Dealing with the 100% Certainty

Stéphanie Côté Funeral Director, Voluntas Commemoration Inc. Fr. Bertrand MontpetitPastor, St. Luke’s Parish

February 4, 2014

St. Luke’s Parish Presentation

Voluntas Commemoration Inc.

Topics

• Things to organize before we die

• Decisions to make before we die

• Funeral events and use of terms

• The roles of your priest and funeral director

Voluntas Commemoration Inc.

The physical and psychological effects of being organized

Voluntas Commemoration Inc.

Things to organize before we die

• Notarial Will

• Mandate in the event of incapacity o Care to your persono Administration of your affairs

• Your filing systemo Where to find important documents

• Deeds, bank accounts, investments, key to the safety deposit box, insurance policy, funeral pre-arrangements, birth & marriage certificates, username & passwords, etc.

• Declutter

Voluntas Commemoration Inc.

For every person who dies, there is another who, in all their sorrow and confusion, must make the difficult decisions involved in planning a

funeral.

Voluntas Commemoration Inc.

Decisions to make before we die

• Plan your funeralo Wishes & needso Involve your loved oneso Prepare a simple or elaborate guide for your

survivorso Allocate a budget

• Pre-pay• Active Life Insurance Policy• Assure you’ll have the funds available

Voluntas Commemoration Inc.

Funeral or Memorial Events

• Multi-events (elasticity of the funeral process)o Identification and witness of the initial process

of cremationo Visitation/gathering o Service/funeral/memorial/celebration of lifeo Burial/inurnment/entombment/scatteringo Reception/after funeral

Voluntas Commemoration Inc.

Funeral or Memorial Events

• Thinking and planning ahead about the Funeral/Memorial eventso Talking with Priest and or Family while you are still living

• What happens to your body is a spiritual question tooo Your beliefs, the family’s beliefs and expectations

• Funeral or Memorial? Church, Funeral Home or elsewhere?o Spirituality & Christian practiceo Including your story

• What belongs in a service, what belongs in a reception?

Voluntas Commemoration Inc.

Roles of your Priest

• A companion to walk with you towards death with hope and faith

• Someone who can help you prepare your loved ones for your dying and death

• Competent to create a rite of passage which honours your faith and your story

• Accompanies your loved ones through the days from death to funeral, and beyond

Voluntas Commemoration Inc.

Roles of your Funeral Director• In pre-planning

o To listen to your wishes, needs and your storyo To guide you and your family with your decision making processo To help you find solutions/possibilitieso To prepare a plan that will answer your eventual needso To respect your decisions, privacy and your budget

• When someone dies o Same as in pre-planningo Decedent careo Provide services, products, resources & knowledgeo Coordination and planning of event (liaison and action)o Direct and making sure all is organized according to plano Legalities and succession settlement initial assistanceo Offer bereavement support

Voluntas Commemoration Inc.

Organizing your end of life…

• … will not hasten your death

• … is a journey through self-love

• … is a gift to your loved ones

• … will reduce your stress

• … will reduce the stress of your survivors

• … will enhance your life

No need to worry about death… Enjoy life!

Presentation graciously offered by

2744, boul. St-Charles, Kirkland, Qc H9h 3B6514-695-7979 | www.voluntas.ca |

info@voluntas.ca