Adapted extracts from a letter from Maggie of Cambridge.
Why is it that the traditional funeral announcement says "family flowers only but donations to charity" We are in an age when invitations to weddings are accompanied by wedding lists from department stores such as Debenhams. Young people today expect a fully furnished home immediately. But the elderly who are dying today have often had to struggle all their lives. They are less likely to have a company pension and more likely to be reliant only on a state pension.
When a partner dies, they lose half the pension - but it costs the same to heat and light the home and cook the meal; and bills such as the phone rental, TV licence and house insurance cost the same. One person does not live cheaper than two.
So why can't the funeral announcement state that donations can be made to the surviving partner? This is the done thing in the case of a disaster, but not where there is a natural death - which is a disaster to the surviving partner who, in his or her final years, should not have financial worries in my view.
I sent my neighbour some money and said it was for the 'John Smith Fund'. I must have worded it correctly because the old boy was very grateful and has said what a nice idea it was. It has led to a discussion about why the funeral directors could not accept donations towards the funeral expenses for instance.
I would like to start a campaign to make this more acceptable. Charity begins at home.
If charities feel that they will miss out, then I suggest that they turn their attention to the department store wedding lists. I have heard of folk invited to weddings being so annoyed by what is being asked for these days that they refuse to attend the wedding. Relatives annoyed by a couple asking for extravagant gifts would be the types to give to charity instead.
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