While many of us would rather avoid planning for a loved one’s or our own funerals, leaving the task until the end can have consequences.

Melissa Theisen of Gunderson Funeral Home spoke to the Waunakee Rotary Club about the Seven Deadly Mistakes in funeral planning at the club’s June 8 meeting. 

Many put the planning on the back burner because it’s depressing and expensive, but Melissa advised that you want to have some kind of plan. She noted that a $10,000 life insurance policy won’t cover a funeral, and the minimum cost simply for a cremation alone, with no services, is $5,500. 

Also, children of the deceased don’t often agree on a plan, creating discord. Poor decisions are often made when funeral plans are made as a loved one is passing or has just passed. Melissa explained that grief causes stress, causing the brain to use the hypothalamus and amygdala portions rather than the prefrontal cortex, the center of creativity and logic. 

As part of the planning, Melissa advised people to check out funeral homes, ask questions and get cost estimates. Try to get an idea of the quality of materials and how the funeral home staff makes you feel. 

She said Gunderson offers guaranteed pricing and offers personalized services to make memories for people to share. 

As part of the process, families receive an 18-page planning guide to fill in vital statistics for the obituary, along with trust planning and financial planning. 

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Other News:

-The Fellowship event has been moved to Wednesday next week. All are invited to Drumlin Ridge starting at 4 p.m. 

-If you haven’t RSVP’d to the club’s 50th anniversary party, do so now! The last day to respond is June 12 for the June 28 dinner. You can also just let Jean Elvekog know whether or not you're going. 

-Let Bob Klostermann know if you’d like to attend the Madison West Middleton golf outing or the Bishops Bay concert June 19.

Guests: ??

Visiting Rotarians: None. 

Birthdays: June 18, Dan Statz; June 20, David May.

Anniversaries: June 15, Andrew and Ana Hovde; June 21, Mark and Regina McFarland; June 21, Kevin and Jodi McDaniel; June 21, Tom and Beverly Kennedy.

Greeters: June 15, Phil Simon and Jeff Smith; June 22, Dan Statz and Harriet Statz; June 29, Ray Statz and Howard Teeter.