The shock of the Space Shuttle Columbia breaking up this past week and the loss of eight of our astronauts once again has us thinking about how sudden death can occur. Families were gathered together at Cape Kennedy waiting for the arrival of their loved ones. Within the hour they would
have been hugging, kissing, crying and expressing their love for one another, but now the survivors are left to deal with the loss of their husbands, fathers, wives, mothers, brothers, sisters and children.

It brings back the memories of September 11th. Loved ones left for work that day expecting to return home as they had always done. No one expected the goodbye of that morning to be the last.

Why does it take tragedies like this to make people start thinking about how much their own families mean to them?

When a loved one dies, we mourn their loss but most of us are consoled by our belief that they have gone to a better place. They are no longer bound by a pain-filled body or the trials of this
life. In losing family members of my own, I have come to the realization that it is harder on those who are left behind than the one who has passed on. We are left to deal with the loss; we are left to make the arrangements; we are left to figure out what we will do without them.

In case you have never had to deal with making funeral arrangements, you may have no idea of all that is involved. http://www.emersonpublications.com/pages/843554/index.htm offers a list of 100 things that must be done by the survivor. The list includes securing vital statistics required for burial permits; knowing who you will have to pay; collecting documents required to establish rights for insurance, pensions, social security, ownership, relationship, etc.; things you'll need to decide and arrange within a few hours (while you're still in shock!); people to notify as soon as possible; and additional advice that will help
simplify the process.

When I say "Simplify the process," let me assure you that there is nothing "simple" about it. It is a time-consuming and tedious chore to have to gather all of this within a week so that your loved one can be buried properly. You could help your family tremendously if you would go through the list and record this information for them now. Give them the advantage of knowing how you would want them to handle your affairs; who they can trust; where they will find all of the documents they need; and how they can get by until the estate is settled.

You've spent your life loving and caring for your family. Take the time now to record the information they will need in your absence. Don't leave your loved ones guessing.

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Credits: Joyce Moseley Pierce