We'll Take Care of Everything

"Whenever I prepare for a journey I prepare as though for death. Should I never return, all is in order. This is what life has taught me."             Katherine Mansfield (1889-1923)

In this day and time, we are constantly reminded to make plans to assure the well-being of our families if something should happen to us. Chances are, you've already made out your will, taken out life insurance, and done many other things-all to make sure your property and financial estate are preserved for those you love. But what about the emotional estate you leave to them? Planning your funeral in advance not only gives you control of how you're remembered, it also allows you to consider the feelings and expectations of your family. After all, they are the ones who will have to deal most directly with the sense of loss and grief. The more you plan ahead for this inevitable need, the greater the sense of peace that you and your family will experience.

That's why we urge you to consider advance planning. At Porter Loring, it costs nothing for you to investigate it. You're never under any pressure or obligation to purchase anything. And we'll be happy to help you start the process, any time you're ready.

START THE PLANNING PROCESS
The first step in advance planning is one that only you can do-that is, to gather all documents or information regarding programs that may entitle you to specific burial or other related expenses. Once you have these, we can help you organize them, find out what benefits you can expect, and discuss what is not covered, so you can make your decisions accordingly.

For example, what will Social Security or other programs pay? Usually, the maximum benefit is only a few hundred dollars, reimbursed after the funeral services are concluded. This is not enough to cover even a basic burial space, let alone the funeral service and related expenses.

Are you a veteran? The government may provide a number of burial benefits, ranging from a simple flag for the casket to a gravesite and marker in a national cemetery. However, you must be eligible, your family or the funeral home must apply for benefits as reimbursements after the service has been paid for, and most funeral costs (embalming, casket, and so on) are not included.

In each case, your Porter Loring advance planning consultant can help you find out exactly what you are entitled to, so you don't make arrangements for less than you need or more than you want. We want to make sure all your preparations are in order. That your final wishes-and those of your family-will be honored. And that you or your family won't be surprised with unexpected or unnecessary expenses.

MAKE HARD DECISIONS EASIER.
It's never easy to talk about death-especially your own. But advance planning now lets you make decisions based on calm study of your options, not on pressing need. It also provides an opportunity for open discussion with your family-the people who will be most affected by the form of funeral or memorial service you select. In fact, many people find this kind of planning to be a positive and empowering experience for the whole family. You can start by checking out information you'll find at the Porter Loring website. Or visit in person or by phone with a Porter Loring consultant. We can take you through the planning process, step by step, explaining all the options available to you. At this point, you can make arrangements yourself-or better yet, involve your family. It's all up to you. We're simply here to help.

REMOVE THE BURDEN FROM YOUR FAMILY.
Planning a funeral when a death has just occurred can be a tremendous emotional burden on your family. It can be a financial burden, as well. Experience shows that people undergoing grief can make arrangements without fully realizing the impact that the costs will have on their savings and budgets. By making your own decisions today, you protect your family from agonizing over details, making guesses about what you'd want, and worrying about how they're going to pay for everything. In short, you make it possible for them to concentrate more fully on supporting each other during this time of grief and loss.

CONTROL THE DETAILS.
Preparing for a funeral can involve making over 75 decisions. Does your family know whether you want to be buried-and where? Or if you prefer to be cremated, whether you want your ashes to be scattered, inurned or buried in a particular place? Do you wish to be buried wearing certain clothing, jewelry or other items of special significance to you? Do you want special religious or fraternal rites to be performed? Do you want a particular piece of music to be played? What do you want your obituary to highlight about your life? Make these choices now and you can be assured that your wishes will be fulfilled later. And that your memorial will be conducted the way you wish.

CONTROL THE COSTS.
Once you've determined some of the details of the funeral and service, our consultants can accurately calculate costs and you can make further adjustments as needed. But such choices aren't the only way you can keep funeral expenses down. You may well find today's prices surprisingly modest compared to what you expected-but costs are almost sure to rise. Over the past 10 years, funeral costs have nearly doubled. That's why you should also look carefully at the variety of payment plans and options that are available. In essence, you can pay for tomorrow's need at today's lower costs.

WHEN YOU'RE READY, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING.
To get started, or simply to get more information, don't hesitate to call our advance planning consultants. For assistance at our McCullough location please call - 210/227-8221 or at our Porter Loring Mortuary North location please call - 210/495-8221.

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