Reece’s guide helping families with end-of-life planning

Feb. 28--NORMAL -- After the death of her husband, Sonja Reece began pulling together her own health, financial, household and end-of-life planning information.

"I wanted to make it easier for Jay (her son) so he would know how to manage my affairs when that time comes," she said.

"My husband Jerry's death was sudden and it was a reminder that we don't get a notice that we will no longer be able to manage our affairs," Reece said.

What Reece developed for herself and her family has become a guide for hundreds of Central Illinoisans trying to organize their records for themselves and family members.

"Sonja's Grab and Go Book: An Emergency Reference Guide for Family" has led to Reece developing a presentation about how to develop a similar guide. She has made that presentation before several civic, church and business groups since spring 2013, arming hundreds of people with information on assembling their vital records.

"It's resonating with people," said Cathy Pratt, a Bloomington lawyer whose work includes estate planning.

"All of us know we ought to be doing this," Reece said at the dining room table of her Normal home, with her guide open in front of her. "But people didn't have a framework or model.

"This provides the structure and people see the advantage of it," she said.

Reece, 75, is director of health facilities planning for Advocate BroMenn Medical Center and is a member of the Normal Town Council. But her guide work has been a personal journey done on her own time.

Jerry Reece died Dec. 13, 2010, and Sonja gradually realized that she could do a better job preparing her family in case she suddenly became ill, injured or died.

"I began to pull a few things together (in 2012) and it started to grow," she said.

Reece's guide, which she keeps in a three-ring binder, includes 32 categories of information.

"This is my book first," Reece said. When she needs to grab her medication list, update her insurance information, call a repairman or even find an extra set of keys, she goes to her guide, which she keeps handy in her home.

Secondly, the book is for family. "Jay knows how to find it," she said.

"If I'm in the hospital with a stroke, the utilities still have to be paid, so here's a list of the companies and how to pay them. Home repair work may need to get done, so here's who I like to use. Here's the vet information (for her cat). Here's an extra set of keys to the car."

Last spring, Reece mentioned her guide to Charlotte Talkington of Bloomington, chairwoman of the Money Smart Week curriculum committee. Talkington asked Reece if she'd do a presentation on her guide for one of the money week classes.

"The greatest gift we can give our loved ones is to have our wishes in writing," Talkington said.

Reece expected 20 people to show up. About 75 attended, Talkington said.

Reece knew she had struck a chord. Since then, she has done several other presentations before hundreds of people.

"I went to go hear Sonja but then I realized that there were things in there (her guide) that I hadn't done," admitted Harlan Geiser, founder of Integrity Technology Solutions.

"You gotta cover all the bases," Geiser advised. "If you don't want to do it for yourself, think about your spouse, children, grandchildren, co-workers. You need to make sure that the people around you are well taken care of and the best way to do that is to have an orderly transition."

Without information available, family arguments can erupt during an already emotional time, he said.

For people who find Reece's 32-category guide intimidating, Geiser advises "Pick one or two things and get 'em done. Then, the next month, added a couple more things." Continue that progression.

Reece said her low-tech binder works for her but realizes others may prefer scanning their information into their computer and having it on a disc.

"Either approach is fine," Pratt said. "Just do it."

Tax time is a good time to begin the process because financial information already is out, Pratt suggested.

Reece, Talkington, Geiser and Pratt agree that all adults should develop a guide. Unfortunately, tragedy can strike at any age. A guide may be especially helpful for a young family.

"We never know when our day will come," Reece said.

___

(c)2014 The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Ill.)

Visit The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Ill.) at www.pantagraph.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services