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When Death Occurs Within A Family
(Continued from home page)
-Once the family or person in charge of handling the arrangements
has decided on the funeral home they desire to use for services,
call the funeral home and leave the telephone line open for at least
10 minutes (please keep in mind that often times funeral directors
are conducting funerals, in an arrangement conference, running errands,
etc., and need time to return your call after we have been paged).
When the funeral director or representative returns your call, please
have ready the full name of the deceased, the place of death or
location of the deceased, your name or contact person and telephone
number. If possible please inform the funeral director at that time
if you are planning to have a funeral ceremony with an open casket
(this will let the funeral director know whether to embalm the deceased).
The state of Connecticut does not require that a person be embalmed
except when there will be viewing of the deceased by the public.
Before you inform other relatives and friends about the day and
time of the funeral and/or viewing hour(s), please confirm it with
the funeral director and clergy person/church FIRST.
-When you meet with the funeral director to make arrangements for
the funeral service, please bring the following information regarding
the deceased:
- last address
- marital status
- city and state of birth
- date of birth
- father's name
- mother's maiden name
- last occupation and employer
- social security number
- highest education
- name of last spouse
- veteran's information (if applicable).
Also have the names and cities of residence of all the children,
brothers and sisters. If deceased was a veteran, please locate the
military discharge papers (Form DD-214) and bring them to
the funeral director. If the family will be using insurance proceeds
to pay for the funeral expenses, please bring the policy if the
policy has been in force for at least two years. The funeral
home will take an assignment on the policy if the insurance company
allows it.
-Clothing:
Women - underclothes, stockings or knee hi's, dress or suit
(high collar and long sleeves).
Men - underclothes, socks, suit, shirt and tie.
(Casual clothing may be used also.)
-On the day of the funeral, please make sure you inform all family
and friends that will be in the funeral procession, to be at the
pickup location prior to the scheduled arrival time of the limousine(s).
Please make sure there is ample parking space for the limousine(s)
in FRONT of the house. If there is more than one limousine,
the first limousine should include the spouse and children. The
second one should include brothers, sisters and any other family
members or friends.
-The Social Security Administration provides a one-time
lump sum death benefit of $255 to a surviving spouse or dependent
child (under 18-years-old).
-The Department of Veterans' Affairs will provide a flag,
grave marker, reimbursement for the installation of the marker and
possibly a monetary death benefit depending on the cost of the funeral,
financial need and place of death. In order to receive these benefits,
the family must provide the funeral home with a copy of the veterans'
DD-214 Honorable Discharge Papers. Please Note: The Department
of Veterans' Affairs will not pay all of the funeral expenses
to bury your loved one; this is a very popular misconception. The
amount they give is a nominal amount. When there is a flag that
drapes the casket, there is no need for the family to purchase a
casket spray.
-The Connecticut Department of Social Services will pay
a MAXIMUM amount of $1,200 toward the funeral expenses depending
on need and often times, the cost of the funeral. The funeral director
will apply for this stipend and it is paid directly to the funeral
home.
-It is at the discretion of the family as to whether they desire
to give the clergy person an honorarium (donation) and include it
in the funeral contract. If the family decides to communicate with
the minister directly, please inform the funeral director so that
he or she can relay that to the clergy person. If the service is
held at the funeral home, and the director has to request a minister
and organist on behalf of the family, the appropriate fees will
be included on the funeral bill.
-The local cemeteries close earlier on Saturday than during
the week. Therefore, services must begin, usually at 9:00 AM. Hamden
Plains and Evergreen Cemeteries require that all services
be concluded and out of the cemetery before 11:30 AM, and Beaverdale
Cemetery is 11:45 AM.
Please feel free to call us with any specific questions or concerns.
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