become competitive and nowadays the cost of the cover in itself is cheap and affordable.

Many families will appreciate the financial assistance during a time where grieving should take precedence over coming up with cash to assist the family.

It is easy to apply for and get funeral cover in a short space of time. Many people can be covered immediately for accidental death and their families will be the beneficiaries as designated by the policy holder.

Yes, there is a surgeon having great success using induced-hypothermia when operating on the brains of stroke victims. This is the story of a new-OLD procedure that involves cooling the body, but this is for hours, not minutes; and a surgeon gutsy enough to use his common sense and go with something that works. I’m not mentioning his name for a reason. He’s the SUNG hero, but there’s an UNsung hero in this story.

20 years ago, induced hypothermia was used only as a last resort, when there was nothing to lose, like surgery on a stopped heart. The body would be chilled by a combination of techniques, to 18 degrees C (64 F); scary, as there are potentially lethal side-effects such as frostbite, shock, pneumonia, and death.

How did we discover the use of this procedure? It was thanks to Raul Busto, a research assistant at the University of Miami, way back in 1987.

The wonder of this story is that Jollett found this piece of information when researching the article, and thought to include it.

Raul didn’t get to write an article in the prestigious JAMA about his discovery. He didn’t get invited to address the national convention of brain surgeons. He didn’t get promoted to head of the department or have a chair named for him at a medical center. I don’t know the facts, but he probably didn’t even get a raise or bonus.

Busto, observant guy that he was, simply noticed that even when blood flow was cut off to a section of the brain in certain rats, they didn’t have a stroke, and this in rats whose body temps were only a few degrees below normal.

Raul then had the presence of mind to connect the dots on what he observed. The wonder is that his presumably small voice was heard.

There are people who lack the credentials, by choice, by chance or by lack of opportunity, who are making tremendous contributions to our lives all the time. The diagnosis by the grandmother down the street, the perceptive comment of the nail technician, a caring neighbor or teacher who notices something, the mechanic tinkering in his garage or the nascent genius in the computer or medical lab.

Examples? I hear many from clients.

Bill and Mary, with combined IQs of 300, were told by their son’s teacher that he needed glasses. When he got them, the child exclaimed, “There are leaves on trees! Look, I can see trash in people’s yard.”

Susan got her son into drug rehab just in time because her colleague at work met the teenager and suggested to Susan that those red eyes and that runny nose weren’t “allergies.”

Liquid paper was invented by some secretary who had a brain and was able to think outside the box.

The glue on post-it notes was a lab failure for a permanent glue, but the researcher had common sense, and thought a temporary bond might have an application. (Could we live without our post-it notes?)

Martha found out her baby had a tumor because when her mother was changing the baby’s diapers, she noticed what the younger mother couldn’t differentiate.

And my client in Venezuela gave me the key to another client I couldn’t fathom. “They’re mountain people,” she said. “You know.” I did not. But in Venezuela one knows the difference between those who live in the mountains, those who live in the plains, and those who live by the sea.

It’s a shame that we have a system set up where only the PhDs and MDs get the recognition – and are granted the veracity.

I coach and consult in emotional intelligence (which includes common sense), and I often find in offices the quiet suggestions of the smaller players have been ignored and are quite valuable. Why should a lawyer listen to his secretary when she says they’re getting milked by their web designer? No credentials. Why should the CEO listen to the accounting clerk who predicts the trend toward a product they could easily produce? Not his field. Why should the ‘suits’ in Miami listen to a coach who says that cruise passengers would attend lectures on self-help, astrology or engineering? Because everyone in Miami “knows” that all ALL cruise passengers want is to drink and gamble .. except for the coach who cruises a lot and listens to the actual guests – - wondering about the ships engines, the stars they see in the romantic night sky over the ocean, and, yes, Virginia they do not leave their problems at home when they cruise, they come right along with them, sometimes in person, sometimes in their thoughts and hearts.

The first thing I did when I was sent to a troubled apartment complex, back in my property management days, was to interview the people who actually worked on the property daily, so were forced to deal in real life with the problems at hand. The leasing agent, the maintenance man, even the mailman could tell me the simple truth, from their emotional intelligence, and observations, that told me what the problems AND THE SOLUTIONS were. They made me look good.

I had the credentials, but thank you Mildred Mannigan for greeting me at the door of Concord Square Apartments with, “If they would simply ____, this apt. complex would be full tomorrow. Will you please TELL someone.” If you’re the ‘they’ — listen.

All sing the unsung hero. Wherever you are, Raul Busto, thank you.

Thank you for all the lives that will be saved because of you. And thanks to the “suit” that listened to Raul when he told what he knew.

Now go out and apply this!

About the Author

©Susan Dunn, coach and consultant, www.susandunn.cc. If you want to lecture on a cruise, see her ebook on www.webstrategies.cc/ebooklibrary.html . Coaching, consulting, Internet courses and ebooks in all areas – career, relationships, emotional intelligence, resilience, transitions, life. Email sdunn@susandunn.cc for free ezine.

What are Funeral Plans?

Funeral plans are basically insurances that cover payment for your funeral cost. So, if you had to pass on today you would know that your entire cost of the type of funeral that you would want was covered. This way you can ensure that you family does not go through any financial strain if you had to pass on. You can also cover other members of your family if you would like so that you would not have to worry about taking out separate plans and you can cover everything under one payment without the need to be concerned about making more payments whihc would end up costing you more especially through debit orders.

When things go wrong and your family is strapped for cash, you will at least know that one cost is covered. Sometimes funeral plan compaines pay out more than the actual cost of a funeral and your family is free to do with the moeny as they please. They can pay off debts, pay school fees or re-invest the money for the future. At the end of it all, it really depends on how quickly you think and how much you are willing to put into your funeral plans. I place emphasis on it beause I have been through a tough time and know what it is like and how badly it can effect the entire family.

The amounts that funeral plans cover are enough to get you or a family member through the funreal itself. They are designed to be functional for that time and will cover everything from the casket to other important little things. In considering taking your funeral plan you should be able to let people know what you would liuke in the sad event that you do pass on.

Giving your family thhat financial burden is unfair and most people will ensure that their funeral plans are up to date and are the best that they can afford. If you consider the high volumes of people in accidents everyday and if you are one of those people who travel daily you will understand why a funeral plan is of so much of impotrance.

When you are looking for your funeral plan, look for one that copvers many benefits. You may even want to cover other members of your family and this can usually be done at a small cost. There are several ways that you can begin your search for funeral plans starting with finding a broker ort you could search online and you should come up with something rather interesting. Always ensure that you can trust the source and make direct contact with the person that is selling you the plan.

When a body is cremated the actual burial requires less space. Therefore by using cremation services several family members can be buried in one ideal location. However there is a downfall to using cremation services. Often cremation services require a great deal more time to prepare the body for burial. This means that funeral plans must be delayed, sometimes for many months. Some families feel that this prolongs the grieving process.

Having an appropriate funeral ceremony and arranging proper burial sites is the least that can be done to help ease this loss. The burial plot chose is a commemoration of love and affection towards the deceased. Because of this the plot used should be symbolically a befitting response towards the contribution of the deceased person. For this reason the choices made for the funeral plan are emotionally stressful for the family members. It is quite difficult for them to plan and organize for such things especially at a time when they are in a state of mourning.

This is where the experts come in. Their role is to guide the family through these tough and testing times. Most undertakers are also able to arrange for something which is memorable for the entire family. These experts apart from planning and organizing funerals or cremation services also take up the responsibility of guiding the family members through the grief they are suffering. Many offer counseling which can be quite helpful for the family members.

These same experts take great pride in helping people with funeral plans in advance. Most undertakers and morticians will tell you that a prearranged funeral greatly lessens the stress on family members at the time of your demise. For more information on funeral plans look online.

Many websites exist solely for the purpose of providing funeral plan information. This is so those in their hour of need can reassure themselves that everything possible has been completed. These same websites offer in depth information on costs and legalities of prearranged funerals so that it is easier to make your funeral plan in advance.

About the Author

The death of a near and dear one can be an emotionally overwhelming and Convenient Purchase helps you with all your funeral plans and cremation services .

Since these experts are involved in the planning, and execution of the entire funeral, the cremation costs will be included in the overall bill. Because cremation costs can be quite high it is a good idea to allow the funeral planner some leeway. This should not include using second rate materials or any less style than the deceased would have wanted. It should include the implementation of payment plans and tasteful but inexpensive materials. If this is adhered to the grieving family can rest assured that the services that are being rendered are correct.

The payment plan that is arranged should include the cost of a casket, cremation costs and any additional charge for an urn, the cost of the memorial service, and burial costs. It should also include any fees the undertaker will charge for service. While the fee an undertaker charges may be slightly expensive the service that will be provided is well worth the cost. These experts take care of every detail and are aware of the legal requirements that are commonly unknown by family members. Unfortunately one purchase that is not included in the payment plan arranged by an undertaker is the cemetery monument.

Cemetery monuments are avenues of remembrance for the family members of their loved ones. They are also regarded as a way for future generations to learn about their ancestors. There are many beautiful selections available. Family members can choose to have nearly any saying or picture placed on cemetery monuments. This form of remembrance offers great solace to the family. For this reason it is important to choose the right cemetery monument. Do not allow the price to add stress to the situation. Typically it is possible to make payment arrangements on cemetery monuments as well.

About the Author

By Vikram Kumar. Whether you are considering cremation cost or another form of burial it is important that you use a professional to plan the event. For more information about planning a memorial service or purchasing cemetery monuments check out Convenient Purchase.

A growing number of people are selecting the option of Cremation. It is becoming more popular as a method for the final disposition of the body for reasons such as some do not like the idea of a traditional burial, it simplifies the burial process, is more environmentally friendly and is more economical.

Cremation is a process by which a body is exposed to extreme heat, usually 1800 – 2000 degrees Fahrenheit, for two hours or more. This process results in the body being reduced to its basic elements which are then referred to as “the cremated body” or “created remains”. This occurs at a crematorium in a special kind of furnace called a cremation chamber or cremation retort. The crematorium may be part of a chapel or a funeral home or part of an independent facility or a service offered by a cemetery.

After this process of heat and flame, bone fragments remain. They are then mechanically processed to form a uniform power-like texture. After this preparation the cremated remains can be placed in a temporary container that is suitable for transport. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite that is an alternative to the interment of an intact body in a casket. Cremated remains, which are not a health risk, may be buried or immured in memorial sites or cemeteries, or they may be legally retained by relatives or dispersed in a variety of ways and locations.

There is a growing trend towards cremation and the keeping of cremated remains in the home in a memorial urn. These urns are available in colorful ceramics, exotic woods and fine metals. Cremation Jewelry is also a growing area such as “The Eternity Heart” that encases a small amount of cremated remains in a piece of fine jewelry. These items can serve as memorials as well as heirlooms that may be passed on through the generations.

About the Author

Lee-Anne Godfrey is a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. She is specialized in the area of Hematology/Oncology and End of Life Care. She educates and writes on Hospice and Dementia care. Lee-Anne Godfrey

No funeral is the same. Funeral services is now possible to be modified depending on the family background or custom. Even though there seems to be some generalities to modern funerals, personal touches could be included so as to reflect the unique personality of the departed loved one. Funerals normally begin with a wake viewing. Customarily, the casket is opened for viewings, though other families prefer to close the casket and instead display pictures of their deceased loved one.
Naturally, funerals as well has some type of service. Again, depending on the family’s particular religion or tradition, the service may be held at a funeral parlor or in a church, synagogue, or any other place of worship. In order to create this segment of the funeral more customized, families usually perform readings or excerpts from poems or literature that was particularly special to the deceased.
On the other hand, other family members choose having the memorial service in some other time after the burial. In this non-traditional setting, loved ones can meet at any particular place to pay respect to the deceased without the presence of the casket.
Burial services are also included in the funeral planning. The family can choose from a variety of cemetery plots and mausoleums. These days, cremation is one of the most common practices wherein the family can scatter the ashes in a particularly meaningful location or keep in an urn.
You can personalize funerals if you put in special touches and making it more memorable. But ultimately, funerals must achieve what it’s really meant for – to honor the life of the deceased.

I believe two of the most important factors are to consider who will make your final plans first, then how will those plans be funded? Simple questions yes, but among those most of us fail to ask ourselves or give serious thought to.

Choosing a person to handle your final arrangements can be done in reality by doing nothing at all. At your death in most states, lineage will decide who will have right of disposition. If no legal descendants are available to handle this duty most counties, townships and/or states will step in and have the final disposition done. This will usually be a direct burial or cremation as determined by the government body handling it. I recommend avoiding this possibility by selecting a family member or friend to entrust with this duty and to make sure they have the legal documents necessary to abide by your wishes. Also, be sure your chosen administrators will have access to final expense funds. Many problems can be avoided by making sure of this one thing. Tip: Burial insurance will in most cases let you designate the beneficiary. This allows you to make sure specific funeral and burial expense funds are in control of your designee.

Secondly, give thought to the funding aspect of your final arrangements. Are you satisfied with your current funding (insurance, savings, etc.) to be sufficient and available when that time comes? Is it possible your current insurance might be needed to settle other expenses such as medical bills, estate taxes, etc.? Are you comfortable that your current insurance or savings will keep pace with funeral inflation costs? If you answered no to any of these questions, then you may want to consider additional insurance specifically for your final expenses. Tip: Burial insurance policies can be issued in small amounts to subsidize your existing insurance or larger amounts to cover total funeral and burial costs. In many cases it is also easier to qualify for in older age groups.

Does everyone need burial insurance? Certainly not, but as a funeral director I can tell you that many families I’ve assisted were able to honor a loved one’s wishes only because that person had a burial insurance policy in force at the time of their death.

Take a few minutes and give this some thought. The attention and consideration you give these matters now will make a tremendous difference for those who eventually will do your final planning.