Planning a Farewell
A gentle checklist for the hours, days, and weeks around a death.
When someone you love is dying, or has just died, there is a lot to do and very little room to think. This list holds it for you. Any order works, and most of it can wait. Check things off as they’re done, skip what doesn’t fit your family, and hand any of it to someone who has asked how they can help.
Your check marks stay on this device, private to you. Clear My Checks at the bottom removes them.
If someone is in danger, or a death was sudden or unexpected, call 911.
If hospice is caring for them and the death was expected, call the hospice’s 24/7 line first, not 911. The hospice nurse comes to confirm the death and helps with the next steps.
Send to Your Officiant
Starting at home? Answer what you can, skip the rest, and send it to the person who will lead the service, so you can pick up together right where you left off. Your answers stay on this device until you choose to send them.
Tools for the Days Ahead
Grow With Grounded offers guidance and support for families, and services that sound like the person you love, for all faith traditions and everything in-between. Get in touch, and put URGENT in your message if a death is close.
Using a shared computer, or ready to start fresh? Clear Everything removes your check marks and answers from this device.
Sources: Federal Trade Commission, Shopping for Funeral Services (the Funeral Rule); Minnesota county vital records pages, such as Dakota County, Certified Death Certificates and Isanti County, Death Certificates; Social Security Administration, When Someone Dies; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Burials and Memorials; Bankrate, How to Protect Dead Relatives from Identity Theft.