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The funeral home will assist you in determining the
number of certified copies of the death certificates you will need and
we will get these for you.
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Make a list of immediate family, close friends and
employer or business colleagues. Notify each by phone.
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Decide on appropriate memorial to which gifts may be
made (church, hospice, library, charity or school) if desired.
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Gather obituary information, including age,
place of birth, occupation, college degrees, memberships held,
military service , outstanding work , list of survivors in immediate
family. Give time and place of services. The funeral home will
normally write this and submit to newspapers.
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Contact your Insurance companies. We will also assist
you in this if it is what you desire. Let us help you, it is our job
and you have enough to do.
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McDermott Funeral Home will notify Social Security for
you. In a week or so, check with Social Security to see that number is
retired. **The $255 dollar death benefit is payable ONLY if there is a
surviving spouse, or a child under 18 or a disabled child. (If Social
Security checks are automatic deposit, notify the bank of the death.)
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Arrange for members of family or close friends to take
turns answering door or phone, keeping careful record of calls. Try
not to leave the home unattended during this time, including during
the services.
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Consider special needs of the household, such as
cleaning or shopping for items such as trash bags or paper goods,
which might be done by friends.
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Arrange for childcare, if necessary.
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Arrange hospitality for visiting relatives and
friends.
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Send appropriate acknowledgments to those who sent
flowers, brought food, or gave their time to be of service (can be
written note, printed acknowledgments, or some of each). It is not
necessary to send an acknowledgement card to every person who signed
the register. You may if you wish, but people do not expect to be
acknowledged for simply signing the registry. They don't want to cause
an added burden.
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Locate the will and notify lawyer and executor.
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Check carefully all life and casualty insurance and
death benefits, including Social Security, credit union, trade union,
fraternal, and military. Check also on income for survivors from these
sources.
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Check promptly on all debts and installment payments,
including credit cards. Some may carry insurance clauses that will
cancel them. If there is to be a delay in meeting payments, consult
with creditors and ask for more time before the payments are due.
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If deceased was living alone, notify utilities and
landlord and tell post office where to send mail.
