“It’s Life – it’s just part of life.” When Ruth and one of her friends and I met for lunch last month, this is what her friend told me. I had just received a call that my 103 year old aunt had died (she would have been 104 in February!). Yes, I know she was “old” and yes, most of her friends are deceased. In fact she outlived her 6 sisters and 2 brothers.
My aunt was in a nursing home in Georgia. She had moved to Georgia 11 years ago to be with her only daughter and son-in-law. As things would have it, she outlived both of them! Her two grandsons have been watching over her in the nursing home. Since all of my aunt’s family are buried in Little Rock, she wanted to be buried in the same Little Rock cemetery. So off to Little Rock - her two grandsons, their wives and children. They arrived one day, had the graveside service the following day then back to Georgia the next day. Even though this was a quick trip, it was not an inexpensive trip. First there was the cost of my aunt being cremated, the cost of the minister who performed the graveside service (that’s another story), the cost of having the graveside service and the cost of food for family after the service. There was also the cost of travel, lodging and food for her grandsons and their wives and children plus time they had to take off from their jobs. This all added up – and right after Christmas. Fortunately, my aunt had a life insurance policy just for these expenses. Since she planned ahead, all of these expenses were paid in full! Since she had changed her beneficiary to her grandsons, they were not out of pocket anything. She had enough life insurance to pay for everything. What a great gift! Yes, this is all part of life – and so are unexpected expenses at a bad time. Have you thought about how much it will cost when you die and how much your family will have to spend? I’m sure my aunt didn’t think she would outlive her daughter and son-in-law and that her grandsons would be left to handle everything. Where will the money come from? Consider buying a small life insurance policy as a “gift” to your family. Think it’s going to cost too much? Buy what you can afford. What New Year’s Resolutions did you make? In 2018 I hope you review your life insurance. If you don’t have any life insurance, check into it. Make certain your beneficiary designation is current. Think of it as a “gift” to your family – a gift your family will appreciate and remember you by. Yes, it’s life – it’s just a part of life. Please share your story – call 501-868-6650 and say “Caroline, can we talk?” How difficult is it to find a minister who knew a 103 year old and is still able to conduct a graveside service?
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AuthorCaroline Beauchamp specializes in personalized life and health insurance solutions. Archives
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