Why End-of-Life Planning Matters: A Mortician’s Perspective After 15 Years
When people start thinking about end-of-life planning, they rarely begin with paperwork.
They begin with Google.
Every day, thousands of families type in searches like:
• “What documents do I need for end-of-life planning?”
• “How do I make sure my family knows my wishes?”
• “What is a healthcare proxy?”
• “How do I prepare my funeral in advance?”
• “What happens if I don’t leave instructions?”
These searches are deeply personal. They’re not just about planning — they’re about protecting the people you love. And after 15 years as a mortician and now as Division Director at a major Medical Examiner’s Office, I’ve seen exactly what happens when these questions are left unanswered.
Families arrive overwhelmed. Loved ones disagree. Simple decisions become stressful ones, and almost every time, someone whispers the same sentence:
“I wish they had written down what they wanted.”
That single sentence is the reason I created the My Final Wishes Planner — to take those Google searches and turn them into clarity, comfort, and direction for every family.
How the Planner Works
The My Final Wishes Planner is designed to make planning simple, guided, and compassionate — not overwhelming. Every section walks you through the decisions most families struggle with, using clear prompts and space for your personal instructions.
Here’s what you’ll find inside:
1. Medical & Healthcare Decisions
Document your wishes for care, emergency instructions, and the people you trust to make decisions for you. This section ensures your voice is heard even when you can’t speak for yourself.
2. Legal Essentials & Important Documents
A place to list your will, power of attorney, insurance policies, passwords, and where to find them. Families often spend days searching for these — your planner puts everything in one place.
3. Personal & Family Information
From contact lists to personal details, this section keeps your family organized and informed.
4. Funeral & Ceremony Preferences
Whether you want something traditional, simple, spiritual, or uniquely you — your wishes are clearly outlined. This is the section that brings comfort to your loved ones during their hardest moments.
5. Legacy, Letters & Reflections
Prompts to help you write messages, memories, and notes to the people you love. These pages become priceless gifts.
6. Practical Checklists & Guided Questions
I’ve taken everything I’ve learned from working with families and turned it into step-by-step guidance so nothing is forgotten.
This planner is more than a book — it’s a way to love your family long after you’re gone.
Why This Planner Is Different
Most planning tools focus on legal documents or funeral arrangements.
This planner does both — and also fills in all the emotional and practical gaps in between.
It’s written from the perspective of someone who has walked thousands of families through loss.
It’s honest.
It’s practical.
And it’s filled with compassion.
Plan with Intention
If you’ve ever searched for answers about end-of-life planning…
If you want to ease the burden on your family…
If you believe planning is an act of love…
Then this planner was made for you.
The My Final Wishes Planner is available now at www.CharliRose.com