Making Final Arrangements Action Checklists The following Action Checklists are included in Chapter 11: Final Wishes Summary Burial Celebration of Life Charities Cremation Entombment Ethical Will Funeral/Memorial Service Letter of Instruction Obituary Organ and Tissue Donation People to Contact Will and Codicil Veterans Burial Benefits 232
Chapter 11: Making Final Arrangements Final Wishes Summary The person I care for wishes to: Donate organs and tissues (see the Organ and Tissue Donation Checklist) Donate the body to a medical school or research center (see the Organ and Tissue Donation Checklist) Be embalmed (see the Funeral/Memorial Service Checklist) Be buried in the earth (see the Burial Checklist) Be entombed in a mausoleum (see the Entombment Checklist) Be cremated (see the Cremation Checklist) Other: The person I care for wishes to have: No commemorative service Funeral service (see the Funeral/Memorial Service Checklist) Memorial service (see the Funeral/Memorial Service Checklist) Celebration of life service (see the Celebration of Life Checklist) Graveside service (see the Funeral/Memorial Service Checklist) U.S. flag covering the coffin (see the Veterans Burial Benefits Checklist) Military funeral honors (see the Veterans Burial Benefits Checklist) Other: 233
Burial The person I care for wishes to be buried. The person I care for has a cemetery lot. The ownership of the cemetery lot is in the name of. Location of the lot: Cemetery: Section: Lot: Other description: Location of deed: The person I care for would like to have a grave marker. The person I care for would like to have a grave marker furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The person I care for would like to have a service medallion furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The following words should be placed on the grave marker: 234
Chapter 11: Making Final Arrangements Celebration of Life The person I care for wants the following arrangements for a celebration of life ceremony: Type of celebration: Arrangement details: Place: Time: Food or beverage suggestions: Entertainment or music suggestions: People to invite: 235
Charities The person I care for requests memorial donations or gifts be made to the following charities: Charity name: Contact information: Website: Significance: Charity name: Contact information: Website: Significance: Charity name: Contact information: Website: Significance: Charity name: Contact information: Website: Significance: Charity name: Contact information: Website: Significance: 236
Chapter 11: Making Final Arrangements Cremation The person I care for wants to be cremated. Following cremation, the ashes should be distributed as follows: Scattered in the following places: Placed in an urn and buried or entombed: Other: The following prearrangements for cremation have been made: Company: The contract is located: Website: 237
Entombment The person I care for wants to be entombed. The person I care for owns a crypt, mausoleum, or columbarium. The ownership of the crypt is in the name of. Location of the crypt: Church/Cemetery/Mausoleum: Space #: Other description: Location of deed or contract: The following words should be placed on the crypt: Other instructions: 238
Chapter 11: Making Final Arrangements Ethical Will The person I care for has created an ethical will or other legacy documents. Ethical will: Books: Pamphlets: Videos: Other: 239
Instructions for distribution: 240
Chapter 11: Making Final Arrangements Funeral/Memorial Service The person I care for wants a funeral. The person I care for wants a memorial service. The person I care for wants a graveside service. The commemorative service is for Friends and relatives Private Other: The graveside service is for Friends and relatives Private Other: The casket should be Closed Open The urn with ashes should be present: Yes No Location of the service: Funeral establishment: House of worship: 241
Religious leader/officiate/clergy: Speakers/Readers: Ushers/Pallbearers: Favorite scripture, psalms, poems, readings: Special hymns, music, musicians, soloists: 242
Chapter 11: Making Final Arrangements Letter of Instruction The person I care for has a letter of instruction. Location of the letter of instruction: Date the letter of instruction was last updated: The letter of instruction contains directions about the distribution of personal possessions. The letter of instruction contains directions about the funeral or memorial service. The letter of instruction contains directions about. 243
Obituary The person I care for has not written an obituary. The person I care for has written the obituary. Location of the obituary: The obituary should appear in the following places: Newspaper name: Newspaper website: Newspaper name: Newspaper website: Newspaper name: Newspaper website: On the following social media or web sites: The following information should appear in the obituary: 244
Chapter 11: Making Final Arrangements Organ and Tissue Donation The person I care for wants to donate any needed organs or tissues. Blood type:. The person I care for wants to donate only the following organs or tissues: Organs: Heart Kidneys Liver Lungs Pancreas Other: Tissues: Blood vessels Bone Cartilage Corneas Heart valves Inner ear Intestines Skin Other: Location of uniform donor card:. Wishes about organ donation are registered at this website: The person I care for has given permission for an autopsy. 245
People to Contact The following people should be informed of the death: 246
Chapter 11: Making Final Arrangements 247
Will and Codicil The person I care for has a will. Drafting lawyer s name: Executor s name: Witness s name: Witness s name: I have located the following codicil: Codicil date: Drafting lawyer s name: Witness s name: 248
Chapter 11: Making Final Arrangements Witness s name: Location of will and any codicils: The person I care for does not have a will and is taking the following steps to create one: Inventory all assets and possessions Identify how all real property, bank accounts, and financial accounts are titled Review the designation of beneficiaries on all life insurance and investment or retirement accounts Decide how assets are divided and who gets what Determine charitable gifts to be given Decide how and to whom personal possessions will be distributed Create a Letter of Instruction for the distributions of personal possessions Determine who you want to take care of your minor children Determine who will manage the money any minors would inherit Identify who to serve as executor and successor executor Discuss expectations and responsibilities with potential executors Discuss decisions with those named in the will 249
Veterans Burial Benefits The person I care for served in the U.S. military. The person I care for wants a burial flag for the casket. The person I care for wants burial in a national cemetery. The person I care for wants a veteran s headstone. The person I care for wants military honors at the burial. Name served under while in the military: First Middle Last Location of DD-214: Date entered active service: Date separated from active service: Branch: Grade or rank: National Guard: Reserves: 250