Practical Considerations for Funeral or Memorial Services

• Decide on time and place for funeral or memorial service.
• Make a list of immediate family, close friends, and employer or business colleagues. Notify each by phone.
• If flowers are to be omitted, decide on appropriate memorial to which gifts may be given (a church, library, school, or charity).
• Write obituary. Normally, the mortuary does this, but you may wish to consult with them. Include age, place of birth, occupation, college degrees, memberships held, military service, outstanding work, list of survivors in immediate family. Give the time and place of services.
• Arrange for family members or close friends to take turns answering the door or phone, keeping careful records of calls.
• Arrange hospitality for visiting relatives and friends.
• Arrange appropriate childcare.
• Coordinate special needs of the household, e.g. cleaning, grocery shopping, etc., which might be done by friends.
• Select pallbearers and notify them (avoid persons with heart or back difficulties, or make them honorary pallbearers).