As humans, we have a natural curiosity about death. We want to know what comes next as much as we want reassurance that we are making the most of the life we have been given.
Perhaps this is why the subject of last words is something many people find fascinating. Whether profound, mundane, last words carry a lot of weight.
According to Steve Jobs’s sister, the Apple founder’s last words were, “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.”
On her way to the guillotine, former French Queen Marie-Antoinette accidentally stepped on the foot of her executioner. Her last words were “Pardonnez-moi, monsieur. Je ne l’ai pas fait exprès” or “Pardon me, sir, I did not do it on purpose.”
After helping to defeat the Nazis in Europe, WWII Gen. George Patton was paralyzed in a car crash in December 1945. As he lay dying, this man who had survived the horrors of war remarked, “This is a hell of a way to die.”
Harriet Tubman, the famed abolitionist and conductor of the Underground Railroad, gathered her family around her as she lay dying. They also sang together, and Tubman’s last words were the fitting “Swing low, sweet chariot.”
Famed author Jane Austin died at just 41 of a painful, mystery illness. She told her brother, “I want nothing, but death.”
Elvis supposedly told his fiance, “I’m going to the bathroom to read.” Hours later he was found dead on the bathroom floor.
While members of the Palmer & Slay team are not present when our clients pass away, we can help you craft the parting words, wisdom, and wishes you leave with your loved ones. A well-crafted estate plan can help you tell your loved ones how much you care about them, even after you are gone.
Your estate plan itself is an implicit message to your loved ones. Passing on your wealth to the next generation shows how much you value your family. Giving money or other assets to non-profit organizations leaves a lasting legacy.
It is also possible to leave behind an actual written or video statement to be shared with your loved ones after you are gone. These statements can be included in your packet of estate planning documents so your loved ones are sure to come across them. However, it is important that any statement you leave compliments your estate plan. It can create a lot of problems for your family if something you say in a statement does not match up with your official estate plan. If leaving a message to your loved ones is important to you, Palmer & Slay’s experienced team of estate planning attorneys is here for you. We help families in the Brandon, Mississippi area and beyond craft custom plans that lay out their last requests and show their loved ones just how much they care. Please contact us today to schedule a meeting with our team.