Video images to come…

January 28th, 2008

Help plan your own funeral

By Valerie Hannon on January 28th, 2008

As the platitude goes, death is one of the only two certain things in life, the other being taxes. So stop worrying about it and instead help your loved ones celebrate your life when the inevitable comes.

That’s the philosophy of Victoria Vanstone, a Londoner who created yourdeathwish.com.
Users can create an account leaving instructions for their loved ones on details such as what to do with their remains, what they want in their obituary, what songs they would like played at the service, among others. The site can also be used after one dies for friends to leave messages of condolences for the family.
Vanstone said the site’s intent is to be lighthearted.

“It’s not a morbid or sad memorial - it’s a celebration of life,” she told the Manchester Evening News. “Everybody dies and wants to be remembered, and this is a way of logging your final wishes. It can make sure friends and family represent you at your funeral in the way you would have wanted.”

Vanstone said she got the idea after witnessing the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Amidst all of the devastation, she said that she was struck by the contrast between the Buddhist’s acceptance of death and the Western attitude.

Creating an account is free and the user can choose whether they want the information to be public or private.