Estate, Pre-Planning, and Sympathy Guide
Friday, Feb. 23, 2018
Estate, Pre-Planning, and Sympathy Guide
Coping with death, and looking forward
No doubt – when someone close to us dies, it hurts. A lot.
Much of it has to do with that realization that things have changed, a feeling of“ we’ ll never see them again.”
Though true in earthly terms, there’ s more to it than that. Believers can expect to meet each other again in Heaven.
Jesus’ resurrection means that death is defeated.
Lee Strobel’ s“ The Case for Christ” and Hank Hanegraaff’ s“ Afterlife” go into great detail about how the crucifixion and resurrection have been proven as historically true events.
That is important because it verifies them as facts, not just wishful thinking. The resurrection shows Christ’ s power over death.
Knowing that, we turn to God’ s own words from the Bible for what we can expect:
1 Thessalonians 4:13( ESV)
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18( ESV)
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
2 Corinthians 5:1-4( NLT)
For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down( that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’ s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.
John 11:25-26( ESV)
Jesus said to her,“ I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
1 Corinthians 15:51-55( NLT)
But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:“ Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
People sometimes say life is short. But depending on the circumstances, we may remain decades after a loved one has passed – what seems like a very long time – but again, in earthly terms.
At some point, we will receive our new heavenly bodies – free from every kind of pain – and begin eternity in the new heaven and new earth. And how long is that? The final verse of Amazing Grace reminds“ when we’ ve been there 10,000 years... we’ ve no less days... than when we’ d first begun.”
What consumers should know about planning a funeral
The Minnesota Attorney General’ s office provided the following information about planning a funeral.
How should I plan my funeral?
Under Minnesota law, you may include directions regarding your funeral and burial in your will or in a special document you sign for that purpose. You may appoint a person who has authority to make arrangements after your death.
Some things to keep in mind when planning a funeral:
• Your budget and true desires should guide your choice of arrangements. You generally have the option of choosing cremation, burial in a cemetery plot, or burial in a mausoleum; and
• You may wish to involve
Dale Kovar
several members of your family, close friends, and / or clergy members when you make funeral arrangements.
Minnesota law and the Federal Funeral Rule give you tools to control the cost of funerals. When you request funeral information, these laws require funeral directors to provide detailed, pre-purchase price information, including a“ general price list” of all services offered that lists an effective date. Following the funeral arrangement, a detailed itemization, called
Memorials with Innovation and Distinction
We are pleased to be able to offer you thoughtfully designed traditional or cremation memorials
Quality Craftsmanship Since 1927
the“ statement of funeral goods and services selected,” must be prepared.
There are many laws in place that protect consumers from deceptive practices by the funeral industry. For example, a funeral provider cannot require that you purchase a casket for cremation.
A funeral provider cannot condition the purchase of one funeral service upon the purchase of another funeral good or service.
Further, it is against the law for funeral providers to charge a fee for handling, placing, or setting a funeral good based upon the fact that the good was not purchased from that funeral provider.
How should I pay for my funeral?
You can make your own funeral arrangements before you die. You may set aside funds to pay for your funeral. One way to do this is to invest the needed amount of money or put it in a bank account, making sure it will be accessible to family members upon your death.
A second option is to prepay for funeral goods and services.
What safeguards exist for consumers who pay for their funerals in advance?
To help safeguard prepaid funds, Minnesota law requires a funeral director or cemetery operator to place all prepaid funds in a trust account in a bank or other financial institution until the need for your funeral arises and to advise you of the financial institution’ s name and the trust account number.
They must also annually report to you the amount of funds in your account. Minnesota law allows you to make arrangements so that you can receive a full refund of all prepaid funds at any time before services are provided.
There are also safeguards in the law to ensure that funds are available for the long-term upkeep of cemeteries and mausoleums.
Certain cemetery operators must place in trust 20 percent of funds received from the sale of cemetery lots and 10 percent of funds from the sale of mausoleum space. These“ permanent care and improvement” trust accounts are to ensure the future care and maintenance of cemetery grounds and buildings.
Finally, the law requires annual reporting and record keeping for both“ pre-need” and the“ permanent care and improvement” trust funds:
• Licensed funeral directors must file an annual report disclosing the status of the preneed trust fund with the State Commissioner of Health;
• Cemetery operators must file an annual report disclosing the status of the permanent care and improvement trust fund with their County Auditor; and
• The Minnesota Department of Health, Mortuary Science Section offers information and takes complaints on funeral goods and services. They can be reached at( 651) 201-3829.
ANNANDALE MONUMENT AND COUNTERTOPS( 612) 293-4176; 205 Myrtle Dr S, Annandale, MN 55302; granitemn. com
BRAHAM GILMER
MONUMENT CO( 320) 543-2650; 1100 6th St, Howard Lake, MN 55349; brahammonument. com
CEDAR CREST
ESTATE( 320) 327-6577; 1401 Main St W, Silver Lake, MN 55381; cedarcrestmn. com
COKATO CHARITABLE TRUST( 320) 286-2158; 182 Sunset Ave. NW, Cokato, MN 55321; cokatoseniorcare. com
DARWIN
MONUMENT( 320) 693-5902; 960 North 1st Street, Darwin, MN 55324; darwinmonument. com
EGGERT & GILLIS
PLLC( 320) 485-3880; 182 Main Ave W, Winsted, MN 55395; eggertandgillislaw. com
ITEN FUNERAL
HOMES DELANO( 763) 972-2891; 300 3rd St N, Delano, MN 55328
9C
This ESTATE, PRE-PLANNING, & SYMPATHY GUIDE edition is brought to you by the following busnesses:
WATERTOWN( 952) 955-2610; 401 Territorial Rd, Watertown, MN 55388 itenfuneralservices. com
KRAFT WALSER
LAW OFFICE( 320) 286-2396; 217 South Broadway Ave., Cokato, MN 55321; kraftwalser. com
JOHNSON- HAGGLUND FUNERAL HOME( 320) 693-0151; 316 Sibley Ave. S, Litchfield, MN; johnsonhagglund. com
JOHNSON- MCBRIDE FUNERAL CHAPEL( 320) 864-3737; 1222 Hennepin Ave., Glencoe, MN 55336; hantge. com
SWANSON- PETERSON FUNERAL HOME COKATO( 320) 286-2534; 655 Broadway Ave. S, PO Box 280, Cokato, MN 55321; swansonpeterson. com HOWARD LAKE( 320) 543-3401; 1224 6th St., PO Box 679, Howard Lake, MN 55349; swansonpeterson. com
WATERTOWN FINE ARTS COUNCIL watertownmnfac. org
Mon.-Fri. 9 a. m.-5 p. m.
Evenings and weekends by appointment
We invite you to visit our indoor and outdoor display areas
Bonnie L. Seegmiller
Toll Free: 1-800-367-6881 Fax: 320-543-3896 bonnies @ brahammonument. com
1100 6th Street( Hwy. 12), PO Box 1019
Howard Lake, MN 55349
Bus: 320-543-2650 www. brahammonument. com
Johnson-McBride Chapel ������� ������������
Paul-McBride Chapel �������������� ������������
��������������������� ������������������
Simple Cremation $ 1,650 00
“ Celebrating Life”