New company’s mission is peace of mind
By LOIS KINDLE
Some of the most important decisions in a person’s life come at its ending, and family members are often left in the dark as to how to handle their loved one’s affairs.
It’s not only funeral arrangements that must be arranged. There are final bills to be paid, details to uncover, tasks to do and a million little decisions to make during a deeply stressful time.
Cecilia Jeffrey and Becky Alford, of A Peace of Mind Planning, are ready to handle every detail.
“We unburden the family by taking care of everything,” Alford said. “You have time to mourn and heal, while we take care of the business side of things.”
A Peace of Mind Planning offers a wide range of services.
Jeffrey and Alford can help people fully plan for a funeral and everything that goes along with it by first meeting with the family and gathering important details that are often overlooked. They can help folks plan an entire funeral or provide guidance for specific aspects of it.
“One of the services we offer is preplanning, which is ideal for most people,” Jeffrey said. “It helps them avoid costly emotional decisions when they are under great stress. And it provides family members with documentation about your final needs and wishes, including details for handling their loved one’s end-of-life affairs.”
Packages include full coordination of a funeral service or celebration of life, which includes funeral home or venue selection, interment decisions; officiant needs; service and reception; assistance with transportation and securing accommodations for out-of-town guests; thank you notes, distribution of floral arrangements and more.
Other options include a la carte services; coordination of specific aspects of a funeral service or reception; preplanning; coordinating details with the family onsite the day of the service; video/audio memorials; music; family meals; obituaries; family photographs; venue research and other details.
All packages include a two-hour personal meeting with Jeffrey and Alford to identify and document the family’s wishes, including details that will be needed to handle the loved one’s end-of-life affairs. They came up with an extensive questionnaire to use during the meeting to help clients determine their needs and developed a full range of services to meet them. And those who preplan with them receive a discount on service fees.
Getting started
Alford, an experienced project manager, wanted to start a service-related business with Jeffrey, a longtime friend and professional photographer, having to do with helping the elderly. They describe themselves as detail-oriented, logistical planners with a compassionate bent.
“We decided to focus on something people don’t have a lot of experience with,” Alford said. “We felt a funeral coordinator should be available much like an event coordinator.”
To learn more about A Peace of Mind Planning, a bonded company, call 813-363-5278 or 612-703-7986. Se habla español.