Families who arrive with a page of written wishes are visibly steadier than families who are guessing. Pre-planning is not morbid; it removes a set of decisions from people who will be in no state to make them.
Worth writing down
- Burial or cremation, and where you would like to rest
- Religious, non-religious or somewhere in between
- Music you want, and music you absolutely do not
- People you would like to speak, and people you would rather didn't
- Whether you want a large gathering, something small, or nothing formal at all
- Where your will is kept and who your executor is
Then tell someone
A list nobody can find is no use. Give a copy to the person most likely to be organising things, and keep another with your will or in a secure online repository.
Wishes are guidance, not instruction. The people left behind still need a ceremony that helps them, so leave a little room for them in it.
Holdmine
Holdmine is a very secure online tool to help organise all of your end of life affairs.