‘their members.
become a lifetime member for a.
“.. $10 fee,

44 - Sunday, December 1, 1991 —- North Shore News

HELP’S AT HAND

HELP’S AT Hand, by North
Shore Community Services
(NSCS), is a forusn for discussing
government policies and  pro-
grams, benefils, consumer and
legal rights, taxation and public
services.

Answers are intended only as a
general guide and should not be
applied to individual cases without
further consultation.

Question: I am as elderly per-
son in reasonably good health, but
I am thinking about things that I
can do to relieve my family of the
Stress, of making decisions about
funcral errangements after I die.

As a pensioner, I'm also con-
cerned about the cost of a funeral.
I have heard that there is some
group that people can belong to
that will reduce funeral expenses.
Is this trne?

Answer: Your concern for the
people you leave behind is a
common one. So often, survivors
are left to make decisions with the
uneasy feeling that it may not be
what their loved one would have
wanted,

The simplest thing you can do is

tell one or more people who are’

. Close to you about what your
wishes are. Or if that seems too
‘difficult, you could consider writ-

_ing down some points and putting -

‘them in a safe place, or even ask-
ing your doctor. to hold them in
your medical file. ,

The most common decisions —

will be about burial versus crema-
tion and the type of service, you
want, if any. Do not, however,
keep such information in a safety
deposit box, which upon- your

death will be closed until your _

estate is settled. aan
The society you have. heard
about is the Memorial Society of
British Columbia (MSOBC) and
they will hold this information for
their members. They are a non-
profit society with the goal of
keeping funeral prices down for

The MSOBC does not provide

funeral services themselves, but-
negotiates for reduced rates on -

behaif of their members with First
Memorial Funeral Services
(FMFS), who would then handle
the arrangements in cooperation
‘with -your family. Depending on
the type of service requested,
membership could save you up to
$400 in expenses.

When you become a member,
you will receive an identification
card and a designation form in the
mail. The card is to be carried
with you and you must complete
the form.

‘Part of the form involves com-
pleting vital statistic information
such as your birthplace and names
of your parents. Having this in-

Theatre group
opens season

MOODYVILLE THEATRE is
back with a production of Alan
Ayckbourn’s Absurd: Person Sin-
gular just in time for the holiday
season.

The cast includes Liduin Cur-
rell, Glen Thompson, Terry
Winkleman, Frank Manuel, Dolly
Scarr and Martin Keller. The play,
opening on Monday, is directed

by artistic director Don S..

Williams.

The company’s second produc-
tion of the season will be The
Garden Party by Czechoslovakian
playwright, Vaclav Havel.

For its third season the com-
pany has taken up residency in the
Edgewood Road Playhouse at
Handsworth School. The theatre
company works with students,
providing them with the experi-
ence of working with thedtre pro-
fessionals.

For ticket information, phone
929-2766.

Anyone can .

formation on file will help in the
registration of death, which is re-
quired before cremation or burial
can take place.

You will also specify what type
of funeral arrangement you want,
whether you wish to be buried or
cremated, and any details about
your church, clergy, music choices
and memorial service, or no ser-
vice if that is your wish.

Many people are not aware that
they have the choice of not having
a funeral service at all, or of hav-
ing their service at home.

In a case like that, the funeral
home would take care of the
paperwork required, such as ac-
quiring the death certificate and
ensuring that the body is placed in
a “rigid container,’ as required
by law.

The option of pre-paying your
funeral is also discussed, giving
you the choice of paying at the
current rate, regardless of how
many years pass between now and
the time of death.

h
Shopping at Belles

Once your form is completed,
one copy is sent to FMFS and the
second is filed with your next of
kin or executor.

Your wishes may change with
time, and if they do, you would
simply 2." the MSOBC office for
a replacement designation form.

The designation form, while it
is not a Icgally binding document,
will fulfil your desire to inform
your family of your wishes.

In the event that changes in ar-
rangements are required, for ex-
ample, due to a shortage of funds
in your estate, the executor of
your wili can make those deci-
sions.

For more information or to
become a member, you can con-
tact MSOBC at Room 410 - 207
West Hastings St. in Vancouver,
or call 688-6256.

This column is prepared with
financial assistance from the
Notary Foundation. For more in-
formation call NSCS at 985-7138.

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THE CORPORATION OF THE
CITY OF NORTH VANCOUVER

PROVINCIAL HOME-OWNER
GRANT ACT

Property owners are reminded that the deadline
for applications for the 1991 Provincial Home-
Owner Grant is 4:30 p.m. December 31, 1991.
The Home-Owner Grant may be claimed by eligi-
ble owners without payment of taxes due.

For further information phone the Tax Office at
983-7316.

A.K. Tolistam

City Hall
Treasurer-Coliector

141 West 14th Street
North Vancouver, B.C.

V7M 1H9

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