Karen Mahoney

Karen and Ed Mahoney

“So what are your plans for your finances after you die?” is not generally a dinner table discussion. It’s not often a discussion at all as folks don’t want to think about their demise, let alone what will happen to all their “stuff.”

Shortly after we got married, Ed and I felt the need to put together a will. Truthfully, it was to set up guardianship for the kids, should we pass away, but dealing with our accounts and assets obviously became part of that equation.

I’m a cradle Catholic, and Ed went through RCIA in 2002. Our will has changed a few times over the past 20 years, but one thing has been constant: the Catholic Church has been designated to receive a part of our estate.

The decision for us was pretty easy—we are simply giving back to the Church that has given us so much, more than we could repay financially. The Catholic Church is known worldwide for its relief services. Catholic charities are some of the best and most efficient relief organizations.

Our local St. Vincent de Paul chapters, our Catholic schools (shout out to St. Ignatius—I’m a little biased—and Bishop Kelly) and their respective foundations and the programs offered by the diocese throughout the state are all striving to make the world a better place.

Being Catholic is part of the fiber of my being, and making the decision to give back to that organization when we die was super easy.

Estate planning is an important project. By including the Idaho Catholic Church, you’ll be leaving a legacy that reflects your values and is aligned with your Catholic faith. To learn more, please visit www.idahocatholicfoundation.org or contact Margaret Hampton at (208) 342-1311, ext. 5139 or mhampton@rcdb.org.