Death in America (Part II)

Once a family member passes on a large number of individuals and institutions require notification. In addition, they usually require an official copy of the death certificate and frequently a copy of the Letters Testamentary, a document issued by a court establishing the authority of the executor to manage the estate of the deceased. This is a frustratingly slow process that always seems to require something else before closure is achieved in any step. Here is a partial list of the calls that must be made.

1. The Funeral Home

2. Home Health Care Provider

3. Social Security

4. Life Insurance Companies (you won’t know all of them)

5. Health Insurance Companies

6. Renter’s or Homeowner’s Insurance Companies

7. Employer’s Benefit Office

8. Pension Fund (not the same as the employer in this case)

9. The family attorney

10.All the deceased’s doctors (8 in this case)

11. Apartment or Nursing Home Management

12. Investment Houses

13. Banks (hopefully you will have the safety deposit box key, we didn’t)

14. Credit card Companies (not a pleasant experience)

II Planning for the Funeral

1. Funeral Home (of course)

2. Minister

3. Musicians

4. Family Members

5. Friends (this is dangerous as people can get their feelings hurt if handled poorly)

III Closing Down the Apartment

1. Moving and Storage Companies

2. Apartment Management to Coordinate with Movers

3. Phone Company

4. Newspaper

5. Cable TV Company

6. Medical Rental Equipment Companies

7. Change Address with Post Office

8. The Power Company

Now once we receive the death certificates from the funeral home, still an open item, we can begin the process of official legal notification required to bring the financial issues inside and outside the estate to closure.

From the Book of Common Prayer

MAN, that is born of a woman, hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery. He cometh up, and is cut down, like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one stay.

In the midst of life we are in death; of whom may we seek for succour, but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased?

Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.

Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not thy merciful ears to our prayer; but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and merciful Saviour, thou most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from thee.

I AM the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die.

I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though this body be destroyed, yet shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger.