“FAREWELLING” online platform launches to transform funerals

Today marks the launch of Farewelling (myfarewelling.com), a comprehensive digital platform that connects people with inspiring content, tools and resources around a typically taboo topic: death and dying. Spearheaded by renowned entertaining expert Karen Bussen and acclaimed funeral director Elizabeth Meyer Karansky, the category-creating brand is set to transform the end-of-life experience into “farewelling,” a new way to think about, talk about and plan for one of life most personal journeys. Approaching the subject with a heavy dose of wit, humanity and even humor, the platform aims to provide users with everything they need to personalize the end-of-life experience in a more modern and streamlined way.

With 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 each day and funerals set to increase from 2.5 million to 3.5 million annually by 2030 according to the National Funeral Directors Association, the $24 billion funeral industry is certainly not a dying market. Yet, the conversation around death has not evolved. The brand hopes to move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to not only provide resources and inspiration, but permission to create a send-off that is fitting of the individual. The Farewelling platform offers free assistance for those currently planning a funeral or end-of-life celebration, as well as well as those who want to make future plans for themselves or a loved one.

The Farewelling platform offers free assistance for those currently planning a funeral or end-of-life celebration,as well as well as those who want to make future plans for themselves or a loved one. Articles and blog content offering advice and inspiration, personalized checklists and detailed vendor listings are among the first elements to launch, making it easy for people to plan a farewelling that is uniquely their own. A highlight of Farewelling is a thought-provoking podcast featuring interviews with industry experts, regular people and notable figures – such as Mo Rocca, whose book “Mobituaries” based on his podcast of the same name came out November 5th – and unique content such as interviewee’s preferred playlists and “final fashion” selections for their own funerals.

The duo breathing new life into the industry of death are women who don’t appear to fit the mold. Looking more fashionista than funeral industry figurehead, NYC-based Bussen and Karansky both fell into the business of death by happenstance. Karansky’s interest started after planning her father’s unconventional funeral -complete with Rolling Stones music, elaborate flowers and a personalized eulogy - leading her to the realization that she had a flair for helping others cope with grief and providing unique send-offs. She pursued her passion working at an elite Manhattan funeral home, an experience she detailed in her memoir Good Mourning. Similarly, entertaining guru and author Bussen began to explore the category when a family member received a cancer diagnosis, forcing her to confront the possibility of death and how it affects all facets of life.

Together, the women recognized that there really was no central resource for fresh ideas and guidance to help people at all stages and ages plan for the end-of-life experience or decide the best path for their loved ones. Parlaying their combined personal and professional experience, they partnered to create the platform they each wish they had during their respective journeys. Today, they provide some answers to questions common to many preparing for their end of life experience.

Should you pay in advance?

You should 100% plan your funeral in advance. There are multiple ways to pay for your funeral in advance. Since all come with pros and cons, we have a few thoughts for you to consider before making this large investment. Before diving in, it’s important to note that many applicable laws vary by state- some are more protective of consumers- it’s critical that you know the laws in your state before signing any paperwork.

Our best suggestion would be setting up a simple savings or a Totten Trust and naming a loved one as your beneficiary. We urge you to do this as you can put in as much or as little money as you want. The nice part is that you can constantly add to the account knowing your money is safe, secure, and yours to manage until it is used for your funeral.

Do funeral homes offer monthly payment programs?

Most often, they do not offer monthly payment programs.

Is it worth getting funeral insurance? Why or Why not?

Again, we urge you to pre-plan your funeral. Whether or not you think it’s worth getting funeral insurance is a personal decision. There are pros and cons you should look into before making this investment. We love that purchasing funeral insurance means that you are planning your funeral! Funeral insurance is intended to work the same way life insurance does- you make payments over time and then the company will pay a lump sum to the funeral home when the time comes. While this seems ideal, again, there are a few questions you should ask and deeply consider before purchasing funeral insurance.

“As a generally happy person who celebrates life daily as a wedding planner, I was hesitant to pivot from love to death,” said Karen Bussen, Co-Founder & CEO, Farewelling. “But the more I pursued it, I realized therewere many synergies between these life events and that there was a real opportunity to help others navigate this important and under-served market. I hope to use my experience to shift the paradigm of the end-of-life experience and help people not only honor their loved ones who have passed, but to embrace life while they’re living.”

Elizabeth Meyer Karansky, Farewelling’s Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, hopes to change the conversation. “Removing the stigma of speaking about and planning for death will hopefully help people understand that taking control of end-of-life decisions can be empowering and even comforting, allowing them to own their narrative and reduce stress for loved ones,” said Karansky. “Our goal is to connect people with the tools they need to become educated consumers so that they can easily personalize celebrations of their own and spark meaningful conversations about a topic that was previously taboo.”

Key offerings debuting at the site’s launch include:

● Provider Marketplace - A searchable network of funeral providers initially in three markets (NY, LAand San Francisco), with selected "e;preferred"e; listings that aim to transform--and humanize--the way in which we view funeral homes. Additional markets to be rolled out in the future.

● Personalized Checklists - Targeted checklists designed for various farewelling situations including, but not limited to, families who have just experienced a loss, those who want to communicate their wishes ahead of time and those planning from the standpoint of a difficult diagnosis.

● Inspiration & Advice: Farewelling 101 - A well of content with a modern voice designed to help users learn to see end-of-life planning as an extension of living with intention.

● Lately Blog – A modern blog featuring content around all aspects of farewelling including industry news and innovation, culture, inspiration and personal stories on topics from basic planning to mindful grief.

● Farewelling: The Podcast - A ground-breaking interview show hosted by Farewelling Co-Founder and CEO Karen Bussen engaging experts, celebrities, and regular folks in conversation over cocktails about death, dying and the human experience.

As the site grows, additional partnerships with industry providers from legal services and travel providers to florists, decor and stationery will be unveiled to further enhance the user experience.

About Farewelling

Spearheaded by renowned entertaining expert Karen Bussen and acclaimed funeral director Elizabeth Meyer Karansky, Farewelling (myfarewelling.com) is a comprehensive digitial platform that seamlessly connects people with inspiring content, tools and resources around a typically taboo topic: death and dying. The category-creating, women-owned brand is set to transform the end-of-life experience into “farewelling,” a newway to think about, talk about and plan for one of life's most personal journeys. Based in New York City,

Farewelling launched in November 2019.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram/Facebook: @myfarewelling