At the end of 2022, we lost my mom to cancer. Fortunately, she only learned of the cancer a few months earlier in September, and by November she was told she had a few months, possibly a few weeks, to live. I say fortunately because I watched her quickly deteriorate, and I am thankful for her and my family that she did not have to endure that suffering for a prolonged period.
A few years before the cancer diagnosis, my mom suffered a minor stroke that affected the speech portion of her brain, making it difficult for her to think of what she was going to say and to interpret what others were saying to her. Thankfully, she had the presence of mind to enlist the help of an attorney and allowed me to be involved in her and my father's end-of-life decisions.
During this time, I realized how little my wife and I had prepared for the possibility of one or both of us dying. We are in our 40s and have three kids that are at or nearing adulthood. I began asking questions:
Would my wife know what to do if something happened to me?
Would our kids know what to do if something happened to us?
Is our Will and Trust current?
Do those that need access to it know where to find it?
Have I made my final wishes known?
What funeral home?
Would I prefer burial or cremation?
Aside from the cost of the funeral arrangements, how will day-to-day living expenses be paid?
Does my wife and/or do our kids know where we bank at?
Do they have access to the necessary accounts in case of death or legal incapacitation?
What about our assets?
Mortgage and/or property deed(s)?
Car titles?
Investment accounts?
One of the greatest gifts my mom left me, and my family, was her instructions regarding her end-of-life care, funeral planning and how to manage her estate after her passing.
While the above list is not an exhaustive list of questions, it is a start. If you are an adult, you should consider putting answers to questions like these in writing. Doing so will create peace of mind for you and for those who manage your final wishes.
For more information about end-of-life planning please follow the Before I Croak Facebook page. We regularly post content and update this blog.
Mike Simpson works as a Cloud Engineer in the banking industry. With over 25 years of experience in the technology industry, he has cultivated a diverse and comprehensive set of skills that span across various sectors and technologies. Beyond his professional endeavors, Mike is a family man, married with three children, who finds joy and relaxation in baseball, jiujitsu, and poker. These hobbies not only provide him with a well-rounded life but also reflect on his love for strategy, teamwork, and continuous learning, both personally and professionally.
Comentários