Death is a tough subject to broach regardless of the culture. Some fear it because of the unknown and some believe that mentioning it would make it more likely to happen.
The Chinese would respond, almost immediately with the remark choi! Choi! As if this utterance could nullify the imagined curse.
But most people know at the back of their minds that death is just inevitable. And that equal attention should be given to planning for death as it is for life.
Carmen Phang who has worked as a financial planner over the past 10 years believes that planning for the circle of life involves having life insurance, planning for a will to be written and a plan on what to do after death which is referred to as the final party.
“I got into this business (selling final party and final home, which is the final resting place, packages) when I had a medical condition last year. My daughter stays with me while my younger son is working in Singapore.
“As young adults, I don’t think they can handle it if anything happens to me. Moreover, I would want my final party conducted according to Christian rites. I do not want them to feel lost with all the opinions given by relatives. They just need to call Nirvana and all will be taken care of according to my plans.”
Reasons for resisting to plan for after death.
Some people may be in denial about the possibility of death happening unexpectedly. Many resist it because of financial commitments, which may cause disagreements among family members if they are planning for aged parents.
“I have a client whose father is 80 plus and in the late stage of dementia. They have accepted the reality that sooner or later he would depart. Being the eldest and 55 years old, she feels the pressure of bearing the responsibility of knowing what to do after death without knowing a thing about funeral services.
“They are staunch Buddhists and the religious rite after a person departs, the body should be untouched for 8 hours while the Buddhist monks will chant. I am trained in the various religious rites except Islam.
“Finally this client took up a package for her father which gave her a peace of mind,” says Carmen.
Covid created awareness
The high death toll caused by Covid and confusion in after-death procedures jolted people who were without plans into unsympathetic situations where their loved one who had departed was cremated without any last rites. And, at best, they could only get a bereavement care provider (bpc) to help claim the body and have it cremated and a video of the service to be sent to them. Many experienced what it would be like without planning when death comes suddenly.
For those with a plan, the bereavement care provider would claim the body, have it cremated and take the urn with ashes for a final party over Zoom with the family members and friends.
Those who have encountered death during Covid also realised the convenience a pre-planned package would give during bereavement. “For those who passed away in a hospital, they would usually be approached by caretakers waiting to take on the business.
“During their grief, this can be unnerving and may also cause disputes amongst the family members in matters ranging from choosing the coffin to religious rites and money to contribute individually.
Packages for peace of mind
There are two main types of services in the packages. As there is a short period between the final party aka wake service and burial or cremation, the care provider would get to start work soon after the family obtains the burial permit.
It covers, among other things, claiming the body for embalming, booking hall for service, notice of death, memorial service and funeral and even transportation for taking mourners to the burial ground.
All will be carried out according to the wishes of the deceased or the one who bought the package. The plan would have also decided on the final resting place. The options are interment in the columbarium, burial in a landed property and sea burial.
However, these services are available only for free thinkers, Christians, Taoists and Buddhists.
Affordability of pre-planned packages
“One can save money by pre-planning because this helps to lock in the price as there is an increment of 6 per cent to the price annually. Once you lock in the price you will save money. The family do not need to come out with their money to cover expenses. Besides, the deceased’s funds are likely to be frozen.
“Seniors with children away from home and single parents are more receptive to pre-planning.
“This service is not only for the rich as prices range from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands. The cheaper columbarium is on the outskirts of the city like Semenyih.
“The packages range from RM20,000 to RM800,000. The latter is inclusive of 2 burial plots on fengshui land. If one no longer needs this service due to relocation to another country, he or she can sell the package to another person.” – JE Tan
For free consultation contact Carmen Phang +60123915161
