A few years ago, I started pre-planning my funeral – although I am only in my 40s, I felt that this was a necessary planning for peace of mind. This included purchasing a funeral package (3 days 2 night funeral wake service) and a niche in a columbarium.
Pre-Planning My Funeral – Is it a Taboo?
I would say that this is a personal preference and thought – however I feel that this final journey planning is a very important aspect in retirement planning. Irrespective of age, it is important to put some thoughts on this and also put some money aside as funeral are not cheap these days.
As I mentionrd earlier, I purchased both a funeral service and the final resting place with Nirvana as part of pre-planning my funeral. Nirvana offers pre-planning options and they provide installment payments so that you can foot a small downpayment and pay the rest in an interest-free installment.
For those who are not aware, funeral wakes & final resting places needs to be paid in FULL when it is utilized and it is often a huge financial burden to the family of the deceased. Some families resort to taking loans, maxing out their credit cards, borrowing from relatives to finance the final funeral journey for their loved ones. Hence it is a very good move to start planning, paying in installment, and putting down your final wishes when you are still able to.
Frankly speaking, we (wife and I) are not pantang (taboo) about life and death, hence we are very open on the discussion of the pre-planning my funeral topic. Everyone have to goes away one day, it can be tomorrow, can be next year, or can be another 20, 30 years and so on. It is so unpredictable.
So if I suddenly go without pre-plan, it is going to be difficult for my wife. Imagine she is grieving, but at the same time got to find a funeral undertaker without sufficient time to evaluate whether are they good, is the price reasonable, etc? At the same, got to come out with a 1 big lump sum for both the funeral service and final resting place.
Funeral Practice in Klang Valley
In Klang Valley, it is very common to have a 3 days 2 nights wake/funeral service either at the parlour or home (landed house). This is the scenario that I have thought of – when it is my time to say goodbye to the world, my wife will have to find and decide 1 funeral undertaker to manage my body. Assume, same day wake start, within the same day or latest 2nd day, got to choose 1 final resting place, and make full payment. So that on 3rd final funeral day, I can check-in. Then settle the funeral service bills.
Everything are not a small sum, got to arrange fund from her own account. Why? Because my assets will need time to transfer to her name, need the court order with my Wills. Even insurance money and EPF, also need time to submit application with my death certificate. Normally, for Nirvana the family will get the death certificate within days after the final funeral day. It will take longer time, if it happended during long holiday, weekend as JPN is off.
Forsee the above, I told myself why not pre-plan it now while I am still around. I will get peace of mine, so does my wife. When the day come, she just need to contact Nirvana with a phone call, and they will take over and arrange the rest. By pre-planning my funeral now also, I can choose what package, decide on what religion ritual I prefer, and can choose the final resting place that I like.
Above is the main reason of why I choose pre-planning my funeral in advance, beside saving money. Think of inflation! 1 piece of roti canai, one of my favourite food for breakfast or supper, while I was a boy, it costs only 50 cents. Today, it costs RM 1.50 to RM 2 depends on which shop. Same for funeral costs, far future will definitelycosts more than today. Plus, it is not a RM 2 kind of costs. From the day I purchased my 3 days 2 nights funeral plan, it already price increased at least twice.
Come back to pantang (taboo), in my opinion, if the person really very pantang, he/she might not suitable to pre-plan. However you have to remember that doing so will only mean a lot of chaos, disagreement (between family members), and finally the financial aspects of it.
Pre-Planning My Funeral: Why We Choose Nirvana
My late mum’s funeral was handled by Nirvana. We really like their professional service. And their memorial park is modern, clean and well-kept. Some of the final resting places like Nirvana Memorial Garden, Semenyih or Klang has got very nice and peaceful mountain view. You will also have various options to choose from, depending on your budget. As there are installment plans, it makes it easier to afford for many since you can break it down into multiple payments instead of paying in one lump sum.
Nirvana also have a RM 100 million of trust fund with RHB, which is use to manage and upkeep all the final resting places. With over 30 years of experience in the bereavement industry, they have an excellent track of record and are the largest bereavement provider in Malaysia.
If you have not, this is the time to take action!