Rogan's Memorials

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This is one of the best books you can give a loved one if they understand the beauty of planning for death and dying. It is also a helpful book for baby boomers who like to plan ahead.

The Coffins offer a complete guidebook for the end of life choices that will help you and your loved ones feel comforted prior to a death. Who better to write the book than a couple who owns Rogan's Memorials and deals with dying regularly.

The book allows opportunities to make you wishes known before faced with the death and dying issues that are often daunting and uncomfortable. They address financial and leagal aspects including; living wills, last will and testiments, establishing trusts, and even funeral planning. In addition to defining all of these precedures, they also have a section of documents and forms to assist you with planning. If you are blessed enough to be able to address this issue with loved ones, this is the perfect book. If not, then you need to learn how to address the issue of death and dying and introducing this book may be the best first step.

Ahead of Your Time-A Complete Guide for End-of-Life Planning is a must have for anyone who wishes to set things in order for themselves and their loved ones. A tender strategy for you and your loved ones to bring your final wishes to reality, simply and generously taking away the stress of double guessing your desires.

Not only do people avoid this topic, they don't know where to begin in this crucial task that we must all face. Dick and Sue Coffin give compassionate, critical and expert advice which will take you through the pre-planning process step-by-step. The authors recognize the gift of pre-planning not only reduces stress for your loved ones at such a difficult juncture; pre-planning often settles any arguments or disputes which sadly arise during this emotionally charged grieving time. What a wonderful book!

The authors include nearly twenty forms to fill out including everything from hospice care and living wills to floral arrangements and lists of people to notify, just to name a few. They include things I could never have thought of even with my best attempt.I very highly recommend this book.

Ahead of Your Time is a great way to put all your little ducks in a row.

Retirement planning encompasses many facets, some that we enjoy exploring such as potential vacation spots and new adventures, and others that are a necessity yet many avoid altogether . often leaving their loved ones in a panic. Most dread estate and the ultimate End-of-Life planning that can only make it easier for those left behind.

My retirement planning site at http://federaljobs.net/retire deals with most pre and post retirement issues with one exception, the ultimate end-of-life planning. That is the one hole left uncovered so to speak.

This is where Dick & Sue Coffin come in, yes their real name. Their new book, Ahead of Your Time; A Complete Guide for End-of-Life Planning provides the information you need to effectively plan for the inevitable. If you have a small estate, this one book alone, with a simple will and the use of In-Trust-For or Pay-on-Death (POD) account designations to avoid probate, is all that you need to set up a basic estate plan. This easy to read 8" by 8.5" 101 page book covers everything from preplanning your final arrangements, writing the obituary, keeping records, arranging services, legal aspects, to financial matters and commemorating the loss. All this in one compact easy to read reference guide plus 30 pages of helpful data collection forms for all aspects of your plan. Yes, it takes a commitment on you and your loved ones part to sit down and talk about this sensitive issue. However, you and your loved ones will be far better off taking care of business before its too late.

Dick & Sue explain the process and thus reduce the fear. They spent 28 years in the monument business and have seen too many families torn apart by difficult decisions that must be made at the hardest of times. They've seen too many people spend lots of money trying to do "the best" for a loved one, who might have opted for simplicity.

Don't leave your loved ones in a lurch. This excellent book will help to ease the pain at an unbearable time and insure that your loved ones wishes are honored. I added this book to my reference shelf and will mention it on my retirement planning site.

Memorial service professionals Dick & Sue Coffin present Ahead of Your Time: A Complete Guide for End-of-Life Planning, a straightforward guide to making simple basic decisions that will protect loved ones from extra costs and unneeded confusion in the wake of one's passing. Chapters discuss arranging services, the legal aspects of final arrangements including living wills and end-of-life care, financial matters such as providing for minor children, establishing a trust, covering funeral expenses, and estate taxes, and much more. A number of reproducible sample forms round out this useful and highly practical guide.

Plain Talk By Al Neuharth, USA TODAY Founder

EUREKA, S.D.

— There's an old cliché that "death and taxes are inevitable." Most of us reluctantly plan how to pay our taxes. Too many of us don't plan for our death.

Those who don't often leave surviving family members in a dilemma. Those who do can set the mood for all who observe their farewell.

Plain Talk By Al Neuharth, USA TODAY Founder

EUREKA, S.D.

— Most of us think about how we can pay proper tribute to family or close friends when they die. As we get older, we sometimes wonder how others might commemorate us.

In my 86-plus years I've attended my share of funerals or other memorial events, in big cities and small towns. Two special, with sharp contrasts:

• Last week for one of my favorite cousins, Milbert Neuharth, 71, in this little prairie town of 1,101 people where we both were born.
• For my friend Henry Ford II, 70, in 1987 when I was a newspaper editor in Detroit and the city had over 1 million population.

Ford had been ill for some time and told his family exactly what he wanted for his "celebration." That included having his favorite Preservation Hall Jazz Band from New Orleans march down the aisle of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, playing loudly. Some "Big Three" biggies didn't think that was appropriate, but family and friends loved it.

Milbert seemed in great shape, and his death of a heart attack was a shock. So there was little advance planning. But as they do in small towns, they quickly found ways to honor him. It started out with a get-together of family and close friends on the eve of the funeral. Grandchildren and grownups told of their favorite memories, mostly funny.

I pointed out Milbert died owing me $15 because his favorite Minnesota Twins just got swept in the divisional playoffs by my Yankees. We always bet $5 a game when they played. His cousin Cal, a Boston Red Sox fan and Yankee hater, quickly publicly paid me.

Afterward, some of the guys reconvened at the local American Legion, a favorite hangout. The seat Milbert usually used at the bar was left vacant while we all drank toasts to him.

The next day, the 350-seat Reformed Church was overflowing. No marching band. Just a serious Bible service. Then all invited back for lunch in the church basement after the graveyard interment.

Feedback: Other views on funerals

"A personalized funeral service in a small community many times will strongly connect with attendees who have lived, worked and played with the deceased for a lifetime."

— John D. Reed Sr., past president, National Funeral Directors Association

"It is a privilege to be able to come together with family and friends to show love for the life that was lived, whether it's a small town or big town funeral."

— Dick and Sue Coffin, co-authors, Ahead of Your Time