How to Prepare for Your Own Death and Funeral!

The time immediately following the death of a loved one can be days filled with confusion and emotional stress. Many important decisions must be made, and little time is available for digging for information. By providing your choices for your personal funeral service you give your family and friends a tremendous gift. The Angel of Death doesn't make appointments...be ready!

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Vital Statistics and Data:
   You would be surprised at the number of people who don't know their parent's address, correct date of birth or even their grandparent’s full name. Gather this information in a notebook:
   Full Name, Address, Birthplace, Date of birth, Social Security number, Marital status, Husband or wife of, Children names and date of birth, Father's name, birth date and birthplace (city and state) Mother's full maiden name, birth date and birthplace (city and state)
   To assure accurate vital statistics, keep a copy of your official birth certificate and social security card with this person information.
2. Personal Data:
   Year moved to current address
   Education: High school attended Graduated date, colleges attended, dates of graduation and degrees
   Occupation: Employed by or retired from and any additional employment information you want known.
   Church Membership or Affiliation
   Heritage/Ancestry
   Veteran: Yes or No
   Branch of Service
   Date enlisted
   Serial number
   Date of discharge
   Location of discharge papers
   Last rank
   Additional military information:
   Other Professional/Fraternal/Charitable/Social Organizations
   **Veteran Note: It is helpful if a copy of the veteran's discharge and form DD214 are stored with this personal profile!!!
3. People to Notify::
   List Full name, address, phone number and relationship to this person!
4. Personal Records:
   Bank Accounts Checking and Savings
   Name of bank, Type of account, Address, Phone number, Account number
   Safe Deposit Box:
   Name of bank, Address, Telephone, In whose name? Location of key
   
   Insurance Policies: I have the following policies...
   Company, Policy number, Name of insured, Amount of benefit, Beneficiary, Location of policies
   Pension Plan: Name of company, address
   Real Estate Owned: Address, Location of Deeds and Titles, other documents related to the real estate
5. Location of Important Papers:
   Automobile Registration
   Birth Certificate
   Income Tax Records
   Marriage Certificate/Divorce certificate
   Last Will and Testament Original
   Last Will and Testament Copy
   Stocks and Bonds
   Attorney's Name, Address, Phone number
   Accountant's Name, Address, Phone number
   Executor's Name, Address, Phone number
   Real Estate Broker's name, Address, Phone number
   Stockbroker's Name, Address, Phone Number
   Authorized persons to arrange final details of funeral (chose two!)
   Additional information: Think! Think! Think! Where have you stuck keys and items that will need to be dug out!
6. Funeral Service Choices:
   Take a tour through the local funeral homes! You don't have to put money down or decide anything right then, but you need to know options.
   Choice of funeral home, name, address and phone number
   Type of service, Catholic, protestant, new age etc.
   Location of service, name address and phone
   Officiate, Clergy, other: Name, address and phone.
   Other speakers or readers at service: Name, address and phone numbers
   Participating Organization: Fraternal or Military
   Pallbearers: Name, Address, phone numbers Choose more than necessary!
   Honorary Pallbearers: Name, Address, and phone numbers.
   Obituary: Yes or No, Photo attached? Name of newspaper, address.
   Family Visitation: yes or no
   Public Visitation: Yes or no
   Casket: Open or closed
   Casket type: Steel, Copper, Bronze, Wood, other
   Casket Color:
   Interior Color:
   Flag: Yes or No, Folded or Draped
   Clothing:
   From current wardrobe or new
   Jewelry:
   Stay on, Yes or No Return to:
   Preference of Flowers:
   Memorials: Full name and mailing address
   Favorite Poetry, scriptures or other readings
   Music:
   Items to Display: Collection of Family Photographs, Favorite possessions, Family mementos, Awards received
   Special Items to be placed in casket:
7. Cremation:
   Urn: Wood, Metal, Steel, Copper, Bronze, other
   Disposition of Remains:
   Earth burial, Entombment, Kept by the family, Scattering, other
   Special instructions if kept by family:
   Special instructions for scattering:
   If Earth Burial:
   Outer Burial Container: Yes or No
   Concrete, Steel, Bronze, Other
   Exterior Color
   Inscription
   Name of Cemetery:
   Location:
   Lot in name of:
   Section:
   Lot:
   Block:
   Plot:
   Inscription for memorial marker:
   If Entombment:
   Name of Columbarium, Location, Inscription for memorial marker

Tips & Warnings

• Prior to recording an authorized person to arrange final details, gain consent from them to handle this matter. It is then imperative that you make this agreement known among your family members and friends to avoid confusion.
• Make sure your selection of cremation is known to your loved one and preauthorize the necessary authorites to prefor a cremation.