By Esther Clark Human beings almost universally celebrate the beginning of life, but sometimes choose to ignore the approaching end. While completely understandable, this tendency may leave loved ones with the burden of arranging and paying for a final service during a time of grief and emotional turmoil. Preplanning a funeral helps minimize that pressure. Helping their loved ones escape additional emotional issues during a difficult time is, for many people, the most obvious benefit of making concrete plans in advance. That result is vitally important, but of equal value are the practical benefits stemming from planning ahead, especially for those still anticipating a long life. People often have very specific personal preferences about burial, cremation, or even the type and tone of a final service. Formally making those decisions known in advance eliminates leaving them up to others, who may have different expectations. It is not only thoughtful, but also a practical and ...