By Marion Goard, Broker, Keller Williams Edge Realty
Life’s final chapter is inevitable, but our own mortality is not a topic we talk about freely. Planning for death is uncomfortable, however, pre-arranging one’s own funeral enables you to give your loved ones the gift of knowledge and financial stability when you die.
This month, Empowered Seniors Speakers Series is pleased to welcome a panel of experts who will provide essential insights, knowledge, and resources to help you address this universal stage of life. The Truth about Death, Dying, and Funerals — Navigating End-of-Life Decisions will help you navigate death and all it entails with courage, clarity, and a deep understanding of the choices and conversations that matter most.
During this panel, you’ll learn:
- What some new options are for funerals and/or cemetery
- What decisions an executor has to make and what is Next of Kin law
- How pre-planning protects your family
- What are some common misconceptions about cremation
- What is the role of a cemetery vs. a funeral home
- What to do if you don’t want a funeral at all
- How and when to get a referral to hospice
If you would like more information about this ongoing series of seminars and panels designed to help seniors navigate retirement living and later-in-life concerns, please visit The Empowered Seniors Speakers Series website.
On May 8, 2024, join in welcoming the panel of experts who will help bring you peace of mind around death and funerals and answer questions about pre-planning, options, and misconceptions. This will be a popular event, so please reserve your free seat by visiting Empowered Seniors Speakers Series or calling 905-330-5201. Also note the new location, The Burlington Art Gallery at 1333 Lakeshore Rd in Burlington.
About the panelists
Sarah Sunnucks is a licensed funeral director at Smith’s Funeral Homes. A graduate of Humber College’s funeral service education program, Sarah enjoys speaking about all things new in “green” (environmentally friendly) initiatives for funeral planning and believes in the value of educating people about their options when it comes to making important end-of-life decisions.
Denyse LeBlanc is a licensed funeral director at Arbor Memorial. She is humbled to help families with such sensitive matters and is thankful to meet, get to know, and serve so many wonderful kind people in her own community.
Tara Mae Rusin, also a licensed funeral director at Arbor Memorial focuses her skills and experience assisting families with preplanning for their final disposition. Supporting families through the hardships of losing a loved one is an experience that is next to none. While it is never easy, her goal is to ensure their experience is as seamless as possible.
Laurie Smith has more than two decades of experience in palliative care and is a registered nurse/intake coordinator at Carpenter Hospice.
Location: Burlington Art Gallery (Burlington and Shoreline Rooms), 1333 Lakeshore Rd. Burlington
Time: 1:30–3:00 p.m. Doors open at 1:00 p.m.
Educational Partners: SeniorCareAccess, 360 Downsizing, Burlington Memorial Gardens/Arbor Memorial, NeelaWhite, Qualicare Burlington, Smith’s Funeral Homes, Fluid Senior Transitions, Hearing Well Matters, Vistamere Retirement Home and Chartwell Oakville Retirement Home.
Marion Goard began hosting the Empowered Seniors Speakers Series in summer of 2023. Each seminar has a different theme, all on themes that are better considered earlier rather than later, whether you are an older adult yourself or are helping your aging parents. Watch the first seminar of 2024, on healthcare for seniors, below; topics discussed include how to access home care services; what the funding options are; the difference between long-term care (LTC) and retirement homes; what advance care planning is; and how to access services provided by caregivers, personal support workers, and nurses.
About the host: Marion Goard is Burlington’s most trusted Lifestyle 55+ Master Agents and Senior Real Estate Specialists® (SRES). Through initiatives such as 100 Women Who Care Burlington, Keller Williams RED Day, and many others, she has brought her caring and compassionate personality to community service. She is focused on protecting the interests of seniors while developing meaningful relationships with everyone she serves.
