HONORING LOST LIVES The Project Management of Planning a Funeral

AGENDA  Introduction  Who  What  When  Where  Why  How  Assumptions  Constraints  Funeral Costs  Pre-planned Funeral  In Memoriam

INTRODUCTION  3 industries use emotion to make $$$ Weddings New Baby Funerals  Plan for weddings, babies, retirement…

WHO  All of us…

WHAT  Obituary  Memorial service  Family gathering afterward (1 or multiple times)  Visitation  Burial service vs. Cremation

WHEN  Can be expected  Sometimes unexpected  Linda Schafer  MaryBeth Burke

 Linda Schafer  Lived in Omaha, NE  Died in Hawaii  Funeral in Omaha WHERE  MaryBeth Burke  Lived in Springfield, MO  Considered Seattle home  Died in Springfield, MO  Funeral in Seattle, WA

WHY  Honor his/her amazing life and cherished memory

 Linda Schafer  Buried  Hair clipping put in ocean in Hawaii HOW  MaryBeth Burke  Cremated  Husband not ready to part with ashes  Final location for ashes is TBD

ASSUMPTIONS  Budget  Cultural influences  Family member roles during memorial service  Grieving family members  Individual’s final wishes

CONSTRAINTS  Budget  Grieving family (everyone grieves differently)  Family politics  Medical timeline  No final wish documents  Transporting remains

FUNERAL COSTS  Average cost = $7,000+  Price does not include everything  Itemized expenses Flowers Cemetery cost Headstone/Marker Obituary

PRE-PLANNED FUNERAL  Pre-written plans/Online planning (Dignity Memorial)Dignity Memorial  Self-written obituary  Totten Trust  Essential documents for everyone to have TODAY!  Higgins Law Firm Interview Higgins Law Firm Interview

Linda Schafer & MaryBeth Burke IN MEMORIAM

REFERENCES   “What Happens if Someone Dies Without a Will in Tennessee”:  