What To Do When Death Occurs | Peacock Funeral Home | Whiteville NC funeral home and cremation

When a death occurs in your family, you will be faced with important tasks and decision-making during a very difficult time. You may not know what to do or when to begin making arrangements, and bearing the responsibility can be overwhelming. Remember that you are not alone: Peacock Funeral Home is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to assist you with the details and offer our guidance. We have compiled the following list to help guide you through the steps you will need to take when a death has occurred. Your funeral director will help coordinate all of the details when you meet for an arrangement conference.

1. After a death has occurred, notify Peacock Funeral Home by calling (910} 642-4141. Although we are usually notified by Hospitals, Nursing Facilities, Hospice Nurses, Medical Examiners, etc., we also want the family to contact us as soon as possible.

The following are some questions that we may ask when you call:

What is your contact number? (telephone, cell phone)
What is the name, address and phone number of the next-of kin?
Is there a pre-arranged funeral plan?

We will then set an appointment time for you to come to the funeral home to complete the details of the funeral arrangement. We will ask you to bring in some items and information that will be necessary to complete the arrangement. These items will include:

Clothing for the deceased (for women clothes closed to the neckline and long sleeves). Include all undergarments also.
Social security number of the deceased
Locate and bring insurance policy(s), our funeral home can file claims for you
The deceased's birth date and county and state of birth
The deceased's parents names, including mother's maiden name
Information about the deceased's education
Marital status of the deceased
Veteran's discharge papers (DD214) or Claim Number for burial flag
A recent photograph of the deceased for website obituary
Up to 35 pictures(photo album pictures, newspaper clippings, etc.) for DVD memorials if desired
Pre-arrangement paperwork (if applicable)
Cemetery lot information (if applicable)

2. Contact your clergy of the death and his availability. Our funeral home will assist you in scheduling time and day of service

3. The funeral home will assist you in determining the number of copies of the death certificates that you will need

4. Make a list of family, friends and business colleagues, and notify each by phone. You may wish to use a "branching" system: make a few phone calls to other relatives or friends and ask each of them to make a phone call or two to specific people

5. Decide on an appropriate charity to which gifts may be made (church, hospice, library, organization, school), and address, if applicable

6. Gather obituary information, including a photo, age, place of birth, cause of death, occupation, college degrees, memberships held, military service, outstanding work and a list of survivors in the immediate family. Include the time and place of the funeral services. The funeral home will usually write the obituary and submit it to the newspaper(s). This information is needed during arrangement appointment.

7. Arrange for family members and/or close friends to take turns answering the door or phone. Keeping a careful record of visitors and flower deliveries will make it easier to thank people later on

8. If Social Security checks are deposited automatically, notify the bank of the death. Our funeral home will notify Social Security

9. Social Security benefit: pays $255 to surviving spouse or minor child if eligible

10. Delegate special needs of the household, such as cleaning, food preparation, etc., to friends and family who offer their help

11. Arrange for child care, if necessary

12. Arrange hospitality for visiting relatives and friends

13. Select pallbearers and notify the funeral home. (People with heart or back difficulties may be named honorary pallbearers)

14. Plan for the disposition of potted plants after service

15. Prepare a list of distant friends and relatives to be notified

16. Prepare a list of people to receive acknowledgments of flowers, calls, etc.

17. Send appropriate acknowledgments, which may be a written note, printed acknowledgments, or both. Include "thank yous" to those who have given their time, as well

18. Notify insurance companies of the death

19. Locate the will and notify the lawyer and executor

20. Check promptly on all debts and installment payments, including credit cards. Some may carry insurance clauses that will cancel them. If there is to be a delay in meeting payments, consult with creditors and ask for more time before the payments are due

21. If the deceased was living alone, notify the utility companies and landlord and tell the post office where to send the mail