Gone But Not Forgotten
Who should I notify?
The first phone calls made upon news of a death will depend on the circumstances. when someone dies in a hospital or other medical care facility, the staff will usually take care of some of the arrangements, such as contacting your funeral home of choice and, if necessary, arranging an autopsy.
If a person dies at home or at work, the first call must be made to 911. Any unexpected death occurring without a physician or medical personnel present must be reported to the police and an investigation held. The coroner will examine the body then arrange for it to be transported to the morgue for autopsy or to the funeral home.
If your loved one was currently receiving medical care, be sure to notify the doctor. If your loved one was in hospice care, it is not necessary to call 911 for autopsy or to the funeral home.
You need to notify family, friends and clergy.
^The Funeral home
^The Employer
^The Life Insurance Company
^The Social Security Association
^The Veterans Administration
^Unions, professional or service organizations, or fraternal organizations.
^The Court if there was a will in place, you will need to file a probate case with the court. An attorney is not required, but it may help for you to hire one that is experienced in probate.
^The Bank. If you have a joint account with the deceased, you may be able to conduct business as usual depending on how the account was opened. Otherwise, usually only the will's executor or administrator can access the account after providing the required paperwork to the bank. You will need to contact the bank to determine their requirements.
What information should I bring to the arrangement conference?
Contact your funeral home to determine what paperwork you will need to bring. Some helpful things you will need to bring:
^Vital Information: date and place of birth and death, parents names, names of pre-deceased relatives and survivors, Social Security number, dates of marriages/divorces.
^Highest level of education
^Occupation
^Military information including separation or discharge papers (DD-214), if the deceased was a veteran
^Any information related to a pre-arrangement, if applicable
^Place of burial or final disposition if a cemetery plot has been purchased
^Photographs--one or two recent photographs will be used during the embalming and cosmetizing process, it will also be useful for the Memorial Program
^Names and phone numbers of clergy or celebrants you wish to involve in the ceremonies
^Clothing, including undergarments and jewelry or glasses you would like the deceased to be viewed wearing
^Records of life insurance policies
What if there was a pre-arrangement?
If your loved one made a pre-arrangement with the funeral home, the information will be on file and during the arrangement conference the staff will go over that with you.
What if thr death occurred away from home?
If a death occurs away from home, contact the funeral home and they will find a local funeral home near the place of the death for preparation and transportation of the remains back to the funeral home of your choice. They can also help coordinate with the other funeral home if you are planning to have a service prior to having the family member returned to your home area.
My loved on e was a veteran. What benefits can he or she receive?
To determine exactly what benefits your loved one will receive, contact the Veterans Administration directly.
What cost are associated with funerals?
The cost of a funeral includes all the services of a funeral director, merchandise, such as caskets and urns, and transportation. Other costs may apply.
What To Do When Someone Dies
When someone dies there are many decisions and arrangements to make, all of which can be difficult in a time of grief. To help, we've put together this checklist to guide you through the process.
"Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9
Social Security pays a lump sum death benefit of $255
