Losing a husband, wife, or life partner is one of life’s most painful experiences, and talking about it beforehand is no easy task. Our team at Krause Funeral Home has walked alongside grieving families for many decades, and we know there are practical ways to ease the stress of this overwhelming situation.
Perhaps the biggest stress reliever during a time of grief is being prepared. We’ve compiled the following steps to help you and your partner make the most of your time together, while still planning for what lies ahead.
A definite way to decrease the stress after a loved one’s death is to preplan the funeral. This eliminates the need for family to debate, discuss, and guess what you would have wanted. Our compassionate team can help you make unhurried decisions in a relaxed setting, keeping a detailed list of all your wishes on file at no cost. If you’re not sure where to start, our online form will help you take the initial steps of planning funeral arrangements from the comfort of home. We will contact you once we receive your form submission. If you have any questions or need more information, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at our offices in Brookfield and New Berlin, and on Brown Deer Road or Capitol Drive.- While it’s optional, choosing to pay for your arrangements ahead of time will keep your loved one from having to worry about any financial burden when the time comes.
- Make sure you find out what information you will need to pull together after death – perhaps even make copies of important documents and put everything in a folder so it’s ready to go. Our expert team has compiled a planning checklist detailing the information you and your loved one will need to address.
- If one of you handles all of the household bills or organizes important paperwork, make sure your significant other knows where to find all critical account information, passwords, and the like.
- Double check all of your life insurance policies and retirement accounts. Make sure you have primary and secondary beneficiaries clearly noted.
- Be sure to have an executed will in place, outlining what will happen with all of your property, assets, and any pets or dependents. This could solve a lot of disagreements among family members and protect your partner – especially if you are not legally married.
We have found that sometimes, one person in a relationship will feel comfortable discussing end-of-life plans, while the other is less willing. This is something we can help you with. If left unchecked, it can cause strife and prevent necessary planning. If you want to start making arrangements, explain to your loved one why this is important to you, and then talk about how each of you will be involved in the preparations.
The Krause team knows the planning process is different for every couple, and we are here to assist you and your family every step of the way. Reach out to us any time to get started.