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The Importance and Impact of Life Planning Documents
February 25 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
“I don’t want to talk about it.” “Not today.” Talking about dying is difficult. It’s a conversation many of us avoid, postpone, or put off—sometimes until it’s too late. But having these conversations with your loved ones can be a valuable gift.
We invite you to join a webinar on essential end-of-life planning topics, including wills, financial powers of attorney, and health care directives. Tim Abeska, a retired attorney and I AM ALS Volunteer Advocate, will lead the discussion. He’ll guide you through important questions: Who will speak for you if you can’t? What are your end-of-life goals? What kind of funeral do you want, and how will it be paid for?
Why is this important? At some point, we may be unable to make decisions or act on our behalf. A Power of Attorney (POA) allows you to appoint someone to manage your affairs if you become mentally or physically incapacitated. Without a POA, important tasks—like paying bills or managing your bank accounts—could go unattended. For example, if mortgage payments are missed, you could face foreclosure and lose your home.
A Healthcare Power of Attorney or Advance Medical Directive lets someone make medical decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to. These directives can also address your wishes about organ donation, donating your body to science, or funeral arrangements.
End-of-life planning is best done early, when you’re thinking clearly and reflecting thoughtfully—not in the midst of emotional turmoil.
Please join us on February 25, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. ET for this important conversation.
Bio: Tim Abeska, an attorney licensed in Indiana (1982 – present) and Michigan (1986 – 2022), is a 1982 graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School. While attending Notre Dame, Tim met his future wife, Mary Ann, a Chestertown, Maryland native who was working in Indiana at the time. In July 2015, Mary Ann was diagnosed with ALS (often called Lou Gehrig’s Disease). In 2017, Tim accelerated a planned retirement so that Mary Ann could live her last days on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
After Mary Ann died in January 2019, Tim embarked on a “second career” of volunteer work. In addition to providing pro bono legal work and service on the Boards of three legal services organizations, Tim is a Volunteer Advocate with I AM ALS, an organization which is revolutionizing how we cure ALS by empowering and mobilizing patients, engaging with policy-makers, and offering vital resources for people impacted by ALS. Tim also supports other ALS advocacy organizations.
