A Victoria grandmother with the heart of a peacemaker and a knack for film production has come up with a novel way for grieving families to avoid feuds after the death of a loved one.
Barbara Strachan films legacy messages to augment the cold language of legal wills, allowing people to make clear who is to receive what in terms of property and possessions and, more importantly, why.
People can also emphasize how they want their remains dealt with, give reasons for their decisions and pass on advice they want to leave to their surviving relatives.
It may also be a way to patch things up with estranged family members, says Strachan.
The former elementary school principal and librarian, who retired to Victoria four years ago from Ontario, says the service helps families avoid arguments over last wishes they might not fully understand.
"If the family members have not visited with the writer of the will recently, they may wonder if the person was fully mentally alert when making the decisions," says Strachan.
But while they do provide some context, the videos can't replace a legal, written will. "It doesn't make the will any more valid," Victoria lawyer Jacqueline Horton said yesterday. "But it's a much more personal way of presenting your last wishes."
There are dramatized examples on Strachan's website at www.familyvideolinks.com.
Strachan also encourages newly diagnosed Alzheimer's patients to create messages while they are still able to articulate their end-of-life wishes and express affection to loved ones.
Strachan, Horton and Joy McKerr, a Victoria lifestyles coach, are collaborating on a series of free workshops for seniors on life and estate planning, elder law, home downsizing and legacy messages.
The first is set for Saturday, March 31, 10 a.m. to noon, at Genesis Law Group, 1127 Fort St.
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2007