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Helpful Guidelines In A Death |
Helpful Guidelines
Experiencing
the death of a loved one in the family poses many confusing questions.
Particularly working out all the details and arrangements. It is my hope
that these guidelines will assist in helping you to make informed
decisions.
Please
note that most contact information is written for my community but the
subject material is helpful for all those who need assistance working out
the details of all that needs to be done.
Autopsy-Post
Mortem Examination -
Medical Cause of
Death |
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Immediate
Things To Be Done
If no immediate family is available, notify a close friend.
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Notify:
Pastor/Priest/Religious Leader.
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Notify:
other family members, by phone or letter if anyone is a long distance
away.
Note: Many airlines offer compassionate travel assistance at much lower fares.
Notify:
Friends, school and work related Manager/Supervisor or colleagues. -
Please
keep a list of all names, from those who sent condolences, flowers,
etc.. so a thank you card can be sent later.
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Viewing
of your loved one:
During
the hours of 8:00am-8:00pm. the "Quick Response Worker" at
Prince George Regional Hospital
can
assist in the viewing. Phone the Quick Response pager at
250-561-6339. or
phone PGRH switchboard at 250-565-2000 and ask to be connected to the
Quick
Response person on call.
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Arrange
hospitality for visiting relatives and friends. Extra items may be needed,
such as; chairs, bedding, dishes, transportation etc..
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Coordinate
the need for food as well as child care, as needed in the next few days.
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Please
have someone as soon as possible, keep notes of ALL of the many things
that need
to be done, both in the short and long term.
Writing
each of these things down will be very helpful in organizing short term
arrangements. But
also for information later on. Family will really benefit to focus on some
of the long term details that have to be taken care of, such as: estate,
life insurance, vehicle insurance, banking
details etc....
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Words of Condolences
Words of Condolences message samples for expressing words of sympathy to
someone after the loss of a loved one.
Use these condolence examples to help you write your condolences in
cards or letters of sympathy.
Please view this website;
www.obituarieshelp.org/words_of_condolences_hub.html
Decide
on funeral home
Options:
Prince
George BC
Assman’s
Funeral Chapel Ph. 564-4431
Lakewood
Funeral Home Ph. 562-5915
Prince
George Funeral Home Ph. 564-3880
Call
the Funeral Home to make an appointment.
Note:
Deciding on a funeral home does NOT need to be done the first day after
death. A
better time is, when other family members have arrived to make a more
informed decision. Each
of the funeral homes have some very dedicated staff who can assist you in
many helpful ways. Please take someone along to the funeral home
appointment - an individual who can keep notes. The funeral director will
give some information which the family must do.
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Funeral
Costs & Insurance Benefits
Notify
Lawyer and/or
In
many cases all or part of the funeral expenses may be paid by one of the
following:
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Insurance
Policies - please check for coverage on insurance policies
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ICBC
motor vehicle policy; work related policies
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work
related policies, credit union, trade union, fraternal and/or
military organization.
Check
the policies for Funeral expenses as well as long term survival
benefits.
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Canada
Pension Plan
- Please phone 1-800-277-9914 give them the deceased
social
security number and they will advise you on eligibility.
The
amount available varies according how much has been paid into the
plan.
Maximum
amount available is $2500.00
Forms
for filing are available from Canada Pension at 1190 - 2nd. Ave,
Prince George, BC
Funeral
home will also assist in filling out Canada Pension Plan forms.
Note:
there are no benefits for children or those who have not contributed
into the
Canada
Pension Plan.
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Ministry
of Human Resources - Phone 250- 565-6220 and ask for the closest office to
you. If the deceased was on social assistance, please call his/her
social
worker
direct. If a family is not on social assistance but there is
destitution in
the
family, an appointment can be made with a social worker. Please call
the
above
phone number for referral to the office closest to you.
Note:
The funeral home has information on the type of funeral Social
Services are
able
to pay for.
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Workers
Compensation
- if the death is work related and the employer was
paying benefits
on behalf of the employee, then there are funeral benefits of
approximately $2950.00 Phone 604-279-7460 "Judicator" Mr.
Bill Blackler
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Crime
Victim Assistance Act (CVAA)
(previously
called: Criminal
Injury Compensation (CIC))
1-800-661-2112 Local 6400
If
the death is related to a criminal event you need to file a CVAA form.
Please
ask the
RCMP
Victim Services
for a copy of the form and assistance to
fill
it out if needed.
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Check
on all debts and installment payments. Some carry life insurance
clauses that will cancel them. Consult with creditors.
If
your loved one lived alone, notify Landlord if renting, Utilities and
advise Post Office to forward mail.
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| Funeral
Arrangement
Funeral home directors can
assist with details for most of the items below.
- Make complete list of
family and friends who will be invited.
- Decide on type of
funeral - Burial or Cremation.
- Decide on time and place
where service will be held - Church or Funeral
Home
Chapel.
- Who will lead the
service.
- Type of service, music,
songs, select readings, special message by family or friends.
- Clothing for your loved
one.
- Special items may be
placed in the coffin: a special poem, farewells........
- Pall Bearers - select
and notify them - please keep in mind those who are unable to
do this due to health or
age reasons.
- Flowers and/or
donations to a special cause.
- Funeral home can assist
with special designated envelopes.
- Prepare memorial
bulletin.
- Funeral home can assist
in preparation and printing.
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Newspaper
announcement.
Name, Date of Birth,
Picture, Family Relations, Time and Place of Service,
Person who is
Officiating.
- Other items to include:
education, degrees, memberships held,
military services,
outstanding work, list of survivors in immediate family, etc..
- After service
reception, time and place.
- Death Certificates are
available from Funeral Home Director. Please ask for several
copies.
The Funeral Service
Association of BC has some helpful information on their website
BC Funerals |
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Autopsy-Post
Mortem Examination
An autopsy is a medical
examination of the body after death has occurred. The autopsy is performed
at the hospital by a specialist in the medical field of pathology, in an
effort to determine the exact cause of death. There are times when the
attending physician may request the autopsy, or the family themselves may
request one.
In some circumstances, a
coroner may be required to investigate the death, and if required, he/she
has the authority to order an autopsy without the consent of the
next-of-kin.
Medical Cause of
Death
The physician provides the
funeral director with a completed "Physicians Medical Certification
of Death", which in turn must be submitted to the local division
registrar before the death can be officially registered and a burial
permit issued. The Vital Statistics Act, however, prohibits the funeral
director or anyone else to breach the confidentiality of this document.
Therefore, the immediate and antecedent causes of death cannot be divulged
to anyone. Family members may wish to know the exact cause of death of the
deceased. This information and all autopsy results are made available to
immediate family members trough the attending physician or the coroner
only. It is necessary then, for family members to make a follow-up
appointment with the doctor or coroner to obtain this information. Please
allow about six weeks for the full autopsy report to be available.
For a FULL report on the role of
the Coroner please go to:
Coroner
Role
Prince George Hospice Society |
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