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END-OF-LIFE PLANNING & FUNERALS
Your life, your legacy, your plans.
Westwood is honored to support individuals of all ages in preparing their end-of-life arrangements. The information below is designed to assist you in navigating decisions and offers resources to help you engage and thoughtfully plan.
One of the greatest gifts family members can be given is to know your wishes concerning a service upon your death. A Celebration of Life, Memorial Service, or Funeral may be pre-planned at any time before a person’s passing. Detailed information and resources can be found below.
To view a livestream or recorded funeral, please click here -->
For support in planning your or a loved one's funeral, a member of our Pastoral Team is happy to guide you through the process. Call the church office (24/7) at 952-545-5623, and follow the directions to reach the Pastor on Call to inform the church of a death. The church will contact you to obtain information and begin the service planning process. If you are working with a Funeral Chapel, Westwood will coordinate services with them.
COLUMBARIUM
Westwood Lutheran Church has established a columbarium to provide a permanent place on the church premises for the inurnment of the cremated remains of Westwood members and their families.The Westwood Columbarium is located in the small chapel between the sanctuary and the commons.The chapel provides a private, quiet place to pray, meditate, and remember.
What is a Columbarium?
A columbarium is a liturgically proper and aesthetically pleasing group of niches that contain the cremated remains of the departed. A columbarium provides a safe, theologically correct and ecologically sound way to honor the dead. It also provides a private place for family and friends to come and pray and to remember those who have passed on to eternal life.
Who can be inurned in Westwood's columbarium?
Members and families of Westwood Lutheran Church, along with former members and friends of the congregation are eligible to be inurned at Westwood. The pastoral staff at Westwood is authorized to decide on other eligibility issues.
What is the cost of each niche?
The cost of a niche (holds up to two urns) is $2500. This includes the brass urn(s) and brass identification plate(s) that are fastened to the granite stone on the front of each niche. $500 of the cost is a tax-deductible contribution to Westwood Lutheran Church.
If you would like additional information, contact the church office at 952-545-5623.
ESTATE PLANNING & END-OF-LIFE
Estate and end-of-life planning gives people of all ages opportunities to explore topics that have been left unattended, partially completed, or not yet considered. Topics include writing an ethical will, healthcare directives, general estate planning information, financial legacy giving, pre-funeral preparations, the Westwood Columbarium, and other resources.
Legacy Giving
Resources & Recordings
Westwood has several resources, documents, and recordings from past events on important topics related to legacy giving and estate and end-of-life planning.
Learn about Westwood's Legacy Giving opportunities as you continue to plan for your future and beyond.
Westwood members and estate attorneys led several estate planning presentations specifically for 30- & 40-Somethings and a general session. These are must-see!
Westwood members shared from their ethical wills on faith, giving, wisdom, and legacy.
Sara Moran discussed critical aspects of health care directives, pre-funeral planning, and the Westwood Columbarium (see resources in the sections above).