Page 23 - O'Shea Funeral Guide
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You may want to talk to others who continue even after the funeral to help
are grieving, consider joining a along in the bereavement process.
support group. Most groups are listed
by subject in the phone directory Who can make funeral arrangements?
or through churches, newspapers, In most cases it is the closest next
hospitals, local health and social of kin making the arrangements.
service agencies, the Chamber of On other occasions, the executor or
Commerce or your local funeral home. executrix of a will is responsible. An
You can learn and grow in common, agent having been appointed by the
yet different experiences. You do not deceased will supersede all others
have to travel this journey alone. Life and make the funeral arrangements.
can have meaning again. The agent, having been instructed by
the deceased, in the form of a legal
FAQs document signed by the deceased and
witnessed in accordance with Public
Health Laws, will fulfill the wishes
What purpose does a funeral serve? and will coordinate with the funeral
It provides the family and friends with director the arrangements set forth
a caring and supportive environment in the document. The person signing
in which to share thoughts and feelings the contract becomes responsible for
about the death. The funeral becomes the payment of the funeral services
the first important step in the healing performed.
process.
What should I be prepared to provide
What do funeral directors do? when going to the funeral home to
They are the pillars that support the make arrangements?
survivors during one of their most When making at-need or pre-need
difficult journeys through life. They arrangements, the family will need to
care for the family and safeguard provide information required for the
and care for the deceased person. death certificate. This information,
They fulfill the wishes of the family by referred to as vital statistics consists
guiding them through and fulfilling of the following:
the funeral arrangements. The funeral • Deceased’s legal name,
director is trained in embalming and • Legal address,
restorative procedures required by • Social security number
a funeral home, for traditional open • Both parents’ names (including
casket viewing by family and friends. mother’s maiden name)
They arrange and provide an orderly • Date of birth
series of events, culminating with the • Place of birth
final disposition of burial, entombment • Level of education
or cremation. The funeral director’s • If served in the military: years of
responsibility of properly filing the service and a copy of the discharge
death certificate in order to receive papers DD214
permission for final disposition is the • Employment history, position held,
first step which allows the family to nature of industry and place of
begin the process of settling estate employment,
matters. The director will advise the • If in ground burial or entombment,
family as to the number of certified the cemetery and the deed if
death certificates needed to begin available,
the process, as well as advising them • If open casket viewing is
on potential issues to be addressed anticipated, clothing and a recent
shortly after the final disposition. A picture
growing number of funeral directors
are trained as grief counselors and
O’Shea Funeral Homes - Page 23
