Portland Observer S^*!ion II Thursday, June 3, 1976 Page 3
Death'. A time for sorrow and enrichment
MEMORIAL SERVICES
We are brought into the
world through the miracle of
birth; and we must be aware that
the end of life's cycle is death and
be prepared for it. Most people
do not like to think about death,
especially of their own death and
the death of those they love. But
this is a fact that must be faced -
“For everything there is a season
...a time to be born and a time to
die."
The funeral traditions of today
have evolved through the cen­
turies as a result of man's wish to
honor the dead and his need to
grasp the finality of death. In all
cultures some type of burial
rights are observed. Although
sometimes designed to aid the
deceased to step into the “great
beyond"; the real reason for the
funeral rite is to prepare the
survivor, not the deceased. The
funeral service symbolizes the
beliefs of the society, its ideals
and its religion.
It is because death is imminent
for ail that it should be discussed
openly. It is only recently that
death has become a topic for
conversation and only recently
that the dying patient and his
family have been able to accept
and face death together.
There is a universal need to
express grief, at the time of
death, which can be met in
different ways, depending on the
individual and on his culture.
Weeping offers a wholesome re­
lease and should not be dis­
couraged. Talking about the
deceased can help the survivors
to face the reality of death.
Failure to express grief can
hamper one's adjustment to a
new life without the deceased.
In pioneer days, when the
family built the casket and dug
the grave, the concept, death
was easier to grasp. Participa
tion in the funeral or memorial
service can make a more positive
experience.
The best way to accept the
reality of death is to discuss it
and plan for it in advance and to
conduct a sensitive and mean
ingful service that meets the
needs of the particular family.
With proper planning, when
death comes it will not bring the
emotional and financial crisis
that will destroy the family re­
maining.
One function of the funeral
service is to rehabilitate the me
mory of the deceased by bringing
what he did and what he stood
for into focus. If this is done
skillfully, the survivors will carry
a happy image with them. The
service also can cultivate a sense
of identity with the deceased.
The survivors can be helped to
remember that they shared his
life, and that in this lies the
power to immortalize him. They
can carry on his values and his
work.
Death broadens relationships.
After a death, a new set of
relationships must develop. It is
almost unusual that at the time
of death, the survivor thinks
seriously on the meaning of life
and this can be a time of inspira­
tion and enrichment.
A memorial service is a service
held after the body has been
removed. A funeral service is
held in the presence of the body.
CREMATION
Cremation is a clean, orderly
method of disposing of the body.
The ashes are clean and white
and may be stored indefinately.
Some families prefer to have the
ashes scattered over the ocean or
on a mountain top. Oregon has
no laws prohibiting scattering,
except over populated areas.
CALCINATION
Calcination accomplishes the
same results as cremation but
does not use a flame. It is a
drying process, using inert, sun-
like heat. Calcination is slightly
more expensive than cremation
but is less costly than ground
interment or vault entombment.
FUNERALS
Simple
Services with
fiberboard
casket
*1«
Funeral
service with
cloth covered
casket
’495
Funeral
service with
metel casket
‘495
MILLER & TRACEY
funeral directors
714 S.W . 20$ Place
227-2*91
TH E K IN D OF LIFE YOU LIVE
TELLS SOMETHING A B O U T THE
K IN D OF FUNERAL YOU WANT.
A will is a necessity
A man living in a western city died at
an early age. leaving a wife and Five
children. In spite of the fact that the man
had denied his family many of the
comforts and necessities of life, he had
bought two run down houses and had
paid for their homes in a slum area. He
also had put $5.000 in a savings account.
After his death, his family received
practically nothing. The bulk of the
estate went to the state and to attorneys.
Much of what little cash they received
had to be used to pay the man's unpaid
bills.
This is not a unique case.
It is
astonishing how many families, and espe
cially young people, do not have wills.
They assume the estate will go to the
surviving spouse, but do not consider the
legal fees involved if there is no will.
A will allows the individual to plan for
his estate and how it will be handled. For
example he car. have a family member act
as executor and save the fees that would
go to a court appointed executor.
A will allows the person to spill out
exactly how and to whom he wants his
property distributed. Without a will,
state statutes difine how the estate will
be divided among the heirs.
A properly prepared will allows the
individual to direct the administration of
his affairs after death. He can select his
own executor - remember members of
his family or friends leave gifts to the
church, charities, schools.
A will should be drawn by an attorney
to insure that it is properly done.
One of the important decisions in
preparing a will is the choice of an
executor The executor will see that the
provisions of the will are carried out and
perform many important tasks in settling
the estate.
The executor should be
someone who has experience and judge
ment because his judgements can effect
the size of the estate and the time
involved in settling it.
The will should list all significant pieces
of property, including those of sentimen­
tal as well as monitarv value. These
should all be assigned to the person that
is designated to receive them. In the
case of money it is better to leave
percentages, since the amounts change
In drawing up a will, an attorney can
estimate the amount of estate taxes the
heirs will have to pay and an insurance
policy can be provided to cover them.
This will avoid the necessity of having to
sell property to obtain cost for taxes.
For personal service of
The kind of person you are,
the standards you've lived by,
your beliefs, your hobbies —
these are a few of the things
that tell Caldwell’s people what
kind of funeral you might want
And that’s why each fare­
well that Caldwell s arranges is
different. It might be a reading
of favorite poems, or a c’assical
or rock concert, or it might take
the form of a celebration party
at a favorite haunt. Each choice
bears the imprint of the person
it honors.
The time to plan your own
funeral is now. One of our
people will be glad to visit your
home or to sit with you over a
cup of coffee to arrange things
exactly the way you want them.
Give us a call or mail the coupon
for our free brochures giving
you just a few of the alternatives
in funerals.
high quality, For prices
Please send me, at no obligation, your
*
free booklets titled "A Time For Sharing '
and "Plan Your O w n Farewell"
b
that meet the requirem ent,
For courtesy th at is a tra d itio n ,
Name_______ ________________________
There is no doubt when you
Address_______ ________________________
City------------- State_________Zip______
call V a n n
MORTUARY
5211 N. Wiliams Ave.
2 8 1 -2 8 3 6
CALDWELLS
COLONIAL
MORTE ARY
CREMATORIUM
N .E .14th at
Sandv Blvd
Portland <»7232
Thonc 232 4111
CALDWELL’S SATISFIES EVERY
PERSON’S WAY OF LIFE W ITH THE
APPROPRIATE FAREWELL.