Step I. Final Arrangements & Notifications
A. Final Arrangements
Immediately following the death of loved one, it is necessary for many different contacts, some being more urgent than others. Hang in there because these calls are difficult to make as the recanting of what happened often brings out the freshly exposed emotions. If you have been named as executor of the estate, you may or not be responsible for duties related to final arrangements. (This section can also assumes that you still have a parent that is still living).
Who to Notify (Assumes Police or Coroner do not need to be contacted)
A. Final Arrangements
Immediately following the death of loved one, it is necessary for many different contacts, some being more urgent than others. Hang in there because these calls are difficult to make as the recanting of what happened often brings out the freshly exposed emotions. If you have been named as executor of the estate, you may or not be responsible for duties related to final arrangements. (This section can also assumes that you still have a parent that is still living).
Who to Notify (Assumes Police or Coroner do not need to be contacted)
- Close Family and Friends
- To break the news, give details of services, get togethers, etc.
- Hospice service, if under their care
- Funeral Home
- Contact them to come get the body. If your loved one passed in a hospital, or assisted living situation, then that business in all likelihood will make this call for you. If your loved one passed at home, under Hospice care, e.g., than you will probably be the one to make the call. You may or may not at this time make an appointment with the funeral home to meet and discuss the final arrangements of the deceased.
- The funeral home and cemetery you pick may already be known, as many families tend to gather together in their rest-in-peaces.
- Hopefully, the deceased has their final arrangements pre-planned, and ideally pre-paid for. During your meeting with the Funeral Director, you may still have to make decisions regarding plot location (if that is your preference), and the selection of a casket or urn depending on burial or cremation. Cremation may also involve burial, placement in a mausoleum, or even keeping on a mantle or the scattering of the ashes.
- During your meeting with the Funeral Director, you can start coordinating the funeral, as it may be at the decedent's home church, in the funeral home chapel, at the graveside, or other combinations.
- House of Worship
- If you intend on a funeral service at a church, you will want to make an appointment with the pastor or other individual that makes these arrangements. The following items may be discussed:
- Officiant
- Date, time, location
- Scripture readings
- Music
- Program Contents
- Slideshow
- Flowers, and location of "Memorial Display Table"
- Who will speak
- Reception
- If you intend on a funeral service at a church, you will want to make an appointment with the pastor or other individual that makes these arrangements. The following items may be discussed:
- Local Newspaper - for Obituary
- A family Member should be designated to write this, but it can be a team effort. It could be possible that the decedent has pre-wrote one for you! Generally, obituaries contain a brief synopsis of their life, relatives-past and present, service arrangements, donations to certain charities, etc. This is a personal thing, so make it your own.
- Contact them to come get the body. If your loved one passed in a hospital, or assisted living situation, then that business in all likelihood will make this call for you. If your loved one passed at home, under Hospice care, e.g., than you will probably be the one to make the call. You may or may not at this time make an appointment with the funeral home to meet and discuss the final arrangements of the deceased.