Navigating End of Life with Commitment to Dignity

Brooke Benjamin & Russ Henrichsen Funeral Directors at Inclusive Funeral Care

At Midwest Care Management , we step into some of the most vulnerable moments of a person’s life when we are appointed as guardians or serving as Power of Attorney. That responsibility does not end when life does. For many of our clients, we are the ones making final arrangements, and sometimes, we are the only familiar faces when we say goodbye.

Recently, we had the privilege of welcoming Brooke Benjamin, co-owner of Inclusive Funeral Care, to speak with our team about funeral planning, dignity at the end of life, and how her mission aligns closely with ours.

Brooke has been a funeral director in Chicago for over 30 years. She founded Inclusive Funeral Care to offer highly personalized, low-cost alternatives to the traditional funeral home industry. Her philosophy is simple and powerful: celebrating a life and making final arrangements for a body should offer peace and not cause financial hardship.

The Five Key Conversations in Funeral Planning

Brooke outlined five essential talking points in funeral planning:

1. Care and handling of the body Decisions about viewing (public or private), burial clothing, keepsakes such as hair clippings or thumbprints, and other personal requests.

2. Disposition options Choices may include burial, traditional cremation (fire), or green cremation (water and alkaline solution). She also discussed anatomical donation, recommending careful research and pointing to the Anatomical Gift Association as a reliable clearinghouse for ethical donation programs. Human composting is not yet legal in Illinois but there is momentum.

3. Navigating bureaucracy The “business of dying” includes exploring death and veteran benefits, estate administration, and managing paperwork.

4. Celebrating the person’s life Whether through a formal service, a small gathering, or a quiet moment of remembrance, honoring the life lived matters deeply, especially when family is absent.

5. Aftercare Supporting those left behind, even if that circle is small.

   
   

For our team, these conversations are not abstract. They are practical, emotional, and deeply human. We have the experience required to honor a person's wishes, quickly coordinate arrangements, and administer the remaining duties with efficiency and care.

Cultural Literacy Matters

One of the most meaningful parts of the conversation was about cultural competency. Funeral traditions vary widely — from the significance of clothing in Ghanaian traditions to Jewish ritual washing (Tahara). A funeral provider must understand and respect these practices. Brooke articulated why it's important to take the time to acknowledge the uniqueness of the deceased: the individuality of their personality, and the uniqueness of their life's path.

As guardians, we often hold the responsibility of ensuring that a client’s cultural and religious identity is honored, even when no family is present to advocate for those traditions. The life stories of our clients become a part of our story as well.

Lake Michigan Scatterings & New Technologies

Brooke also discussed practical considerations around scattering cremated remains. In Illinois, scattering on public property is illegal. On Lake Michigan, remains must be scattered at least one mile offshore. Her firm offers an annual boat scattering service for families who choose that option. She even shared emerging technologies such as “parting stones,” where cremated remains are solidified into smooth stones, offering an alternative way to engage with remains.

Supporting Clients on Medicaid

As guardians, we sometimes work with clients who have limited support and resources — individuals on Medicaid, residents of nursing homes, or people without family support. Brooke’s approach affirms what we believe: every person deserves respect, thoughtful care, and a meaningful goodbye, regardless of income.

In Illinois, individuals receiving the highest level of public assistance may qualify for a $2,100 death benefit through the state. Brooke explained how her firm works directly with the state for reimbursement when a person is indigent and there is no family to contribute to arrangements.

She also walked us through prepaid funeral planning for Medicaid recipients. Illinois allows individuals to place approximately $8,800 into an irrevocable funeral trust that does not count against asset limits. While state law requires that 50% of prepaid funds (minus $5) be placed into trust, Inclusive Funeral Care places 100% (minus $5) into trust — protecting clients and freezing the funeral home’s service prices (though third-party costs like death certificates are not frozen). This transparency and client protection align closely with our own fiduciary responsibilities as guardians.

Veteran Benefits

We were also reminded that honorably discharged veterans are entitled to a free grave and outer burial container in a national cemetery, along with a government-issued headstone. While the stone itself is provided, cemeteries typically charge a fee to set the foundation. There may also be a modest state death benefit available in Illinois.

For guardians serving veterans, understanding these benefits is critical to honoring both service and dignity.

Why This Matters to Us

Our work is about more than managing finances and coordinating care. It is about standing in the gap when no one else can. It is about honoring a life fully, including at its end.

We are grateful to Brooke Benjamin and Inclusive Funeral Care for sharing their expertise, transparency, and commitment to ethical, dignified care. Their willingness to facilitate meaningful ceremonies, work with Medicaid reimbursement, protect prepaid arrangements, and respect cultural traditions makes them a valuable partner in the work we do.

Every life deserves to be acknowledged. Every person deserves dignity. And even when we are the only ones present, we will continue to show up with care, respect, and honor.