Making Funeral Arrangements: Attending to Details
When someone you love has just died, there are a number of responsibilities that require your immediate attention. Your first priority, naturally, will be to comfort those most affected by the death. Then when you are able to focus your attention to making arrangements, the first calls should be to the funeral home and clergy person preferred by the family.
You will meet as soon as possible with your funeral director to review personal information about the deceased in order to complete the death certificate and prepare the obituary. Prior to this consultation, you should also ascertain whether the deceased had preplanned for the funeral. Throughout all the planning, your funeral director will be respectful of the family’s wishes. The visitation and funeral can be a valuable experience as it meets the religious, social and emotional needs of the mourners. The funeral arrangements are particularly important in giving friends and family a meaningful way to express themselves.
The Paperwork

Unfortunately, there will be a lot of paperwork. Your funeral director can assist you in securing all the benefits rightfully due you, guide you to the proper resources, and assist in much of the paperwork required to file for insurance, Social Security and Veterans Administration benefits. Some of the assistance your funeral director can provide includes the following:
- Death certificates necessary to file for insurance benefits;
- Send an appropriate form of the death certificate to Social Security;
- Direct you to your nearest Social Security office to determine current benefits and to file a claim, including Survivor benefits, and Medicare benefits to help pay the final medical bills if the deceased was 65 or over;
- Obtain an American flag for any honorably discharged veteran;
- Assist you in applying for a veteran’s grave marker and in making arrangements for burial in a national cemetery for eligible veterans and family members.
The Obituary Announcement
The Visitation
The Service
The Tribute
Flowers and Flags
Casket Bearers or Pallbearers

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