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 provide guidance in the planning 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 then contact you to obtain information and begin the service planning process. If you are working with a Funeral Chapel, Westwood will work with them in coordinating services.
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.
How is an inurnment conducted?
Cremains are inurned in the Columbarium during a committal service conducted according to the Lutheran Order of Service. The inurnment often occurs at the close of the memorial service. However, it may be scheduled at another time.
If you would like additional information contact the church office at 952-545-5623
END-OF-LIFE PLANNING
End-of-life planning provides people of all ages with opportunities to explore topics that have been left unattended, partially completed, or yet to be considered. Topics could include writing an ethical will, healthcare directives, general information about estate planning, financial legacy giving, establishing pre-funeral logistics preparations in advance of your funeral, the Westwood Columbarium, and other resources.
Legacy Giving
Resources & Recordings
If you could not attend the series on critical topics such as estate planning, health care directives, funeral preparation, burial choices, and financial legacy giving, you can access several resources and documents below, including recordings of several events.​​
Learn about Westwood's Legacy Giving opportunities as you continue to plan for your future and beyond.
​A panel of Westwood members shared portions of their recently written ethical wills on faith, giving, wisdom, and their legacies.
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Ruthanne Vos, Westwood member and estate attorney, led an estate planning presentation and discussion. A must-see for all ages!
Sara Moran discussed critical aspects of health care directives, pre-funeral planning, and the Westwood Columbarium.