Ask A Professional – March 2005


Q: What has to happen immediately after someone dies? What must happen within the first 24 hours?


A: Immediately after someone dies there is the urgency to transport their body from where ever they passed away (i.e. nursing home, hospital, residence, etc.). At that time it is also very important to decide whether or not to have the person’s body embalmed. The State of Kansas requires that one of four things happen within 24 hours of someone’s death. The body must be either; 1) embalmed, 2) cremated, 3) buried or 4) placed in refrigeration. (Burial and cremation can both happen after embalming without worry of a strict timeline.) This decision is one that can be decided upon in advance through pre-planning, but a funeral director should always verify with the next-of-kin at the time of death how to proceed on that matter. It is federal law that the next-of-kin or appointed agent of the deceased give at least verbal permission for embalming before it takes place.
In addition, various publications list 80 to more than 120 things that must be completed by the survivors of the deceased. Many of these things must be handled within the first few days. The staff here at Roselawn is there to make that list seem less daunting and has the knowledge and resources to do just that.

Below is a list of funeral details that must be handled by the survivor. As we have said before, some lists contain more than others. This is a list we have found to be fairly complete, but not filled with too many seldom used items.
(Note: A "*" denotes that these details can be planned or pre-paid ahead of time.)

Secure vital Statistics (Required for Death Certificate)
*1. Name, home address, telephone number
*2. How long a state resident?
*3. Name of business/industry, length of
employment
*4. Occupational and title
*5. Social Security number
*6. Armed Forces serial number (if veteran)
*7. Date of birth
*8. Place of birth
*9. Father's name
*10. Mother's maiden name
*11. Religious name (if any)


B) Pay some or all of the following

*12. Family burial estate
*13. Memorials
*14. Funeral director
*15. Interment Service
*16. Clergy
*17. Florist
18. Clothing
19. Transportation
20. Telephone and telegraph
*21. Food
22. Doctors
23. Nurses
24. Hospitals and ambulance
25. Medicine and drugs
26. Other current and urgent bills (mortgage
rent, taxes, installment payments)



C) Collect Documents (Required to establish rights for insurance, pensions, social security, ownership, relationship, etc.)

*27. Will
*28. Legal proof of age or birth certificate
*29. Social Security card or number
*30. Marriage license
*31. Citizenship papers
*32. Insurance policies (life, health and
accident, property)
*33. Bank books
*34. Deeds to property
*35. Bill of sale of car
*36. Income tax returns, receipts or cancelled
checks
*37. Veterens discharge certificate
*38. Disability claims
*39. Memorial Park Certificate of Ownership

D) Decide and Arrange Within a Few Hours

*40. Burial estate location and which space to
open
*41. Memorial type and inscription
*42. Casket type
*43. Clothing for deceased
*44. Vault or sectional crypt
*45. Type of service (religious, military,
fraternal)
*46. Special selection from scriptures
47. Clergy to officiate
*48. Which funeral director
*49. Place where service is to be held
50. Time for funeral service
*51. Decide name of charitable organization to
which donations are suggested in memory of
deceased
52. Providing information for eulogy
53. Select names for pall-bearers
*54. Flowers
*55. Music
56. Clothing for you and children
57. Preparation at home, including food for
family and guests
58. Extra chairs
59. Transportation for family and guests,
including planning funeral car list
60. Checking and signing necessary papers for
burial permit
*61. Providing vital statistics about deceased
to newspapers
62. Answering innumerable sympathetic phone
calls, messages and letters
63. Meeting and talking with funeral director,
cenetary representative, clergy, about all
details
64. Greeting all friends and relatives who call
65. Arranging for meeting relatives who arrive
from out of state at airport or railroad
station
66. Provide lodging for out of town relatives
67. Make list of callers and floral tributes
sent for mailing card of thanks
*68. Arranging for special religious services
*69. Check Will regarding special wishes
70. Order death certificate
71. Look after minor children
*72. Arrange Military Funeral Honors

E) Notify as soon as possible

73. The doctor or doctors
74. The funeral director
75. Tha memorial park
76. All relatives
77. All friends
78. Employer of deceased
79. Employers of relatives not going to work
80. Casket-bearers
81. Insurance agents (Life, Health, Accident)
82. Religious, fraternal, civic, veterans
organizations, unions
83. Newspapers regarding notices
84. Attorney, accountant, or executor of estate