Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/432137
SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014 LIVE IT UP! 11 One of the greatest gifts you can give your children, besides a college education, a generous inheritance and your beautiful blue eyes, is pre-planning your funeral. "When family members come in to make arrangements for a departed loved one, it lifts the pressure off a difficult time," says Patrick Carroll, owner of Ave Maria Memorial Chapel in Watsonville. "When we can say, 'Everything's been taken care of,' the family doesn't have to guess what the person would have wanted, deal with differences of opinion or figure out how to pay for it. What a gift." While family consideration is the main reason people pre-plan their funeral, also important, particularly as Baby Boomers age, says Randy Krassow, owner of Santa Cruz Memorial, is to ensure things happen as you wish. "Baby Boomers are used to making things happen. If they want a marching band at their funeral, they'd better get it down on paper. Today, there is less interest in a traditional service and more emphasis on what represented the person, whether it means having a barbecue or a motorcycle at the service." Perhaps most important to understand, says Vince Azzaro, co- owner of Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel in Santa Cruz, is the value of an insurance policy as an extension of one's will. "If you put away $3,000 toward your funeral arrangements and then die 30 years later," says Azzaro, "your savings will not have kept up with costs. But an inflation- adjusted policy will grow with the rate of inflation as you continue to live. It's a very smart thing. The biggest benefit is piece of mind." from page 10 DO YOU HAVE OR NEED A Medicare Supplement? Turning 65 Soon? Losing Group Insurance? Need Individual or Family Coverage? Don't Pay More Than You Need To! Freedom to Choose or Keep your Doctors Know ALL your options. We are Your Local Agency Representing and Licensed by California's Major Insurance Carriers. Service Is At No Cost To You! Review drug plans and New Health Plans with Lower Premiums We Make it Easy for You! Our office is located in the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center above the Aptos Cinema. Call Today 831.661.0700 To speak with your local licensed insurance agent SENIOR BENEFITS INSURANCE SERVICES 134 Rancho Del Mar, Aptos CA 95003 Serving Santa Cruz County Since 2000 Local is being there when you need us Kenneth Cook Insurance Services #0E46549 Bill Weber #0D14246