Preparing for the Passing of a Parent

Death is one of the few guarantees in life that everybody must prepare for. Sometimes preparing for the death of a parent can be more difficult for people than preparing for their own. While it is a painful thing to think about, there are a number of things that you can do to prepare for their inevitable passing. Here are some tips to help you.

Talk to Your Family

Communicating about the pending death of a parent is an important step. It helps with the grieving process for everyone. It is also important to make sure that your children understand what to expect. The death of a grandparent can be very painful and confusing for them, so helping them adjust to it ahead of time is important.

You will also need to speak with both of your parents (if they are both still alive) to tie up any loose ends. They need to work out the details of the estate and other information that will be left in the will. You also need to take the time to ask any remaining questions that you may have or make peace with any grudges while you still have time. The last thing that you want to watch your parents go to their grave grieving over any misunderstandings they had with you or your siblings.     

Plan the Ceremony and Burial

Planning for a funeral and burial can take a long time. You need to take time to make these plans while you still can. There are several things that you can do:

• You will need to get a general idea of when they will pass away. Speak with your parent’s doctors to get an estimate of the time they have remaining so that you have a general timeframe that you can carve out for the proceedings.
• Find out where your parents want to be buried. They will often want to be buried with their spouse, parents or other late family members. You can work with a company like J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Home for more information.
• If your parent wants a religious ceremony, then you need to reach out to the pastor that will be hosting the ceremony. Make sure that they are given some key points to discuss about their passing.

Making all of these preparations will take time, but it’s much less stressful to make them ahead of time. Don’t procrastinate so that you can get everything done in time.

Come to Terms With Your Own Emotions

Making funeral plans and tying up loose ends can be exhausting, but it is not nearly as emotionally draining as dealing with the emotional toll of the death. You will need to mentally prepare yourself for the fact that your loved one is about to pass. Try to speak with a grievance counselor and anyone in your family for support ahead of time.