This pamphlet has been prepared with the intent of helping you through this difficult time. Following my husband's death, I made two mistakes which took months to rectify. But a year later, while handling his mother's affairs, I was fully prepared. And I trust, with this information at hand you will be too.
It is never appealing to prepare for the loss of a loved one, but some things should be done in advance. To make this easier for you, the following steps are kindly offered.
In the case of an adult, try to do beforehand:
- Locate his/her Social Insurance Number (S.I.N.), Health Card Number, medical benefits card(s), birth or baptismal certificate and marriage certificate, if applicable, name and birth place of parents
- Locate his/her will, or have one prepared. If necessary, determine before going to a lawyer who will act as executor or legal representative (will forms are also available at office supply stores)
- Fill out a “living will” form, also available at office supply stores or arrange with the doctor(s) to use artificial means of keeping the patient alive, or not
- Arrange to have his/her bank account(s) made joint as well as authorize access to his/her safety deposit box. Stocks, bonds and shares in companies should also be jointly owned to avoid probate of the will. Power of Attorney to handle the patient's affairs ceases at time of death
Make arrangements with the funeral home. You will be asked:
- Who will perform the service? They will contact someone if necessay
- Where the funeral service will be held – in a church, their chapel or another location?
- Which hymns or music selections and scripture passages(s) will be part of the service (the words of special hymns should be photocopied for those attending)
- Who will give the eulogy, if any or say a few words during the service?
- Whether the family or the funeral home personnel will supply pallbearers
For the newspaper announcement, you will need to supply names of relatives, names of charities to which friends may wish to donate and in which newspaper(s) it will appear. The funeral director will assist with wording.
You will also be asked:
- To select a casket; whether the casket will be open for family and/or friends
- If cremation is the choice, you may wish to choose an urn
- If display boards for pictures will be required for the visitation room
- If mementos, e.g. pictures, awards, will be arranged in visitation room
- Make arrangements for burial (the funeral director may do this by phone after consultation with you)
Concerning the burial, you will be asked which is preferred:
- Earth burial or cremation
- A plot side-by-side of one above the other. In the case of cremation where the ashes will be interred or kept
- Whether a tombstone or grave marker will be arranged for now or later
- If perpetual care of grounds is desired or not. A burial vault to protect the casket is, in some cases, mandatory
- Possibly visit a florist to choose a casket spray. (books to look through are made available) Inform florist of funeral home and visitation time. Decide how flowers received will be distributed following the funeral
- Inform/confer with those acting as pallbearers, giving the eulogy or saying a few words during the service. Clergy and funeral director can help with questions
- If you wish a reception following the interment, the funeral home or local church may offer space. Catering services or platters of food may be ordered to be served in a relative's home. (when planning the time for a funeral, take into consideration an eleven o'clock service will mean lunch)
- Make a list of relatives and friends to be contacted, along with their phone numbers. You can ask for help with these phone calls
When the time comes:
A doctor must first sign a medical certificate of death, wherever the death occurs.
Then you will:
- Inform the funeral home (at any hour of the day or night). They will transfer deceased from place of death to funeral home
- Taking clothing for the deceased, including undergarments and a recent photograph with you to the funeral home at time of arrangement. Pictures and mementos depicting his/her life could also be taken at this time (or later) if you wish
If you are not the executor, have him/her help out. If you are:
- Have the funeral director contact the clergy or whoever will be taking the service. The time will then be determined for the service and hours of visitation. Also the number of cars required
- Finalize the wording of the obituary. The funeral director will help with wording and placement in papers. The funeral director will complete necessary legal documentation
- Sign documents at the cemetery for the grave to be opened (payment for interment is usually required within 30 days)
Following the funeral:
You will be supplied by the funeral director with the proof of death certificates as well as a form with which to claim the death benefit from Canada Pension Plan (if the deceased has paid into it).
As soon as possible:
- Pick up personal belongings of the deceased from hospital/nursing home and funeral home
- Supply the bank or trust company with a death certificate and if requested, copy of the will. They will stop deposit of Old Age Security (O.A.S), Canada Pension Plan (C.P.P.), Government Sales Tax (G.S.T.) rebate and other pension cheques into the bank account of the deceased, in the month following his/her death. (this may apply only in Ontario) This avoids having to return them. If they are mailed, write “Return to Sender” on the envelope and put in mail
- Send a death certificate to the above government departments
If you are the spouse of the deceased:
- Take a death certificate and copy of will to the Department of Transport to have ownership of any vehicle changed to your name, if necessary. Also cancel driver's license of the deceased
- Inform insurance firms, including those covering life, health, hospitalization, home and vehicle, sending copies of the death certificate
- Change the beneficiaries of your policies, also your own will, if necessary
- Ensure executor claims Canada Pension death benefit, using the form supplied by the funeral director. To make this claim, you will supply:
- Verified copies of birth or baptismal certificate
- Social insurance number card for the deceased as well as yourself and any dependant children
- Marriage certificate
- Death certificate and a copy of contract or invoice for the funeral
- Your bank manager, lawyer, pharmacist, etc. can verify your photocopies
- Provide death certificates and possibly copies of the will for firm(s) concerning investments, e.g. Registered Retirement Savings Plan (R.R.S.P.), Registered Retirement Income Fund (R.R.I.F.), Guaranteed Investment Certificates (G.I.C.s), etc.
- Prepare or have prepared a (Terminal) T1 Tax Return. If the death occurs between January 1 and October 31, the latest filing date is April 30 of the year following. If between November 1 to December 31, the tax return must be filed within six months following the death. If a person dies after December 31, but before April 30, special rules can apply. (may apply to Ontario only)
- A helpful preparation guide is available from your local Tax Service Office without charge. Also a T1 General Income Tax Return form, as well as Schedules and Benefit Guide will be supplied on request
- Information to be included in the Tax Return will be sent to you during the next three months, e.g. C.P.P. benefits received
Write thank you notes for flowers and charitable donations (not sympathy cards). Donor's names and addresses will be mailed to you by the firm(s) receiving them.
Dear Friends,
Hulse, Playfair & McGarry was privileged to help the author of this pamphlet, Evelyn Ball, through her own time of loss in the past. Through her experience in handling the affairs of a deceased loved one, she acquired invaluable knowledge into what one is required to do. Ms. Ball approached us in early 2000 to see if we would assist her with the production and distribution of a pamphlet detailing her experiences with settling an estate, arranging for a funeral, etc. She had already prepared the pamphlet on her home computer and was offering it to those friends who were handling the affairs of a loved one. When approached, we read and were very impressed with the information within the pamphlet. Although we ensured the information was accurate, we purposely did not alter the text, format or wording. Ms. Ball had already thoughtfully prepared this pamphlet. Hulse, Playfair & McGarry is very pleased to have made this pamphlet available for public use in the hope that it will be of assistance to anyone planning funeral arrangements.
Sincerely,
Patrick McGarry
Vice President
McGarry Family Chapels
Hulse, Playfair & McGarry
