When planning a funeral, try not to do everything yourself.
Call on a family member or friend to help you make the
following arrangements.
Notify:
· Doctor
· Coroner
· Funeral home
They will help coordinate arrangements with cemetery or memorial park.
They will prepare the Social Security Form and see that the number is
retired.
They will assist in determining the number of death certificates you will
need and will order them.
· Clergy
· Relatives and Friends
· Pallbearers
· Insurance Agents
· Banks
· Unions and Fraternal Organizations
· Organists
Items to Select:
· Cemetery Property
· Funeral Service
· Casket
· Vault or Outer Container
· Clothing
· Flowers
· Music
· Thank You Announcements
· Transportation
· Time and Place for Funeral
· Time and Place for Visitation
Provide vital statistics info about the deceased:
· Birthdate
· Birthplace
· Father's Name
· Mother's Name
· Social Security Number
· Veteran's Discharge or Claim Number
· Education
· Marital Status
Obituary information: ( for Newspaper)
(the funeral home will normally write the article and submit it to the newspaper)
· Age
· Place of Birth
· Cause of Death
· Occupation
· College Degrees
· Memberships held
· Military Service
· Outstanding work
· List of Survivors in Immediate Family
· Give Time and Place of Services
· Charities for Memorial Contributions
· Addresses of all people who must be notified
· Arrangements for out-of-town Visitors
Additional things you will want to do:
· Find someone to help answer sympathetic phone calls, cards
and letters, as well as greet friends and relatives when they call.
· Decide appropriate memorial to which gifts may be made
(church, hospice, etc.).
· Prepare list of distant persons to be notified by letter/or printed
notice and decide which to send.
· Locate the will and notify lawyer and executor.
· Check carefully all life and casualty insurance and
death benefits including social security, credit union,
fraternal and military.
· Check promptly on all debts and installment payments,
including credit cards.
(Some carry insurance clauses that cancel balances upon death).
· Notify utilities and landlord and tell post office where
to send mail
(if deceased was living alone).
