Funeral Preparation Action List

Bishop’s Funeral Preparation Action List
Deceased:
Spouse / Children:
Phone:
Address:

Initial Visit-1. Call the survivors and ask to visit as soon as possible.
2. Visit as a bishopric.
3. Offer sympathy and condolences
4. Offer assistance in any way. Remember there is no right or wrong way to mourn. Everyone mourns differently. Be patient and kindly offer a sympathetic ear and a caring heart. Comfort is more important than counsel during the first visit.
5. Make an appointment for the following day to discuss any funeral arrangements. Give the family some time to deal with the shock before worrying about anything else.
6. Leave a copy of Elder Packer’s talk ‘Funerals, a Time for Reverence.’ Ensign, Nov 1988. Ask the family to read it before planning the funeral.
7. Offer a priesthood blessing on the survivors if warranted.
8. Leave with a prayer

Second Visit-1. Funeral planning. Offer help and assistance. Tell the family you can do as much or as little as they feel comfortable during this difficult time.
2. Offer and encourage the church building for the funeral service and viewing.
Benefits vs. Mortuary include financial savings to the family, better opportunity for an appropriate Spirit filled service, missionary opportunity for non members who may visit our church for the first time.
3. Other family members involved in the planning:
Names, Relationship, Phone #
4. Mortuary:
Funeral Director
Address
Phone
5. Funeral date and time
Funeral location
Viewing dates and times
6. Inform them that if they choose to use the chapel, there are a few guidelines to follow. Review church funeral guidelines per Elder Packers talk.
a. Stress the three purposes of a funeral
1. Bring family and friends together to mourn and renew
2. Provide a fitting tribute to the deceased
3. Teach gospel principles
b. Proper format is to closely follow that of a Sacrament meeting.
7. Suggested outline and agenda:
FUNERAL SERVICEFUNCTION ----------NAME RELATION ----------WHO WILL CONTACT

Family Prayer:
Conducting: ------------Generally Bishop
Chorister:
Organist:
Opening Hymn
Invocation:
Obituary: ---------------Generally Bishop
Eulogy:
Musical Number:
Remarks:
Musical Number:
Remarks:
Closing Hymn:
Benediction:

INTERNMENTGrave dedication

8. If the family prefers a graveside service only, still offer to conduct and help in any other appropriate way.
9. Offer again any help with the music, remarks, etc.
10. Ask them to call you with the final agenda as soon as possible.
11. Offer a luncheon for the family after the services. Stress it is reserved for the family and special quests. Offer to handle everything. Some wards ask the family to pay for the ham for larger groups. Ask the family for a count for the dinner.
12. Close with a prayer.

Funeral Preparation1. Call to reserve building. Funerals supersede all other scheduled activities.
2. Call custodians to inform them of date and time.
3. Call Relief Society president with funeral and meal information. Ask them to contact visiting teachers and then publicize the funeral time and place.
4. Call Priesthood Leaders with funeral information and to make table and chair assignments.
Set Up who_________________________ When__________________________
Take Down who _____________________ When _________________________
Ask them to contact home teachers and then publicize the funeral time and place.
5. Call Mortuary
a. Confirm family has scheduled the funeral and viewing. Usually a viewing is
scheduled at the Mortuary the night before the funeral and then another one at the church an hour or two before the funeral.
b. Confirm when the Funeral directors want access to the building.
c. Send or receive ( fax, email) a final copy of program.
6. Call the family and go over program and ask them for preferred name pronunciations. It is always important to the family that you pronounce names correctly during the service.
7. Call the family everyday between the death and the funeral to reassure them you are available and are thinking of them.
8. Announce the passing in the following sacrament meeting along with the date and time of funeral if it has not yet been held.

Print a copy of this Action List post here:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0By0wB6jDaC-hUjhJZ0psVWVZbzg/edit

Then refer to ‘Funeral Conducting & Agenda’ here:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0By0wB6jDaC-ha0gwM21pT3EzUVU/edit