Let’s plan for your big sleep.

Ensure your wishes are carried out and make the planning of your death much easier for those you’ll leave behind.

What is death planning anyways?

Before going on a big trip, you might hire a travel planner. After getting engaged, you might hire a wedding planner. Well, the same idea applies to your death.

A death plan is a comprehensive process that encompasses all the preparations for when you pass away, both before and after death, and is designed to reduce the burden on your family and friends. It includes a wide range of topics, from end-of-life wishes, digital legacy planning, emotional and family considerations, dependants and pets, funeral and burial planning, as well as making sure medical things like living wills and advanced directives are in place. 

We’ve heard of making a will and checking off a bucket list before you “take the big bus uptown”, but what are the smaller details that need to be discussed? What accounts need to be closed, what outfit do you want to wear, what music do you want played? Do you even want a funeral at all?

Most people have never thought about these sorts of questions and they don’t know the answers off the top of their head, which means those answers have not been communicated or written down for those around them to meaningfully plan and execute on their ideal pre, during, and post-death experience.

I’m here to help change that. I’m here to ask you questions so I can record your desires, wishes, fears, needs and anything in-between, so when your time comes, the people around you have one less thing to worry about because they know how to make your last big event exactly how you wanted it.

Some of the questions we will talk through…

  • “What do you want to be remembered for?"

  • “Let’s imagine the most ideal way of dying for you.”

  • "What condition of living is worse than dying?"

  • “Who will take care of your pets after you die?”

  • “What do you want to happen to your body after you die?”

  • “What outfit do you want to be wearing?”

  • “How do you want to be remembered or celebrated?”

  • “What are you most afraid of?”

Testimonials

  • "Completing this plan was as important, if not more so, than updating my will.

    A will is essential to provide written instructions for distributing physical assets -- after death. But now I also have a document clarifying other key requests, such as preferences before dying as well as for my funeral, burial, memorial service, how I'd like to be remembered, whom to contact, and favorite memories to share, etc.

    The planning exercise by Emily was sobering, yet extremely clarifying and helpful. She was well organized, knowledgeable, considerate, professional and readily accessible throughout the process. I can't recommend Emily, and her planning process, highly enough."

    -Tom, Rochester NY

  • "It was very easy to talk about death with Emily.

    Everything felt relaxed and natural, she’s a very good listener and manages to extract the main lines from a scattered conversation.

    As she has had personal experience of confronting death she’s able to give excellent advise which will be adapted to each individual case.

    I felt very much at ease to discuss this normally difficult subject with Emily and it helped me to point out essential technical and practical aspects concerning organization after death to my daughter.

    Thank you so much for this valuable and unique experience spent with you Emily!"

    -Maija, Nice France

  • "Emily’s first value is in having the insight to offer what she does - I’ve never thought about proactively arranging the particulars of my death before, but immediately saw the value.

    You might wonder, “who wants to think about death before you have to?” but I say, “who wants to plan all the particulars while dealing with the emotions of dying?”

    Working proactively with Emily is much easier, and she and her approach make it even easier than expected to talk about. She can relate to me, and her questions are empathetic yet practical, cutting through the dark veil that keeps our death shrouded in shadows, mystery, and fear. She replaced those with a light, pleasant, yet valuably meaningful experience and I’m grateful to have worked with her."

    -Dan, Buffalo NY

  • "I recently met with Emily regarding my end of life wishes. She and I met 1:1 twice and then we met with my children.

    Emily was kind and respectful and a great listener and had very insightful questions guiding me through a very thought-provoking process.

    In the end, I feel confident that my children will never say, "I wonder what mom wanted" because Emily has helped our family put together my wishes for a well thought out end of life and final resting plan.

    While we might not always think of such a service, I’m relieved to know that I went through this process to make what could be a very difficult time little easier on my family."

    -Eileen, Buffalo NY

  • “This is such a wonderful and much needed service! I don't think many people take the time to do this, but it is really valuable.

    Emily led me through a set of thoughtful questions that allowed me to clarify many things for myself and for my loved ones. She did it in a compassionate and open way that will work well for almost everyone. In the end, I feel grateful that my wishes are now documented in a way that makes sense to me and will help my people in the future. There is a sense of peace that comes with this process.

    After benefitting from this service, I have talked about my positive experience with many people. The biggest recommendation is that my wife is now pursuing her own Plan Big Sleep sessions.

    Thank you Emily and Plan Big Sleep!”

    -Vic, Rochester NY