Death is as difficult as it is inevitable. When we lose someone close to us, we experience a torrent of emotions and stress. But the world doesn’t stop moving just because our world has changed. We still need to handle important responsibilities and take care of important tasks. Here’s what you need to do when a loved one dies.
First things first: family and other concerns
When someone passes away, the loved ones must be notified as soon as possible. Depending on your relationship to the deceased, this may be your responsibility — but you can and should ask others to pass the news along. If your spouse passes away, for instance, you should notify your children, but you should not feel that you have to personally call every neighbor or friend from work; let others help you complete a phone tree.
Other immediate concerns include notifying the proper authorities and arranging for organ donation. If your loved one dies in a hospital, this process will be managed; otherwise, call the authorities right away.
Practical and immediate concerns: pets, cars, and more
When a loved one dies, our thoughts rarely turn to chores and responsibilities. But you should take a moment at this stressful and upsetting time to remember the little things.
Did your loved one have pets? Make a call and ask a friend or a neighbor to drop by to feed the animals. And things don’t have to be alive to need upkeep. A pool can develop costly problems if not cared for, for instance, and you shouldn’t forget about your loved one’s vehicle, say experts who offer automotive, diesel and collision repair academic programs. From maintaining and cleaning a house or apartment to feeding the fish, you’ll need to consider a lot of little things during this time of wrestling with larger sadnesses. Enlist friends and family to help, and things will come together.
Saying goodbye: cremation, burial, and other end-of-life options
Saying goodbye to a loved one means something different for all of us, but traditional ceremonies and end-of-life services can be a powerful way to honor our loved one’s memory and can give us a chance to grieve and process things.
Setting up such things can take time and money, but the process doesn’t have to be overwhelming, explain the experts at Legacy Cremation Services. You’ll get lots of help from the kind professionals who work in this space, and you may be able to work with a funeral director to keep payments simplified and stress levels low.
Turn to your loved one’s will and other records to make sure that you’re following any final wishes, and keep in contact with loved ones to make sure that everyone is in the loop on important decisions. With the help of professionals, you’ll be able to create a moving and beautiful tribute, and you’ll get a chance to say goodbye to the person who meant so much to you.
Legal matters: wills and probate
There’s a legal process that kicks off when someone dies, so work with a probate attorney to ensure that your loved one’s final wishes are respected. If your loved one left a will, this process will be a lot easier; but you should still expect it to take time. Understand that there are legal hoops to jump through. Be patient, and let your lawyer handle the red tape. When you need to make decisions, your lawyer should communicate clearly with you and any other parties concerned.
Make time and space to grieve
This is a difficult time for you, and while tasks like the ones above can sometimes help fill time and keep you sane, you do need to take moments to experience your own grief. Take breaks and ask others to handle things when you need time alone, and consider seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist. Be kind to yourself, and you’ll get through this tough time.
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