The death of a friend or family member can be very difficult to process. While it might take time for the fact to fully sink in, the first few days after a loss tend to be the most overwhelming. There are many important responsibilities that need to be taken care of in terms of funeral arrangements and other tasks. Since you’re likely dealing with a lot of emotions and thoughts, having a guide to help you through each step can be a huge asset. Use this checklist to address all the tasks that should be done after a loved one’s death.
Making the Initial Calls
Perhaps the most difficult job in front of you is the first one. Informing others of the person’s death needs to be taken care of right away. While you don’t need to call every single person the departed knew, contacting immediate family and close friends is a necessary early step. The news should come from you or another person who had a strong bond with the deceased. If you find it is too overwhelming to make calls, you can ask someone else to help you with the responsibility. Try to take care of this as early as possible.
Determine Existing Prearrangements
The next step involves taking a deeper look at the departed’s personal records. In many cases, people make prearrangements when it comes to the funeral. Typically, you can learn more about any existing plans by contacting the executor of the deceased’s estate or the legal professional who helped the departed with the arrangements. If there are no plans or contingencies in place, then you will need to take care of all of these decisions on your own. Prearrangements can also include any verbal wishes about the services expressed by the deceased before his or her passing.
Work Out the Funeral Service Details
Whether the deceased had a prearrangement or not, the next step is to work out the details of the funeral services. If your loved one belonged to a particular religious denomination, you want to work with a funeral home that specializes in services related to this belief system. Be sure to think about the departed’s wishes in regard to cremation and other alternative burials. If cremation is how the deceased wished his or her remains to be handled, you can still arrange for a viewing in advance. You can also host a memorial ceremony since there will not be an actual burial.
Pick Out the Products and Accessories
Depending on the manner in which your loved one will be buried, you also need to look at funeral products and accessories. A casket is usually the most important item involved with a burial. Still, you also need to think about the headstone, what the deceased will be wearing, flowers for the viewing, and other odds and ends related to this process. It can get expensive to start paying for all of this so suddenly, so don’t hesitate to ask other family members for assistance. Working together is the best way to get through this difficult period.
Prepare Yourself
Finally, you need to give yourself a moment to breathe and prepare for all that is in store. While it might take time to fully process what you are going through, it is crucial that you acknowledge what you are feeling and accept your current situation. By completely losing yourself in the arrangements, you are distracting yourself in a way that might make it difficult to think about your loss and how it is impacting you. As long as you don’t shy away from the situation, you’ll be able to find a way to mourn that works for you.
Though loss can be difficult to cope with, making plans for the future doesn’t have to be as hard. Follow the steps listed here to stay on top of your responsibilities when a loved one passes.
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