Six Things to Know When Someone Dies
When a person dies, the last thing loved ones want to do is make decisions. Whether planning ahead or making decisions at the time of a loss, at Goes Funeral Care we try to keep the process as simple as possible. Here are the important decisions we will help you consider:
1. Burial, Cremation, Body Donation, or…? The biggest, and sometimes hardest, choice is what is called “disposition,” i.e. what will happen to the person’s body. Options include traditional burial, green burial, flame cremation, water cremation, body donation, or another option. Many factors come into play here – faith, values, circumstances, and even practical matters like finances or location. Read more about your options in the “what we do” section of our website.
2. Will there be an opportunity for friends and loved ones to view the person’s body? Often, seeing a loved one after they die can bring comfort and help us to process the loss. The viewing or visitation takes place prior to burial, cremation or body donation and may happen at the funeral home, a church, or even in the home.
3. What type of service should take place? It is important to remember and honor a person’s life. This can take many forms – a celebration of life, a memorial service, a funeral service at the church, a memorial bike ride – the list is endless. You may not prefer a traditional funeral and you may not be ready for a service right away, but we encourage families to do something meaningful.
4. Place of Final Disposition: People often make their wishes known for the “what,” burial or cremation; but just as important is the “where.” Where will the person’s remains be laid to rest? In the case of full body burial, this may be in a local cemetery, a family plot in their hometown, or in some cases, on private property. Cremation opens up even more options – placement at a cemetery, scattering at one or more locations, turning cremated remains into art or jewelry to be kept close, even being turned into fireworks, and that is only the beginning.
5. Vital Statistics and Biography Information: As with most things in life, even death comes with a little paperwork. Vital statistical information is used to fill out the death certificate, a legal document needed to proceed with disposition and to begin settling an estate. This includes information like date of birth, parents’ names, occupation, etc. Biographical information is also used to write an obituary, which is a more in-depth snapshot of a person’s life.
6. Funeral Care Provider: Who will care for you or a loved one after death? Your funeral care provider should be someone you trust. Take time to ask questions, tour the facility, and build a relationship with the individual or organization so that you and your loved ones are reassured when the time comes to engage their services.
As you start to plan ahead, take a closer look at these six important decisions. When a family knows exactly what decisions to make, they are able to focus on sharing memories, honoring life, and beginning to grieve in the wake of their loss.
