Terminally Ill Loved Ones: Arranging Cremation Services

Before cremation services in Geddes, NY, some people take care of loved ones who have terminal illnesses. They may have weeks or months to live, but it’s important to find out what funeral wishes they have before they die.

Talking about the end of life with your loved one who is terminally ill may feel uncomfortable. For you to have this conversation, you and your loved one will have to accept that their illness will end in death. This acceptance may take time, but it will come for both of you.

Once you and your terminally ill loved one have accepted that death is inevitable, you should find out what their wishes are for their funeral. Many people who have terminal illnesses decide that they want to be cremated. Talk with your loved one about why you should go ahead and plan their cremation services before they die.

There are many ways that you can approach the topic of arranging your terminally ill loved one’s cremation services. You may use one or a combination of these ways to make sure your loved one has the opportunity to plan the cremation services they want.

Remind your loved one who has a terminal illness that when they plan their cremation services, they get two benefits. One benefit is that the cremation services are done exactly the way they want them to be done.

The other benefit your terminally ill loved one gets from planning their cremation services is the peace of mind that they are not placing an additional burden on you after they die. When people are suffering from terminal illnesses and their loved ones are caring for them, they often express remorse that they are putting a burden on the family members who are taking care of them.

While this is not true, as terminally ill people become more dependent on others for their care and lose the ability to do most things for and by themselves, they feel as though they are being a burden to their families.

So, having the ability to plan their cremation services in advance gives terminally ill people the opportunity to make sure that burden isn’t one their loved ones have to also carry. It can also help them feel like they have something left that is within their control when the rest of much of their lives may be out of their control.

It’s important to make sure that you listen to what your terminally ill loved one says they want included in their cremation services. If they want to be cremated and their cremation remains scattered some place that is special to them, then make sure you write it down and make sure that’s what you do.

It’s not unusual for family members to want something different from their terminally ill loved one’s wishes, but it’s important to remember that this is their funeral, not yours. You will have your own time to do what you want to do for your funeral, but it’s important to honor the wishes of your terminally ill loved one for their funeral.

Don’t forget that cremation services planning is a process. By broaching the subject with your loved one who is terminally ill, you give them the gift of time to think through exactly what they want. Be prepared for changes along the way, especially as they have more time to think and they draw nearer to death.

If you’d like to know more about cremation services in Geddes, NY, our compassionate and experienced team at Bagozzi Twins Funeral Home, Inc. is here to help.