I can't understand the number of family or friends putting their hands out to the community to pay for their family member's funerals. Why didn't her car insurance pay for the deaths of the two Bolanos children killed when their mother tried to beat the train? Was she an insured driver?

We have always had life insurance on our children. Why? If they die, it is our responsibility to pay for their funeral, not our family, friends, neighbors and community.

There might be some families who cannot afford life insurance, although we pay only $125 annually for $25,000 coverage. But too many families just don't want to "waste" the money; it won't happen to them, and they want their cable TV, alcohol, cell phones for everyone with huge minute plans and other un-necessities.

Asking the community to help should be reserved for catastrophic events due to no fault of the family, like an illness. I even remember a past request printed in an article for the community to send donations for a funeral and a huge funeral lunch at a restaurant.

It's the same for renter's and homeowner's insurance. We hope we never need it, but it is our responsibility.

Laura Jercha, Munster