First Steps to Take

The first few days following the death of a loved one are the most difficult, yet that is when so many details need your attention.  The staff at Johnson-Tiller Funeral Home understands and is here to help you every step of the way.  

If your loved one passes away at home and is under hospice care, then hospice will contact us and provide all the necessary information relating to your loved one’s passing. 

For any other situation where your loved one passes at home, we suggest calling 911 in addition to us.  We will get the necessary information from the local hospital.

Next, you should make a list of family members, friends, employer, and clergy to call.  It can be difficult for anyone to remember, during this time, who has been called and who needs to be.  This list may be given to another family member if the spouse finds these calls to difficult to make.  Arrange for this or another family member to take calls and answer the door for visitors offering early condolences, keeping careful records of those calls.

Decide which family members will be involved in making arrangements and when to meet at the funeral home.  When making arrangements, you will want to bring:

• A picture (if desired) for the obituary notice
  
• Any insurance information if there is a policy (if the policy can not be located, then the name and policy number will help us locate copies from the company).  Also, if the individual retired from a company, they may have death benefits through the employer.
  
• Discharge papers if the loved one was a veteran
  
• If a viewing is desired, then bring clothing for the viewing (including undergarments)
  

Gather obituary information including:  date and place of birth, mother and father’s names, social security number, marital status, occupation, educational information (this does not need to be included in the obituary but will need to be included in other paperwork), memberships held, military service, outstanding work, list of survivors in the immediate family and any other information for which your loved one was known (such as a love of quilts, gardening, volunteering, etc.).  During your family conference, we will submit the obituary information to your desired newspapers as well as submit insurance information.  We will also help with estate probating.

Contact your clergy to coordinate the date and time of the funeral is acceptable.

*NOTE*- This information contained on this site does not replace legal advice.