You’re a modern woman in every way, and it shows.

Perhaps you are juggling two jobs and parenthood… all on your own.

Maybe you’re a young professional diving headfirst into the career of you always wanted … while pursuing your graduate degree at night.

Or you could be a grandmother heading to college at the age of 75 to pursue your dreams.

Whatever path your life is on, we celebrate you. We know it isn’t always easy to go it alone, and yet you do so with grace, determination and a smile on your face, even when things get tough.

But in the hustle and bustle that is your daily life, you may be unintentionally making things tougher on those you love by failing to pre-plan for your funeral and memorial service.

Thinking about end-of-life matters in your life may seem a bit daunting, especially if you’re a 20- or 30-something just starting out in the “real world.” And you may think pre-planning is a costly venture or is a step best suited for married couples.

But the reality is, death is something we all must face.

And if you consider how hard you already work for those you care most about – whether it is to save for your kids’ college or make your parents proud as the family’s first college grad – taking a little time now to potentially save them additional pain and financial burden in the future certainly seems worth the effort.

So, where do you begin? And who do you entrust to ensure your final wishes are met?

That’s where Dignity Memorial can step in and share the load.

As North America’s largest provider of funeral, cremation and cemetery services, Dignity has the know-how and, most importantly, the ability to listen and help you create a plan that fits your unique circumstances.

And the best part - as your life evolves and circumstances change, Dignity is right there alongside you.

Putting off pre-planning because you hope to make a move across the country in the next few years? That doesn’t have to be a barrier to making your final arrangements, since Dignity’s expansive network allows for the full transfer of your prearranged services should you more than 75 miles from the city or town in which you originally made your plans.

Worried you can’t afford to pre-plan on your fixed income or limited budget? Believe it or not, waiting will actually put much more of a strain on your finances, since the cost of funeral and cemetery services doubles every eight to 10 years.

Dignity is an inflation-proof company, meaning that when you pre-plan, your services remain locked in at the current price. Simply put, no matter when those services become necessary, you – and more importantly, your loved ones – will never be charged more money.   

And Dignity can provide in-house financing, so you skip the stress of credit checks and banks.

As strong and independent as you are through every triumph and struggle alike, we at Dignity believe you are an inspiration to others every day… whether you realize it or not. And we know you do what you do often to provide and protect the ones you love.

Give your family and friends the lasting security of knowing your final wishes have already been taken care of, so you can go back to taking on the world!

Patrick Kelly is Family Service Manager for Dignity Memorial®, which cares for more than 300,000 families each year through its network of more than 2,000 providers throughout North America. Learn more at www.dignitymemorial.com or call Greenlawn Memorial Park, Oleander Memorial Gardens and Coble-Ward Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, (910) 799-1686.