Page 23 - Powell Funeral Guide
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a relationship in your heart. They are a series of events, culminating with the
part of who you are and who you are final disposition of burial, entombment
becoming. or cremation. The funeral director’s
responsibility of properly filing the death
Reach out to others certificate in order to receive permission
Learn to ask for what you need. Your for final disposition is the first step which
family and friends want to help, so let allows the family to begin the process
them know how. Turn to people you can of settling estate matters. The director
trust for support and for information. Find will advise the family as to the number
people who will listen when you want of certified death certificates needed to
to talk. Leave the scrapbook or photo begin the process, as well as advising
album out on the coffee table so others them on potential issues to be addressed
can remember and share memories with shortly after the final disposition. A
you. growing number of funeral directors are
trained as grief counselors and continue
You may want to talk to others who are even after the funeral to help along in
grieving, consider joining a support the bereavement process.
group. Most groups are listed by subject
in the phone directory or through Who can make funeral arrangements?
churches, newspapers, hospitals, local In most cases it is the closest next of
health and social service agencies, the kin making the arrangements. On other
Chamber of Commerce or your local occasions, the executor or executrix of
funeral home. You can learn and grow in a will is responsible. An agent having
common, yet different experiences. You been appointed by the deceased will
do not have to travel this journey alone. supersede all others and make the funeral
Life can have meaning again. arrangements. The agent, having been
instructed by the deceased, in the form of
a legal document signed by the deceased
FAQs and witnessed in accordance with Public
Health Laws, will fulfill the wishes and will
What purpose does a funeral serve? coordinate with the funeral director the
It provides the family and friends with arrangements set forth in the document.
a caring and supportive environment The person signing the contract becomes
in which to share thoughts and feelings responsible for the payment of the funeral
about the death. The funeral becomes services performed.
the first important step in the healing
process. What should I be prepared to provide
when going to the funeral home to
What do funeral directors do? make arrangements?
They are the pillars that support the When making at-need or pre-need
survivors during one of their most difficult arrangements, the family will need to
journeys through life. They care for the provide information required for the
family and safeguard and care for the death certificate. This information,
deceased person. They fulfill the wishes referred to as vital statistics consists of
of the family by guiding them through and the following:
fulfilling the funeral arrangements. The • Deceased’s legal name
funeral director is trained in embalming • Legal address
and restorative procedures required • Social security number
by 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
Powell Funeral Home, Inc. - Page 23
