As family caregivers in the San Francisco Bay Area, many of you are part of the “sandwich generation,” expertly juggling careers, family, and the ever-present responsibilities of caring for aging loved ones.

This often means navigating complex terrains like downsizing, selling a senior’s home, choosing appropriate care options, and managing immense emotional stress. It’s a lot to handle—and one topic that often gets pushed aside, despite its critical importance, is end-of-life pre-planning.

A Guest with Firsthand Experience

In a recent episode of the Simplified Senior Transitions podcast, host Dale Corpus, a senior transition specialist and real estate expert based in the Bay Area, welcomed Lili Garcia, a pre-planning advisor at Dignity Memorial.

Lili’s personal journey into this field, spurred by the unexpected passing of both her parents within months of each other without pre-planned arrangements, makes her insights particularly valuable.

As the only one of four siblings in the U.S., she bore the burden of making all the decisions and covering all expenses—a stark experience that ignited her passion to educate and help others avoid similar crises. Her compassionate, clear, and dignified approach helps families make crucial decisions long before they are in crisis.

Here’s What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why pre-planning is crucial but often overlooked: People tend to be skeptical, believing they “aren’t going to die yet” or aren’t ready to talk about it, often forgetting until the burden falls entirely on their loved ones.

• Biggest misconceptions about end-of-life planning: Many believe it’s scary, too expensive, or that preparing for it means they’ll die sooner—all of which are untrue.

• Types of decisions you can make in advance: Burial vs. cremation, selecting a funeral home, and choosing cemetery property.

• The typical pre-planning process: Often starts with a casual, no-obligation conversation over coffee to explain options, discuss promotions, and offer tours.

• How pre-planning reduces stress and offers emotional benefits: Families experience significantly less stress when plans are in place, knowing it’s “just one phone call away.” Seniors gain confidence their wishes will be honored, preventing arguments among children.

• Financial implications and cost savings: It’s more expensive to wait, with no “at-need” discounts, and unexpected costs like transport can arise if plans aren’t set.

• Logistics of pre-planning: Required documentation includes ID, SSN, and payment forms. Plans can be transferred across Dignity Memorial locations in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico—but not to another individual.

• Approaching cultural or religious differences: Respecting beliefs and restrictions is central; advisors ask about preferences and work together from there.

• The vital role of adult children: They should be actively involved, understanding what’s planned and where important documents are kept.

The Unspoken Burden: Why Pre-Planning Is a Gift to Your Family

For those of us in Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, Solano, and Napa counties, managing an aging parent’s transition is already a monumental task.

The podcast highlights just how much pre-planning alleviates the overwhelming stress that often accompanies a loved one’s passing.

Lili recounted her own painful experience: without pre-planning, her parents’ deaths left her, as the only child in the U.S., to make all the difficult decisions and bear the full financial burden at a time of grief.

Conversely, she shared a story of a friend whose father had pre-planned everything. When he passed, it was simply “one phone call away” to Dignity Memorial. The professional team quickly handled the pickup, and the family only needed to choose from available times and dates for the arrangements—updating only the casket. The process was seamless and stress-free.

This was a stark contrast to another friend who, despite shopping for options, didn’t finalize plans. When her mother-in-law passed at 2:00 AM, she called Lili in a panic. The lack of pre-planning led to delays and added immense stress during an already difficult time.

For caregivers already stretched thin with downsizing and selling a senior’s home, avoiding this “at-need chaos” is invaluable. Pre-planning removes the guesswork, determines financial responsibility upfront, and eliminates potential arguments among siblings.

Making Wishes Known: What You Can Decide Now

Many are surprised to learn how expensive it is to die without pre-planning. Purchasing “at-need” means no discounts, and unexpected costs like transportation if you change funeral homes can quickly add up.

Pre-planning covers decisions such as burial or cremation, funeral home selection, and cemetery property.

Lili shared a poignant story about her own mother, who, in a casual conversation before Lili migrated, expressed a clear preference for burial over cremation. That lighthearted conversation proved invaluable when the time came.

With over 1,900 Dignity Memorial locations across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, plans can be transferred if someone moves—for example, from California to Florida. Financing is flexible, ranging from a single payment to three- or five-year plans, or even monthly installments.

Required documentation is simple: ID, social security number, payment method, and contact details for family members listed in the contract.

Starting the Conversation: It’s Never Too Early

The hardest part of pre-planning is starting the conversation. Many feel it’s “too early,” but as Lili wisely notes:

“Nothing is too early. We never know, right? An accident can happen any time.”

She shared the tragic story of a friend whose son died suddenly in an accident—proof that life is unpredictable.

Lili approaches these talks with sensitivity, offering casual, no-obligation meetings over coffee to provide information and share her personal story. She emphasizes respecting cultural and religious values, tailoring plans to each family’s beliefs.

Adult children are encouraged to be involved, know what’s been purchased, and understand where documents are stored.

Dignity Memorial also hosts Your Life, Your Legacy seminars at Bay Area restaurants and provides free one-on-one sessions. For Lili, the most rewarding part of her work is being there for families after a loss, helping them navigate with the reassurance of pre-planning.

Pre-Planning: Peace of Mind for Families

Ultimately, pre-planning is about peace of mind. It’s like setting up a GPS for a journey you know you’ll take, even if you don’t know the exact departure date.

You might not want to think about the trip, but having the route pre-programmed saves you from frantic, stressful navigation when the time comes.

👉 If your loved one is considering senior living and you need to figure out what to do with their home—whether it’s downsizing or selling—let’s talk. Schedule a FREE consultation with Dale Corpus at www.simplifyseniortransitions.com.

🎧 Listen to the full episode for more clarity and empathy, or connect with Dale directly on Instagram @soldbydale.

✉️ Got news or an amazing story to share? Email dale.corpus@exprealty.com and you might be featured in our next episode!

Watch The Podcast Here