Download a study guide for this article at www.thelutheran.org (click on “study guides”).


conversation ever.” “When I told my siblings, they


were floored,” she said. But if she hadn’t, Jackson


wouldn’t have known everything that her father wanted when he died of cancer two years ago. Te family followed his wishes,


all the way down to his last moments. “He said he didn’t want anyone to watch him die. He didn’t want anyone touching him. He wanted to be alone,” said Jackson, whose relief at having known what her dad wanted and being able to honor that is palpable. Her mother, she said, is the


opposite. When her time comes, she wants family members surrounding her and singing hymns. “Tey were night and day of


what their wishes were. We would have never known that,” Jackson said. “My dad didn’t want to talk about it aſter that conversation, and he didn’t have to. We followed all his wishes. We did it right. Difficult as it was, we also laughed. It was meaningful. It was interesting. I had no idea.” Jackson is 55 and her husband


is 60. Tey’ve done their advance directives as well, and had lively discussions with their 20-something daughters. “We’re all on the same page,” she said.


A gift & blessing “Consider your family. Tis is a giſt,” Jackson said. “Look ahead at what can happen if you don’t have this laid out. You’re saving them from second-guessing. Ten they can be present with you and not have to worry about whether they’re doing what you wish. And it can save arguments between siblings. It works.” “Giſt” and “blessing” are the words folks at Gundersen use to


Gundersen, which includes the former Lutheran hospital, leads the way not only in Wisconsin but nationwide in helping people craft documentation that outlines how they want to die.


NORTH AMERICA’S


PREMIER ORGAN BUILDING & SERVICE FIRMS


Please call or email for our 64 page full color prospectus


Get Real


Are you purchasing real sound or recorded sounds?


...real pipes last for centuries.


1-800-473-5270 APOBA.COM


March 2015 29


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52