In today’s episode, I sit down with Andrea Resnick of Legacy Concierge, a licensed funeral director, fourth generation funeral director, and funeral consultant. Andrea helps families navigate one of the most emotional and avoided subjects they’ll ever face death, funerals, and preplanning. From burial timing to casket selection, cemetery plots to celebration-of-life services, Andrea’s role is to educate, coordinate every moving piece, and guide families so they can focus on grieving, not logistics.
They also discuss why people avoid talking about death, how preplanning reduces stress, what makes Jewish funerals unique, the difference between a plot and a grave, what perpetual care really covers, veterans’ benefits families miss, and why the biggest takeaway is simple: having the conversation now helps you live better.
Timeline Summary
- 00:00 – Introduction of Andrea Resnick of Legacy Concierge and her background as a fourth generation licensed funeral director who never planned to enter the business.
- 00:54 – Welcome to Unlocking Senior Resources podcast with host Larry Wagner.
- 01:37 – Andrea explains her role as a funeral consultant and how corporate event planning led her to funerals.
- 03:50 – Why “time” is the critical factor in both pre-need and at-need consulting.
- 05:31 – Jewish funeral timing pressures and how that impacts families and funeral homes.
- 07:28 – Larry shares his experience losing both parents, not preplanning, and arranging a 24-hour burial during Covid.
- 09:15 – Cultural differences in grieving: Shiva, wakes, Baptist funerals, and learning from services outside her faith.
- 12:00 – Who Andrea helps: seniors planning for themselves and adult children planning for parents.
- 13:25 – Andrea’s process: 15-minute consults, asking the right questions, and warm introductions to vendors.
- 14:49 – What is a plot vs. a grave? Family plots, single spaces, and what you’re actually buying.
- 16:06 – Coordinating funeral homes, cemeteries, florists, and more “the mayor of this village.”
- 19:28 – Do shade plots cost more? Cemetery pricing and why funeral homes can’t own cemeteries.
- 21:39 – Perpetual care explained: what it covers, blue stickers, and why some plots look uncared for.
- 24:05 – Questions to expect: death certificate info, mother’s maiden name, veteran status, service preferences.
- 26:12 – New York interment options: burial, cremation, human composting, and backyard rules.
- 27:57 – Clothing, shrouds, and tallit: details that matter but get missed last-minute.
- 29:25 – Larry’s story about his father’s tallis and why preplanning avoids regrets.
- 33:00 – Veterans’ benefits: why many families never claim them.
- 35:07 – Bagpipes, celebrants, and the rise of celebration-of-life services vs. traditional funerals.
- 36:55 – Eulogizing loved ones while alive: Larry’s father’s 90th birthday and the power of saying it now.
- 44:09 – Mourning is for the living. Preplanning lets families grieve instead of scramble.
- 47:52 – Caskets, vaults, and gauges: why “simple pine box” is the most traditional option.
- 52:23 – Vertical burial, society plots, and how cemetery space is changing.
- 54:09 – Preplanning vs. prepaying: you don’t have to pay today, but get your ducks in a row.
- 56:38 – Celebrants vs. clergy: Andrea’s training to officiate non-religious services.
- 01:00:44 – Andrea’s takeaway: talk about death and funerals. It helps you live.
- 01:01:19 – How to reach Andrea at Legacy Concierge.
5 Key Takeaways
- Talk About It Now Having the conversation before a crisis lets you grieve instead of scrambling for details.
- Time Is Critical In Jewish funerals especially, timing drives every decision. Preplanning buys breathing room.
- You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know A plot isn’t a grave, perpetual care has limits, and benefits go unclaimed. An advisor fills those gaps.
- It’s the People, Not the Place The staff and care at a funeral home or cemetery matter more than the building.
- Celebrate the Life Services are shifting toward personalized celebrations that honor the person, from bagpipes to eulogies while alive.
Links and Resources:
- Learn about Legacy Concierge
- Website: http://legacyconciergellc.com
- Email: andrea@legacyconciergellc.com
- Phone: (516) 987-8639
- Location: 205 E 95 Street New York, NY 10128
Learn about Leave The Key Homebuyers Senior Transition Service:
- Website: https://leavethekey.com/seniors
- Phone: (631) 380-4262
Final Thoughts
The best time to plan a funeral is before you need one. Having the conversation now removes stress later and lets you honor your loved one the way they deserve. If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, share, and leave a review. These conversations help families make informed decisions before a crisis forces the conversation.
