This story is based on an interview with Angela Cheng-Cimini, 56, a veteran HR professional who lives near Baltimore. It has been edited for length and clarity. A few years ago, my husband, Michael, and I started losing friends who were around our age. Three, in particular, died of pancreatic cancer, which was very sudden.
We’ve all heard stories of familial feud after a loved one passes and assets are divided. Verbal promises become null and void once the person who made the pledge is gone — or perhaps those promises were never made to begin with. And even words written into legal wills can spark arguments and resentment for
