About Leaving Lightly®


My interest in getting one's affairs in order began forty years ago when my father died of a massive coronary. For seven years we had been expecting his death from chronic heart disease, but it never occurred to us to prepare for it. Daddy died without a Will, savings account, investments—not even a life insurance policy. What he did leave was a 39-year old widow making minimum wage, and three daughters in high school.

In the months and years that followed, we had to become unwilling detectives, with little clues to go on. What were rumors? What were facts? Money that was supposed to be available wasn't. People that were supposed to help, didn't. There were so many questions, and no one to answer them.

Because of that experience, when I was in my early 30’s and in very excellent health, I put my affairs in order and gave the information to my sister, whom I designated as my Executrix. She gets yearly updates (probably much to her annoyance).

​But one day, if I die before her, she will thank me for making her job a thousand times easier than it would be if I had not been committed to sparing her the pain of trying to figure out my life in the same way she had to figure out our father’s.

About Me
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I am an ordained interfaith minister with an active funeral and memorial ministry.

I also have a Master of Arts in Education degree from Antioch University Seattle. For over 20 years, I have taught numerous classes in such diverse subjects as psychology, environmental education, music and spirituality.

My professional background in legal support and working for a noted senior anthropologist taught me the many family, estate planning, emotional and administrative issues that arise in settling one’s affairs, and the necessity to address them.

Leaving Lightly is the summation of three decades of these experiences.

In addition to my end-of-life work, I am a speaker, workshop facilitator, sacred music composer, vocalist, and harpist. For these and other ministry-related services, please see my ministry website:
Janet Lee Kraft, M.A., Ed., phone: 203-525-5090, email: leavinglightly@gmail.com