Ulrike von der Groeben Spills the Beans on Her Funeral Plans
- rascality, cheekiness*
Contemplating Arrangements for Her Final Farewell - Pondering Over Funeral Arrangements
"I'm not afraid to talk about it": Ulrike von der Groeben (68) dishes the dirt on death with Spot on News. In an interview about her book "Freedom Begins Now!" (ZS Verlag, out May 7th) - a juicy blend of autobiography and guide with expert chats and tips on retirement - she lets you in on what life's been like after hanging up her professional career. She was a sports expert at "RTL aktuell" for 35 years until 2024.
You've always been fit as a fiddle, has working out taken the front seat now without the daily grind?
Ulrike von der Groeben: I ain't planning to leap into a new workout routine, but I will maintain my running regimen of three days a week. I also plan on doing my strength-training workouts at least twice a week, mostly with dumbbells at home. After a certain age, Pilates alone won't cut it. You gotta throw in some strength training if you wanna stay jacked. I'm lovin' it, keeps me fit, and keeps me sane. If wrinkles are coming, at least the rest of me will stay toned.
You battled long COVID. Any lingering symptoms still haunting ya?
Ulrike von der Groeben: I hope the symptoms will eventually fade away like a bad memory. I'm getting better week by week. Running was a killer at first, I couldn't even jog slowly, it was agony. That really irked me. But when I think about all the other poor souls out there suffering, I feel grateful that I'm healin' up. I'm feelin' good again, better than ever, really.
How has life with hubby Alexander von der Groeben changed since you left your career behind?
Ulrike von der Groeben: Not much has changed, really. I've got my book on my plate, hubby's still workin' as a commentator and actin' in plays. He still goes to the gym everyday, like he always did. Our routines are pretty much the same: We eat breakfast together after our morning workout, just like before. The only difference might be that we're eatin' dinner a bit earlier. And if I'm up to it, I'll try some new recipes in the kitchen.
You admit in "Freedom Begins Now!" that you want to be cremated - but you still haven't made your living will or will. Are you gonna tackle that now?
Ulrike von der Groeben: I ain't scared of the topic or afraid to deal with it. It's more like all those other things I put off - like doin' my taxes or washin' the windows. I tell myself all the time, "I'll do it someday when I have time," and then I'd rather spend time out in the garden.
How often do you think about death?
Ulrike von der Groeben: In recent times, the topic's come up frequently, sadly because we've lost some folks, even some young ones. My parents passed away relatively early: my mom at 60, my dad at 75. In our family, it feels like nobody gets really old. I never even met my grandparents. But we're healthy - we exercise, eat right, without goin' overboard with it.
I think it's important to have everything in order just in case. The wish for cremation ain't enough, one should also decide what should happen to the ashes. I've even thought about the music for my own funeral, what songs should play. It's important to me to take the burden off my kids - I can tell them or write it down.
Looking back on your book, what's the most valuable advice you'd give others for the transition into retirement?
Ulrike von der Groeben: I'd tell everyone to think seriously about what really matters to 'em - now and in the future. What brings 'em joy, what makes 'em happy? What does our partner dream of? How do we envision our life in retirement, and how much cash do we need for that? The sooner we figger this out, the better - not just the money, but the lifestyle too. Those who wanna travel and explore should prepare their bodies and minds for it. In short: Figure out what truly matters to you, and make it happen.
Since wrapin' up the book project, do you have any bucket list items left that you wanna tackle now?
Ulrike von der Groeben: Naw, not really. By workin' on the book, I've answered many of the same questions I ask my readers, and I found out that aside from some minor dreams, I'm pretty content. But there's one dream of my husband's that we're gonna try now: He's always wanted to live on a boat someday. We ain't gonna go full sail, but we do plan to rent a houseboat for a few weeks, probably in Holland, where our little sailboat's docked. We'll just see if we like life on the water.
- Ulrike von der Groeben admits she is not sure about creating a living will or will yet, likening the task to putting off chores like doing taxes or washing windows.
- In her book, Ulrike von der Groeben discusses her desire for cremation, but acknowledges that deciding what to do with the ashes is still something she is considering.
- Ulrike von der Groeben and her husband Alexander von der Groeben have not experienced significant changes in their life together since Ulrike retired, with their daily routines remaining largely the same.
- Ulrike von der Groeben battled long COVID-19 and experienced lingering symptoms that made running difficult, but she is now feeling much better and has even thought about the music she would like played at her funeral.
