My wife and I are always surprised by the reluctance of our friends and associates to deal pragmatically with the only certainty in our lives: our passing away.

My wife and I are always surprised by the reluctance of our friends and associates to deal pragmatically with the only certainty in our lives: our passing away. Many of them think it is bad luck to even touch on the topic. We have done almost all the things you recommend in your list. Many thanks for taking the trouble to outline them in explicit fashion. Having gone through the ordeal of settling matters after my father's untimely death, I cannot emphasise strongly enough how important it is that we fulfil this responsibility to our surviving family and heirs.