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Last Wish Booklet

Yes you can but LIVE ON has separated the two documents, one for the Last Will and one for the Last Wishes.

That’s so that you have maximum flexibility, meaning you can change your will, or change your last wishes without affecting either document. Also, some people already have a will, and want to simply record their last wishes for their family. We therefore recommend two distinct documents.

Last wishes are what the title indicates. They are wishes but are not legally binding.

That being said family members would presumably need to have good reasons not to follow them as they express the final request of the person who has passed away. It is a good idea, in addition to capturing them on LIVE ON to share the Last Wishes document with your loved ones. Let them know what you prefer!

The answer to that question is not standard.

The most intuitive answer is yes, but it depends on if you are ready to talk about how things should happen. And whether the person you want to tell these things to is ready to hear them. Even if there is disagreement about what should happen (for example, an exposed casket or not?) it is probably more productive to discuss this with someone you are very close to, than to wait until you are not longer there to explain why you prefer things one way or the other.

A spiritual event is one that does not follow the rituals of a mass and does not involve a priest.

This is not to say that a mass is not spiritual, it simply means that a spiritual event is non-denominational, meaning it adheres to no particular religion. A spiritual event therefore can take on whatever form the deceased or their family wishes. Today, there are many secular (non religious) celebrants to choose from. LIVE ON has an entire section dedicated just to that. Many secular celebrant have specific training that helps them adapt the event to the individual who’s life is being honoured.

Funerals or end of life celebrations are always a personal affair.

If you have an obituary in a newspaper or some other public forum (Facebook for example) you are making your passing more public than private. Although people are usually very respectful of the deceased’s wishes, a public notice may preempt you from certain things, like for example excluding anyone from attending the event, if that’s an issue. Many families do appreciate a more public form of notice as it is difficult to remember to notify everyone. Even friends that have been absent for a while may want to express their condolences in person.

That’s entirely up to you.

Do remember that you will not be the one bearing any negative feedback related to such a decision. Your loved ones, and those that remain, will be those that will receive any criticism. If such is your choice, maybe discuss it with someone close to you. Perhaps the gap that separates you from the person you want to exclude can be breached.

The urn containing the ashes of the deceased can be kept in many different ways.

You can buy a small funeral plot and bury them, or you can buy a space in a columbarium which is an upright structure, usually owned by a funeral home, where many urns are kept. Alternatively you can keep them at home, or you can disperse them (see below) if these are the wishes of the person that has passed away. The ashes weigh about 5-7 pounds and should be kept in a container that does not easily open. There are obviously many choices available as to the container, some of them even biodegradable. Finally, the ashes of your loved can be turned in jewelry or incorporated in a work of art. Truly, today the options are endless.

The answer is yes and no, depending on the location of your choosing.

For example, you may scatter or bury ashes on private land (for example your garden), as long as you have the owner’s agreement (you own the garden). When choosing private land you should keep in mind that you will not have a marker, and that the land in question may change hands. As far as public land is concerned (crown land, public parks including bodies of water), it is permitted to disperse ashes, but you need to apply for a permit from the governing body in question. This can take a while, so you might want to plan for a way to conserve the ashes in the meantime.

Si le propriétaire du terrain accepte que vous le faisiez, oui. Par contre, si l’endroit est un plan d’eau ou bien un parc appartenant au gouvernement ou à une ville, vous devez obtenir l’autorisation pour y jeter quoi que ce soit.

Yes you can travel with cremated remains but there are a few important things to remember.

First, you need to call the airline in question to advise them of your intentions. Also, the container needs to be of a material that allows the X-Ray machines at security to see the contents. Materials that are not suggest are: metal, stone or ceramic as the contents cannot be seen. The maximum container size for most of the major airlines is: 22’’ X 14’’ X 9’’. In some cases the airline will allow you to bring the container and the ashes on the plane as carry on luggage. Others will only allow the ashes to travel in cargo. Always bring the certificate of cremation and the death certificate, and check with the immigration authorities of the country you are travelling to.

Embalming is a technique invented towards the end of the 19th century that temporarily slows down the deterioration of the body, to allow the funeral to take place.

Embalming is quite a lengthy procedure, taking from 2 to 4 hours to be completed. After the body is prepared, embalming chemicals (mostly formaldehyde and methanol) are injected intravenously while body fluids such as blood are evacuated as a result. The main purpose for the process is so the body can be exposed as part of the end of life celebration and be as close to the real likeness of the person as possible. Natural alternatives to embalming exist (not formaldehyde) or simply refrigerating the remains works well, albeit not for an extended period.