Steps to Follow When a Loved One Dies
It can be overwhelming when a loved one dies. Not only are you dealing with grief, but also with the urgency of making the right arrangements. When faced with this, it can be vital to know what steps to take to ensure that everything you need to do gets done. If you are in this situation now, there are some clear steps to follow that can make the process easier for you and your entire family.
Get Certificate of Death
This is the very first thing that you should do after a loved one dies. Death can be declared by a medical professional, which can include a nurse, a hospice care worker, a physician, and medical technicians as well as emergency care specialists. Once this is done, you will need to obtain an official certificate of death. It is important to know that you will need a few copies of this, (at least ten) since there are a lot of processes that require a copy.
Contact Funeral Home or Crematorium
The next thing to do is to contact the crematorium or funeral home to get the process started. The body will need to be transported and funeral home can make these arrangements if you already have one chosen. This is the time to decide whether the person will receive a burial or will be cremated. A cremation service provider can explain the options clearly so you can make the right decision.
Arrange Funeral or Memorial Service
If you are planning on having a funeral or memorial service, this is the time to start making those arrangements. Call people you trust to help with this, too, so that you do not have to shoulder all of the planning on your own. A funeral home will be more than happy to help you through this as well, so speak with the one you have chosen to get started.
Write Obituary
It can be a great idea to write and schedule an obituary in a local newspaper. This is a simple process and can ensure that everyone is aware of where the service will be and when it will be as well as other details you may want to provide. Keep in mind that most newspapers or magazines charge by the word, so if you want to keep the obituary on a budget, write only the essentials.
These are the most important first steps you need to take after a loved one dies. By ensuring that you begin arranging the funeral or memorial service as soon as the death occurs, you will have a good chance of scheduling it at a convenient time in the funeral home of your choice. Knowing the steps to take can help with the stress and can make it easier to start the healing process. If a loved one has recently died, contact Osceola Memorial Gardens, which is found at 1717 Old Boggy Creek Road Kissimmee, FL 34744 right now. Call (407) 847-2494 to get the process going.
