To parents

Lessons I have learned from the recent deaths of both my parents, roughly thirteen months apart (not in the order of significance).

1. Make sure you have a will with an executor named. Don’t be lazy! When both parents are dead then everything has to be done in probate court under their supervision. It is a stressful thing to do to whomever ends up being the administrator of your estate. You may think “I don’t have anything…” and you would be thinking wrong.
2. Make sure you have pre-paid and properly documented location for your burial or whatever your choice is for handling your physical body. Make it perfectly clear. If you want a full service and such, make that clear. Designate or write suggestions. Make it clear.
3. The items that mean something to you, make sure to document whom gets what. Make it clear. (Are you seeing a pattern about this subject).
4. You are/were the parents so in your death/s lead by example as well. You know the loss of a loved one impacts people so you SHOULD want to help your loved ones manage the responsibilities, grief and sorrow as best as possible.