Those who’ve had to endure the strain of making funeral arrangements soon after the death of a family member know about the emotional strain and burden of having to make tough choices under duress.
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| Maine funeral professional Jeffrey Dobson will offer a free informative presentation about funeral planning and funeral trusts from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, July 25 at The Little Meeting House in Windham. COURTESY PHOTO |
To that end, a Maine funeral professional is offering a free informative presentation to alleviate some of the uncertainty from having to plan funerals and make sound decisions during a time of grief and emotional stress. The presentation will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday July 25 at The Little Meeting House, 719 Roosevelt Trail in Windham.
“Our goal is to help the public gain a clearer understanding of how paying for end-of-life arrangements works, and to build their confidence that preplanning can be a secure and beneficial option,” said Jeff Dobson, the owner of Dobson Family Funeral and Cremation Services and Casco Bay Cremation. “Recent funeral home closures, some of which made headlines, have raised concerns, so we hope this event will reassure families by providing accurate, trustworthy information.”
Dobson said that the presentation will cover an array of key topics including:
** How preplanning a funeral works in Maine
** The three types of mortuary trusts allowed under Maine law
** The cost of cremation and what contributes to that cost
** The advantages and disadvantages of preplanning
** An open “Question and Answer” session for families
“We also want to address the common reasons some families avoid preplanning: discomfort discussing mortality, fear of high costs, or concerns about relocating” Dobson said. “Many people don’t realize that arrangements can be easily transferred if they move.”
According to Dobson, he believes it is especially important to educate the public about mortuary trusts.
“For instance, there's a funeral home currently advertising that they accept transferred mortuary trusts at ‘no cost,’ but in reality, there are often fees involved,” he said. “Families deserve transparency so they can make informed decisions that truly serve their best interests.”
Dobson said working with a funeral professional is essential for the public because they help families navigate the complex process of planning a funeral or memorial service for their loved one. They provide guidance, support, and expertise in areas such as arranging for cremations, obtaining necessary permits and certificates, and coordinating with other professionals involved in the funeral process while helping families make important decisions and providing emotional support during a difficult time.
Preplanning can be both a learning and decision-making process, he said. By learning what your available options are, decisions can be made to help balance value and cost. Once decisions have been made about services, a plan can be created to document and share these decisions with the next-of-kin, family and friends.
The process doesn’t necessarily include having to pre-purchase goods or services. But if pre-planning decisions are to be made without purchases being made, pre-planning can result in a clear, well-documented record of an individual’s wishes and selections.
“On a personal note, one of the most challenging parts of this work is the responsibility we carry,” he said. “We always strive to give every family our absolute best. But as humans, we know we may fall short at times, and that pressure to be perfect can be very heavy.”
As the owner and founder of Casco Bay Cremation and Dobson Family Funeral and Services in Arundel, Dobson has worked in funeral service for more than 16 years and started his career in Portland at a funeral home assisting the funeral directors there. It led him to go back to school to obtain his mortuary science degree.
For more details about the presentation in Windham and to RSVP, call 207-747-8240 or send an email to: info@cascobaycremation.com. <
“We also want to address the common reasons some families avoid preplanning: discomfort discussing mortality, fear of high costs, or concerns about relocating” Dobson said. “Many people don’t realize that arrangements can be easily transferred if they move.”
According to Dobson, he believes it is especially important to educate the public about mortuary trusts.
“For instance, there's a funeral home currently advertising that they accept transferred mortuary trusts at ‘no cost,’ but in reality, there are often fees involved,” he said. “Families deserve transparency so they can make informed decisions that truly serve their best interests.”
Dobson said working with a funeral professional is essential for the public because they help families navigate the complex process of planning a funeral or memorial service for their loved one. They provide guidance, support, and expertise in areas such as arranging for cremations, obtaining necessary permits and certificates, and coordinating with other professionals involved in the funeral process while helping families make important decisions and providing emotional support during a difficult time.
Preplanning can be both a learning and decision-making process, he said. By learning what your available options are, decisions can be made to help balance value and cost. Once decisions have been made about services, a plan can be created to document and share these decisions with the next-of-kin, family and friends.
The process doesn’t necessarily include having to pre-purchase goods or services. But if pre-planning decisions are to be made without purchases being made, pre-planning can result in a clear, well-documented record of an individual’s wishes and selections.
“On a personal note, one of the most challenging parts of this work is the responsibility we carry,” he said. “We always strive to give every family our absolute best. But as humans, we know we may fall short at times, and that pressure to be perfect can be very heavy.”
As the owner and founder of Casco Bay Cremation and Dobson Family Funeral and Services in Arundel, Dobson has worked in funeral service for more than 16 years and started his career in Portland at a funeral home assisting the funeral directors there. It led him to go back to school to obtain his mortuary science degree.
For more details about the presentation in Windham and to RSVP, call 207-747-8240 or send an email to: info@cascobaycremation.com. <
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