Death is not a business

Each and every family at some point has to grapple with the death of a loved one. Death, as everyone knows, is the inevitable end to all of us, so to think about death and to make plans for it becomes unavoidable.

As you read this you are already preparing yourself to attend a funeral tomorrow or you know some family who is already preparing for one, even if you will not get to attend one yourself.

There is a saying by Benjamin Franklin: “There are two certainties in life, death and taxes”. My interest is not really about death itself and what happens to one when he or she finally departs from this earth. My interest is about how we, those that are left behind, react and prepare for the death of someone close to us.

Everyone today knows that to take out a funeral policy is as essential as paying for school fees for your children, and yet so many of us bungle this aspect regularly.

You will get a situation in a family where, when someone dies, people have to cobble together the few cents, they do not have in order to bury that person. What makes it infuriating sometimes is the fact that the dead person had the means to take out a funeral policy for themselves.

When these people are asked, while still alive, to take one out they will answer by saying they know that nikhona and you would not leave them and not find a way for them to be buried.

Be that as it may, those with means, no matter how small, should think ahead and rescue the situation and not be blinded by anger which in the end will cost them dearly.

They should quietly take out a funeral policy so that when the inevitable happens they can bury the person in line with their status, if you know what I mean.

There is, though, one aspect about these policies for extended members of the family that lead to conflict and anger.

You will find people who see the person who had the foresight to take out a policy as rich, and expect them to bear all the costs of the funeral as if the money claimed was given to them for free.

When you take a funeral policy, you never know when the person will die. The person may live for 30 years, so when they finally die you claim R10,000 and people look at you as if you have won the lottery.

They forget that the premiums you have been paying came from your own pocket, and after 30 years chances are whatever you claim does not cover what you put in.

That I took up a policy does not mean other family members should not also contribute.

Everyone with means should put in equal amount to cover the costs and the fact that I took up a policy should not absolve them form their responsibility.

That policy payout is basically your money and you may contribute more or less, like everybody else.

What is not acceptable is taking out a funeral policy on someone and simply claiming and keeping all that money and contribute nothing.

That is just plain vile and unacceptable.

We cannot see death as a way to make money but everyone should take equal responsibility and not just those with policies.

I took a funeral policy so that I do not have to take a lump sum I may not have, in order to bury the person. If you chose not to and used your money in whatever way that suits you, then cough up for the funeral like everybody else. Simple.

What is not acceptable is taking out a funeral policy on someone and simply claiming and keeping all that money and contributing nothing