What to bring to the arrangements conference

There is basic information about your loved on that is required or helpful to complete the death certificate, notify agencies, arrange for benefits and prepare newspaper notices. 

For the death certificate:

Regarding your deceased loved one:
full legal name

legal address

date of birth and place of birth (city, state, country)

Marital Status: never married; married; widowed; divorced

If married, widowed or divorced:  name of, including maiden name if female, of the last spouse, regardless of the marital status.  If a person is married more than once, it is the name of the most recent spouse that appears on the death certificate.

Father's name

Father's place of birth: need only the state if in US, or name of country if outside US

Mother's name, including maiden name

Mother's place of birth; need only state if in US, or name of country if outside US

Race: white/black/ Asian; if mixed race, the vital records office asks what the deceased considered himself or herself

Of Hispanic descent?i if so, from where?

Social security number

Highest level of education completed: example, 12 years of high school; _ number of year of college;

_ number of years of graduate work completed

If ever served in US Armed Forces: yes or no

If yes to serving honorably in any of the US Armed Forces, a copy of the honorable discharge record is most helpful in securing benefits and fully completing the Massachusetts death certificate

The name and mailing address of the closest next-of-kin or the responsible party, and their relationship to the deceased.

For the newspapers:

Notices may be placed by the family, friends or the funeral home.  When placed by someone other than a funeral home, the newspaper staff will require the contact information of the funeral home for verification, and a credit card to pay for the publication fee.

The newspapers will publish according to their format. The amount of information included will reflect the cost for the notice, and most papers charge a fee to print the notice.  A death notice is the term used for the abbreviated notice most often seen in the daily papers.  To keep costs down, the death notices usually lists family members, the service plans and memorial contribution information.  The obituary refers to the story form notice that usually appears in the more local papers.  The fee charged is also based on space, but usually at a lower cost per line or inch.  

Common information to appear in the newspaper:

The names of all the next-of-kin tor close friends to be listed in the paper:

Spouse; children and spouses; grandchildren and great-grandchildren (to cut down on publication fees, those who have large families often do not list all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren, rather have a total number of each) brothers and sisters (with or without their spouses' names) 

Organizations to which the person belonged; where the person was employed; military service information; hobbies and interests; memorial contribution contact information.

You may also arrange to have a photo included with the death notice and/or obituary.  This may be scanned at the funeral home, or you may send it electronically to the funeral home or newspaper.  There is an additional charge to print a photo with the notice.

Clothing for the Deceased

It is common to use a full set of clothing, including underwear, socks or stockings, and sometime even shoes if so desired.  Avoid clingy, sheer fabrics and short sleeves; a layered look of a blouse or shirt with a jacket or sweater works well.  Looser fitting clothes are also better.   The style is a family decision; some families prefer traditional suits and blazer for men, and suits or dresses for women.  Other families choose more casual clothing.

It's also very helpful to loan to us a fairly recent photo that show how the person styled their hair and their complexion.  If your loved one wore glasses or a wig, those items should also be provided.

Many families also provide jewelry for the services. Most families ask that the jewelry be returned, however some people choose inexpensive items meant to stay with the person, and often people request that wedding bands remain with the deceased.  We will do as instructed.