Funeral Planning
Saying the final goodbye to a loved one is hard. We are here to help every step of the way.
Preparation for Burial
People who plan for their own final arrangements leave a gift of inestimable value to their family and loved ones.
This booklet is designed to help you plan for death and burial, both in the legal realm and the spiritual realm. It will focus on burial and funeral decisions, provide legal and financial information needed by your survivors. It will also contain practical procedures to be followed and decisions to be taken immediately following your death.
Without preplanning, preparation for burial can be solely a matter of business like efficiency when it is limited to legal and financial matters. This preparation can also be an act of faith when people make decisions about the religious rituals that will be part of their funeral and interment. This act of faith will comfort families and loved ones in their time of sorrow and need.
Thus, preplanning for burial is an act of faith and a precious loving gift for surviving family and friends.
Informative Guide
You have a difficult but important task. This section contains practical information to assist you in the hours and days following a death of a loved one.
Death Certificate
The law requires a death certificate to be issued by the county in which the person dies. The death certificate must be signed by a doctor. If the person has been under a doctor’s care, or has died in a hospital, this is a routine and expected duty of the attending doctor. If the person has died unexpectedly, a primary doctor needs to be notified. Copies of the death certificate will be needed when filing insurance claims, executing the will and any financial or legal matters.
Prayers at the Time of Death
The church has traditional prayers that are intended for the time immediately following the death of a person if possible before the body is removed for funeral and burial preparations. At the time of a death, Christians need to pray. These prayers may be led by a priest, by a non-ordained chaplain or pastoral minister, by a family member or a friend. If the official ritual (see Pastoral Care of the Sick) is unavailable or not suitable, other prayers may be substituted.
Funeral Home Arrangements
Check to see if your local funeral home offers prearrangements. If arrangements have not been made or suggested, you will need to select a reputable funeral home. Decisions such as type of disposition (burial or cremation) and type of service (traditional or same day) will need to be addressed. Selection of a casket or urn, prayer cards, flower arrangements, funeral mass and church preference could be selected at this time. The funeral director will help guide you, but family involvement is important and is a way in which love is shown and grief expressed.
The funeral director will need information for the preparation of the obituary and/or death notice to appear in newspapers and on their website. The biographical information in this booklet will assist you in this task. At the time of need, the funeral director will coordinate these matters with loved ones and answer any questions that they may have in order to help them through this process.
Death notices also frequently have information suggesting memorials to commemorate the deceased. See page 16 for specific memorial preferences. Be sure to have this information included in the death notices.
Cemetery Arrangements
Determine if cemetery arrangements for burial have been made or suggested. If arrangements have not been made or suggested, a consultant or a service representative from the Catholic Cemeteries will present the various burial options available.
Liturgical Arrangements for Wake and Funeral
Determine the wishes for the wake and funeral liturgy. Work with the priest and/or pastoral minister from the parish for guidance. If suggestions are not known, follow the format on pages 18 and 19 to prepare an appropriate wake and funeral liturgy. Rely on family members and friends for assistance in planning and participating in the wake and funeral liturgy.
After the Burial
Many families share a meal with other mourners after the burial. This too should be planned and invitations extended to the family and friends. Some parishes have the custom of using the parish hall for such a gathering. At other times the home or a restaurant is preferred.
After the Funeral and Burial
If a will has been made, be sure to share the financial information with the executor. It is the executor’s duty to file the will in court, usually within 30 days of death. If there is no will, consult a lawyer or other legal authority to determine the proper procedure to be followed.
Memorial Marker and Inscriptions
Determine arrangements for a memorial marker and suggested inscriptions. If arrangements have been made, be sure to contact the memorial marker company shortly after the burial.
A provision in most wills gives the executor of the estate the power to pay funeral and burial costs from the estate of the deceased. If no arrangements have been made, work with the executor of the will regarding the purchase of an appropriate burial marker.