Preparing for a Loved One’s Death

As providers of cremation services in Longview, TX, we understand death is never an easy thing to deal with. Even if the passing comes from old age and was expected it can still be devastating. Preparing for death before it happens can be a very difficult thing to do but can make all the difference in how it is handled when the time comes.

Although the passing will still be painful, the process of making arrangements, etc. can run more smoothly allowing you more time to focus on healing rather than the stresses of handling such arrangements. If you aren’t quite sure how to start preparing for a loved one’s death, keep reading as we cover some tips below.

Have a Family Meeting

It is important to discuss with your family what will be happening and who will handle what roles. As uncomfortable as this may be, it is so important to ensure everything gets handle with the proper care and attention. If you have family that lives further away that will also be involved, you could have a meeting digitally with conferencing software such as Zoom. During this meeting it is important to cover things such as:

- Who will be responsible for making the funeral arrangements?

- Who will be the main caregiver?

- Who will help to handle their affairs and making sure they are all in order?

- How will their memory be honored?

- Are there any special final wishes the loved one has and who will ensure those happen?

Make sure to note everything that is said and assigned so there are no questions or confusion once the time comes.

Gather All Important Documents

Making sure you have all the documents you need completed and organized can go a long way in helping everything run smoothly later. Some of the documents you should have are:

- A Power of Attorney (POA)- This document allows you the right and legal authority to make decisions on behalf of your loved one. These decisions can be financial and/or medical should that become incapable of doing do.

- A Will- This document is important as it outlines any final wishes your loved one has as well as how they want their estate to be handled and divided.

- An Advance-Directive- This document will outline any wishes your loved one has when it comes to their end-of-life care. This also includes things like DNR (Do Not Resuscitate).

- List of Passwords- Having a list of your loved one’s passwords will help immensely when trying to handle their accounts

- Any paperwork from cemeteries or funeral homes – If your loved one preplanned any arrangements, make sure to have any and all paperwork and contracts

Ask Your Loved One Questions

Make sure you take time to spend with your loved one. Talk to them. Ask them questions about their life. Get to know who they really are and who they were. Ask questions about their childhood and how they grew up. Who was their best friend? What did they enjoy doing? Learn all you can about who they were and what their life was truly like. If you would like more information on how to prepare for cremation services in Longview, TX., give us a call or come by as we are always here to help.