Pre-Planning your funeral is a gift to your surviving family

At some point, we will all come to the end of our lives... and yet so many of us don't want to talk about-- or prepare for-- the inevitable.

According to the National Funeral Directors AssociatOnly 17% of Americans under the age of 65 have made plans for their own funeral and burials. That number improves to 34% by the age of 75.

Funeral Pre-planning specialist at Mueller's Funeral Homes, Frank Kumzak says making plans ahead of time is one of the greatest gifts you can leave for surviving family members

"We deal with people all the time that at one time had substantial amounts of money and then they end  up in a nursing home," said Kumzak. "By the time they pass away, there's nothing left and the financial burden falls on the family. If they had taken care of that years ago, paid for it out of current income, it would have been over and done with."

The national average for a funeral with a viewing and casket burial is more than $7,ooo. Cremation is only slightly less expensive.

Kumzak says making decisions ahead of time can save you time, stress, and money, because you're making logical decisions rather than emotional ones, and gives you control over even the smallest details, like what music is played, and what information is included in your obituary.

"Prearranging lets the family know what you want, rather than leaving it up to 2 or 3 or 4 different children."