Resources
Legal Matters With Rosiee Magoo
MyGoodbye.com is pleased to introduce guest blogger Rosiee Magoo.As a lawyer who has practiced both in England and the U.S., she brings a focused passion to assisting families regarding end of life legal matters including Estate Planning, Probate, Guardianship and Immigration. Rosiee graduated from the United Kingdom and was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Law and subsequently earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the College of Law, London. She was admitted to the New York...
Burial or Cremation?
It’s your choice. That is, if you make the decision before your death, and record it somewhere accessible to those who will be responsible for carrying out your wishes after. Because this is a significant decision, it is important to consider all the factors involved. First, we will describe the requirements, list the benefits and finally the detriments for either choice.RequirementsBurial Requires the services of a funeral home and cemetery. Choices to be made with the funeral home...
A goodbye as Unique as You Are
An older friend recently bemoaned the new automatic toilets installed at the airport. “I’m beginning to think that there is no part of my destiny I can control!” She muttered. And while that is true for much of our experience on this earth, and even our exit from it, there are some places where our pro active influence can make a difference. Planning end of life arrangements is a certain way to make your final statement. Sadly, most of time this position is abdicated by...
How to Choose a Funeral Home
Finding the right Funeral Home can be a challenge, but well worth the effort. Planning ahead makes this search feasible. We had the privilege to interview Muneerah Warner, the vivacious founder of FuneralDivas Inc. regarding this process. A notable expert in the funeral industry as the editor-in-chief of Funerals Today Magazine and the former owner of the Warner Funeral Home in Philadelphia, PA, Muneerah brings sound advice to help you in your search. Are there questions which could be asked...
Breaking the Silence: Talking About Death With the Terminally Ill
When a friend or family member has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, the first thing on everyone’s mind is often the last thing on their lips. No one wants to face the inevitable; all their energy is focused on the possible. Somehow, some way, we will beat the odds and overcome the doctor’s prognosis. To discuss end of life issues, the planning of a funeral or memorial service appears to all as a white flag of surrender. Who can swallow death and chemotherapy at the same...
Dictionary of Funeral Terms
Dictionary of Funeral TermsIt’s hard enough that someone you love has died, but then you feel like the person trying to help you make arrangements is speaking a foreign language! We are here to help. Below is a list of some of the most widely used (and confusing) terms in the industry. Looking for a term not listed here? Let us know and we will add it to our list.Pre-need Arrangements before a death has occurredAt-need Arrangements after a death has occurredPall-bearer One of 6...
$$$$, Marryin' and Buryin'
A wedding is a financial event of a lifetime. Ask our daughters. Years were spent pouring over Brides magazines, Bride reality tv and scanning the internet—to discover in 2011, the average wedding budget (not including honeymoon) was $27,021. When a friend recently informed us of his daughter’s engagement, my husband gingerly whispered “Let the money hemorrhage begin.” To which our friend replied, “I’ve already been advised by my wife, we call those...
Muster Roll Call: A Texas A&M Tradition
Every year on April 21, the student body, former students and the families of fallen Aggies gather in solemn assembly to call the names of former and current students who have passed away. This enduring tradition strengthens the community and certainly is a bedrock of the famous “Aggie Spirit.” In their own words:Muster is a time to look to the past, present, and future…not only to grieve but to reflect and to celebrate the lives that connect us to one another. A gesture so...
Fiscal Vs. Physical Responsibility
Fiscal verses Physical Responsibility A 29 year old internet executive recently commented he had bought his first serious life insurance. “Why” I asked, “Are you planning on kicking the bucket soon?” Surprised, he quickly retorted “Of course not, but if something should happen, I want to make sure my wife and daughter are taken care of.” Our society puts a high premium on financial planning in the event that the unexpected happens. In fact, individuals...
Where to Bury Mary
One hundred years ago the answer was very simple. You placed her next to Winthrop, her husband of 49 years in the family plot of the congregational cemetery, facing east. And with one shift of the eye, you could trace her family line: grandparents, aunts, uncles, and untimely nephews all neatly lined awaiting Gabriel’s trumpet blast to call their resting remains upward.Unfortunately, today’s Mary has been married twice, lived on both coasts and has two sets of parents and children...