The death of a loved one, whether expected or unexpected, carries with it a long list of responsibilities and decisions.
It can be incredibly difficult to think clearly when one is grieving.
There is also a limited amount of time in which to make these important choices.
While it is helpful to have an existing plan for what will happen when a loved one dies, many people do not have one in place.
While every family is different, some common elements must be considered when a loved one passes away.
Service
One of the first things that must be taken care of when someone dies is the planning of the service.
If the deceased did not leave explicit instructions for the service, it will be up to the surviving family members to plan.
While it can seem overwhelming, there are online services such as Lantern, available at little to no cost.
These sites can help you build and maintain a checklist to keep track of the necessary items.
When planning a service, here are some elements that must be considered:
- Type of service – Will the service be a funeral, wake, viewing, or some combination of these?
- Timing – How much time will be needed to get the word out about the service? Will there be a viewing or will the service be held in the future after a burial or cremation without the opportunity for attendees to pay their respects to the deceased?
- Location – Where will the service be held? A rough estimate of the number of attendees is important to have in mind, as you will need to make sure that the selected location has the means to accommodate the expected turnout.
- Service elements – What will be included in the service?
- Will there be speakers? If so, have they been asked to put together a short speech?
- Will there be a religious element to the service? If so, is there an officiant to lead the prayers?
- Will food be provided at the service, or will there be a smaller, more intimate gathering afterward? Where will this gathering be held?
- Will there be flowers, photographs, a memorial book,a donation box, or other items present?
- Will there be music? Can someone put together a meaningful playlist?
- Costs – On average, a funeral in the United States costs over $7000. Along with the cost of the venue for the service, there will be costs for the burial or cremation. There will also be charges for the casket or urn, depending on the method that has been selected. Your loved one may have had a life insurance policy that will provide funds for the funeral costs.
Final Wishes
Along with the service, the other large task to contend with when a loved one passes away is their final wishes.
Hopefully, your loved one had a will that clearly outlines their wishes for their estate.
If there is real estate or other property left to the family, other decisions will need to be made about what to do with these things.
Sometimes an estate sale can help clean out a cluttered home or dispose of items that the family does not have a use for.
The period following the death of a loved one is a difficult, and often overwhelming, time for the surviving family members.
Along with the processing of grief, many practical elements must also be handled immediately after the death.
To ensure the smoothest possible process, it is important to be aware of the things you will need to consider and the decisions you will need to make.
Utilizing some of the available online resources to manage these details can help make the task a little easier.