Sheetz Funeral Home by bereavementpartners

QUALITY, SINCERITY & TRUST

Welcome

Welcome to the Sheetz Funeral Home Information Booklet.

We are proud to present our guide to you: our community, our friends, our families, as a guide to assist you, as you explore and learn about the many subjects relating to end-of-life matters. This thoughtfully prepared booklet offers guidance on matters of grief and many others. It also offers information on preplanning and provides an area for you to record your personal wishes and desires. Speaking of one’s own mortality is difficult, but each of us probably has some thoughts about how we might like to be remembered, or maybe what we would not want. Recording this information is an unselfish gift to each of your loved ones, and should bring you peace of mind. Of course the funeral service professionals at Sheetz Funeral Home are available for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation, on any matters relating to pre-planning or at-need care.

Sheetz Funeral Home endeavors to provide the highest standards of professional care, to those we have the honor to serve. We welcome your feedback and take seriously the trust you have place in us.

Our Story

Learn our story, from the beginning and into the future.

The Sheetz Funeral Home began with the simple role of a carpenter and his service to the community in which he resided.

During the 1890s, Alvin C. Sheetz, a carpenter and home builder from East Petersburg, was asked to provide wooden caskets to families in his community. In 1895 he began a career in funeral service that would include 4 generations of his family and provide death care services to others at a time of need. He was officially licensed in 1899 and formally opened the Sheetz Funeral Home on Carpenter Street in East Petersburg in 1899. In 1921, his son, Roy B. Sheetz opened the second Sheetz Funeral Home at the current location, 16 East Main Street, Mount Joy. Roy was not only a funeral director but as many before him, he was a furniture dealer as well. He purchased the business from HW Brunner, of Mount Joy where his ad in the Mount Joy Bulletin from 1923 promoted his business as “Purveyor of Fine Furniture, and Funeral Directing”. He married Rebecca H. Siegrist Sheetz and together they had two sons Gerald and Richard Sheetz.

In 1928, Alvin and his son Roy moved the East Petersburg Funeral Home to a Lancaster City location which was the former home of George Ross, prominent lawyer and member of the Continental Congress. He had the honor of being one of 56 men known as “Signers” as his signature is recorded on the Declaration of Independence. The Lancaster location operated until Roy’s death in 1961.

Gerald R. Sheetz, also known as “Jerry” carried the family tradition forward as the third generation to be dedicating a life to service to others. In 1949 he married Mary Reich Sheetz. In 1951, Jerry and Mary opened their business in Mount Joy. Then in 1968, together, they achieved one of Jerry’s lifelong ambitions, when he and Mary repurchased his birthplace and home to Roy and Rebecca located at the current Funeral Home location, 16 East Main Street, Mount Joy.

Jonathan R. Sheetz, “Jon” joined the Sheetz Funeral Home in 1987, and represents the fourth generation of his family to serve the Mount Joy community as a funeral director. Perhaps, the tradition that Jon is most proud to carry on is “teamwork,” an ideal imparted to him by his parents. His teamwork attitude extends to his business practices as he seeks to engage the needy and willing in creating the ideal and fitting remembrances for those who leave this life before us. A powerful and engaged group of professionals, including Andrew Dieck and Charles “Chad” Habecker, both licensed funeral directors, Joan Rutt, as our Family Advocate, and other professionals join Jon in his business.

He is married to Donna McNamara Sheetz and together, they have three sons, Peter, Stephen, and James.

Who We Are

As a fourth-generation funeral director, I am deeply privileged to lead a team of professionals. I am honored to introduce our dedicated personnel who support our mission: service to our community. Our dedication to the past and present values of Sheetz Funeral Home, Inc. is the heart and soul of our business. - Jon Sheetz

Jonathan R. “Jon” Sheetz Licensed Funeral Supervisor

Nancy L. Hopple Funeral Associate

Vaughn Nissley Funeral Associate

Andrew D. Dieck Licensed Funeral Director

Marica Landis Funeral Associate

Ryan M. Arndt Funeral Associate

Joshua A. Keith Licensed Funeral Director

Joan B. Rutt Family Advocacy Program

Debbie Nissley Funeral Associate

Kristen Kirchhofer Tressler Office Manager

Mary Sheetz Lynam Funeral Associate

Rev. Dr. Donald M. Rising Funeral Associate

The staff at Sheetz Funeral Home made a difficult life event much more bearable. Any and everything we asked for - it was already done or they were taking care of it. Truly the BEST service I have ever experienced with a funeral home!

Charles “Charlie” Ricedorf

We have years of experience caring for families, from all walks of life. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.

Dennis “Denny” Drager Funeral Associate Jeffrey Alexander Funeral Associate

James “Jim” Gruber Funeral Associate

Richard ‘’Dick’’ Smith Funeral Associate

Funeral Associate

Our Services

Design your healing experience. Gather. Remember. Rejoice.

Here’s the truth: most funeral homes consider their primary function to be handling remains. Instead, we think of our job as having two parts: physical and emotional. The physical is burials. The emotional is working with families to design healing experiences. Our peaceful and intimate setting becomes a place where people find closure, renewal and togetherness. And that’s the most rewarding part of what we do.

Honoring Life

Honoring the life of your loved one means you value the relationship you shared. We look forward to helping you decide how to celebrate that bond, and honor the unique individual you’ve lost. We can make suggestions to enhance your tribute ideas. Together we will create a fitting and memorable event.

It’s All about the Relationship

Tribute Videos

Your family photographs are skillfully blended with wonderful graphic images and music, to create an elegantly emotive cinematic video. It can be an integral part of any funeral or memorial service. After the ceremony, the video is sure to become a treasured family keepsake. And, we can make copies as gifts for family and friends.

Personalized Printing

Our Life Tributes memorial bookmarks, service programs, prayer cards, and folders can all include a favorite photo, poem or prose tribute to your loved one. With the variety available to us through Life Tributes, we can add a uniquely caring element to your service, so your guests can leave with a treasured keepsake. It’s tradition…with a twist.

Memorial Websites

The traditional newspaper obituary is quickly being replaced by the memorial website. We’ve taken the concept further than anyone else. Our memorial sites are not just a repository of family photos and videos; they’re Web 2.0 tools for connecting with family and friends, all in honor of your loved one. We invite you to take a tour, so you can see its power to celebrate connections, honor a life, and record the love you shared.

Live Funeral Webcasting

The newest innovation in funeral service, webcasting, allows everyone you love to attend your loved one’s service. A webcast is viewed live over the Internet, archived for delayed viewing, and can be downloaded to DVD for a permanent keepsake.

Endless Possibilities

How Would You Like To Be Honored

Whether you choose burial or cremation, having a service to honor life, and a permanent place to visit remains, is an essential part of the healing process. We’ll educate you on the traditional and nontraditional inclusions in these ceremonies—and help you design an observance that’s as unique as the life it’s about.

How to Honor a Life

It’s about bringing those you love together, at a time of loss. It’s a natural thing to do, and over time, has become a socially-expected practice. More importantly, a funeral or memorial service, whether traditional, or contemporary, is the first step in healing.

You can have your service anywhere, and any way, you want. Your choices include the place of celebration, day of the week, and time of day; the musical selection, what prayers will be said or songs you’d like sung. We can arrange to have doves, butterflies, or balloons released at the close of the service. Keepsake gifts of wildflower seeds or a tree seedling can be given. We’re here to help you create the most memorable and meaningful service to honor your loved one.

Burial or Cremation?

Your next consideration focuses on choosing between burial and cremation. Usually, people are clear on this point. In fact, your loved one may have told you, or someone else, exactly how they wish to be cared for. But it can be a hard decision for some families, especially when the wishes of the deceased were never clearly stated. If that’s the case, please know we’re able to help you come to the perfect decision for your loved one, and for you.

Once you decide, the finer details come into focus. If you’ve chosen burial, then selection of the casket, vault, and desired cemetery follows. Naturally, we’re here to help you.

If cremation is your choice, then you’ll need to make the next decision: whether the cremated remains will be placed in a mausoleum niche, or buried on the cemetery grounds.

In some communities, there’s the option for a ‘green burial.’ If that’s what your loved one would prefer, we’ll help you select an environmentally-friendly choice.

Burial Services

If burial has been selected, usually any ceremonies we design revolve around the casket being present. You can choose to follow tradition, with a viewing, and then a funeral service in a church or memorial chapel. Or you could decide to have a more relaxed service, even in your family home.

Let’s just say this: there is no ‘hard and fast’ formula for honoring your loved one when burial has been selected. We’re here to listen to your concerns, share our experience, and help you to arrive at the perfect way to gather together before your loved one’s interment in the cemetery of your choice.

Cremation Services

Cremation only refers to the manner in which you or your loved one has chosen to deal with the physical remains. We want you to know that this decision doesn’t limit the ways you can honor your loved one’s life. We heartily suggest that you have a funeral or memorial service, because your need for such a healing experience is not lessened by the decision to be cremated. Again, the options are limited only by your imagination. We hope that you will contact us to discuss the wide variety of celebratory options open to you.

Where to begin

Make your choices now, so they don’t fall to your family later.

Planning a funeral can be overwhelming, but you are not alone in this. We’re here to support you throughout this journey and make this process one of love, healing, and life celebration.

Below is some information to help you get started, but you can contact us at any time if you need help.

Within Hours

When a loved one dies at home or in a place that isn’t a healthcare facility, you’ll need to contact emergency personnel before they can be taken into our care. If your loved one was under medical care, it’s a good idea to call their physician as well.

If your loved one was under hospice care, please contact the hospice agency first. One of their staff will come to your home and will notify us when your loved one is ready to be brought to the funeral home.

If your loved one dies in a healthcare facility, they will notify the proper authorities, including the funeral home you have chosen to care for your loved one if they know that information.

This part of the process is often the most emotional, and we are here to help and support you. If you’re not sure what to do, call us any time.

Within the First Few Days

You’ll want to notify close friends and relatives, both through personal phone calls as well as your loved one’s death notice. If this process is too painful for you, it’s absolutely okay to ask a trusted family member or friend to help you.

This also is the time to review any of your loved one’s preplanned funeral wishes and meet with a funeral director to begin planning their service. If your loved one did not preplan their funeral, you might want to start thinking about a few of the big choices you will need to make, such as:

• Burial or cremation

• If burial, the type of casket

• If burial, the location of their final resting place in a grave or mausoleum

• If cremation, the type of urn

• If cremation, the location of their final resting place through burial or scattering

• Contact your clergy or spiritual leaders

• The types of services you want, such as a viewing, service, graveside memorial, etc.

These questions are just a starting point, and you don’t need to know the answers right away. Don’t hesitate to contact us to gain a better understanding of your options. We’re here to make this process easier for you.

What to Expect When We Meet

When you meet with a member of our staff to discuss your arrangements, we’ll first provide you with a general price list to give you a basic idea of what our services cost. We’ll then ask you about your loved one to gain an understanding of the person the services will honor. Use this time to communicate your ideas and preferences, share your loved one’s life story, revisit memories, and highlight their accomplishments. Our professionals will use this information to guide you in the creation of a personalized, meaningful celebration of your loved one’s life.

This process may include:

• Preparing and filing the official death certificate

• Scheduling the services and events (including the location, date, and time)

• Selecting a casket, urn, or other products you may need

• Drafting an obituary

• Arranging necessary transportation

• Selecting pallbearers

We’d like to make this process as smooth and stress-free for you as we can, so remember to bring the following information about your loved one with you as well:

• Full legal name and home address

• Social security number

• Date of birth

• Place of birth

• Father’s name

• Mother’s maiden name

• Veteran’s discharge papers (DD-214), if applicable

• Highest level of education

• Occupation and kind of business or industry

• Information about the burial location if applicable

• Clergy name and phone number if applicable

• Names and relationships of survivors

• Insurance policy information if using to pay for funeral expenses

Please also bring a recent photograph and any clothing you’d like us to use when dressing them for the service.

Service Options

Planning a funeral service can be a very difficult process for families who have just lost a loved one. But it’s important to provide those who are grieving with a supportive environment in which they can begin to find closure, say goodbye, and come to terms with the loss. Gathering with friends and family gives everyone the opportunity to connect, share memories, offer words of sympathy, and create a lasting network of comfort and support as they start the journey toward healing.

Burial Services

There are different services that you can choose for a loved one’s burial, depending upon your individual needs and preferences:

• Immediate burial means that your loved one will be buried or entombed without a public service or gathering.

• Visitation, also called a viewing, wake, or calling hours, allows family and friends to gather in a room with the departed loved one in an open or closed casket and say goodbye or offer their support and sympathy to the bereaved.

• Funeral or memorial services can take place at a funeral home, in a church, or even at your home.

The service is a ceremony which serves to celebrate, honor, and remember the life of the deceased. Whether traditional or unique, both the visitation and the funeral service can be personalized to reflect the individuality of your loved one.

• Graveside, chapel, or committal services are held at the cemetery, and allow family and friends to be present as their loved one is transferred to his or her final disposition.

Cremation Services

The biggest misconception about cremation is that there can’t be a funeral service or visitation. This is absolutely not the case, and we encourage you to consider holding a memorial service to celebrate the life of your loved one as well. There are many options open to you when it comes to honoring your loved one’s life, including the option to have your loved one’s body present at the visitation and/ or service. After the cremation and memorial services, there are a variety of choices for your loved one’s final disposition:

• Interment means that you’ll bury or entomb your loved one’s cremated remains. This can be in a family plot, a memorial site, a cremation niche or urn garden, or in a variety of other indoor and outdoor locations. Ask our staff for a detailed list of interment possibilities.

• Graveside services are similar to those celebrated alongside a traditional ground burial, in which loved ones are present at the burial of the cremated remains and honor the deceased through memorial prayers or other meaningful tributes.

• Scattering allows you to spread your loved one’s cremated remains in a memorial garden, a cemetery, over water, or across any other meaningful site. You also can choose to scatter some of the cremated remains and retain the rest in an urn for interment or another form of disposition.

• Placing cremated remains in multiple urns allows family members who are separated by distance to each feel the comfort of having their loved one’s final resting place in a nearby location.

Veteran Services

We truly believe that the men and women who answered our nation’s call embody the ideals Americans hold so dear. Because they have proven their devotion to their fellow citizens and to a grateful nation, we all owe them the same respect and devotion in return.

Staff at Sheetz Funeral Home, inc proudly acknowledges the sacrifices made by those who have served our country through their patriotism, love of country and willingness to protect others.

Our staff is committed to providing quality service and professional assistance to help families complete the necessary forms to obtain benefits that are provided through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for deceased veterans.

What are VA burial benefits and memorial items?

The VA burial benefits are designed to assist service members, veterans, and their families plan and pay for a burial or memorial service in a VA national cemetery. Memorial items are provided through the Veterans Affairs to honor the service of those who have served the country.

Who qualifies for burial benefits and burial in a national cemetery?

Veterans, service members, spouses, and dependents may be eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery, as well as other benefits, if they meet one of the requirements listed below:

• A veteran who received an honorable discharge

• A service member who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training

• The spouse or minor child of a veteran, even if the veteran died first

• In some cases, the unmarried adult dependent child of a veteran

What are military funeral honors and a committal service?

Military funeral honors include the playing of “Taps,” a rifle detail, a color guard and uniformed service members who properly fold and present the United States flag to the family. These flags are typically given to the deceased’s next of kin or close friend. In order for the survivors to qualify to receive the burial flag, the veteran or reservist must be described by at least one of the following:

• Served in wartime

• Died while serving on active duty after May 27, 1941

• Served after January 31, 1955

• Served in peacetime and left military service before June 27, 1950, after serving at least one enlistment or because of a disability that was caused - or made worse - by their active military service

• Served in the Selected Reserves, or served in the military forces of the Philippines while in service of the United States and died on or after April 25, 1951.

What are burial benefits and how do I apply?

The veterans death benefits help cover the burial, funeral and transportation costs associated with the deceased’s services and disposition. For those being buried in a national cemetery, survivors can apply for assistance with the burial and funeral costs, the plot or internment, and the transporting of the veteran’s remains for burial.

You must file a claim for a non-service-connected burial allowance within two years after the veteran’s burial or cremation. There is no time limit to file for a service-connected burial, plot or interment allowance.

You can apply online at https://www.va.gov/burialsandmemorials/ application/530/introduction or by mail after completing the VA Form 21P-530

A veteran who received an honorable discharge or a service member who died while on active duty may be eligible for a headstone or marker if they meet certain requirements.

To find out if your deceased loved one qualifies, visit https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/ memorialitems/headstonesmarkers- medallions/

The Department of Veteran Affairs also provides a headstone for unmarked graves of an eligible deceased veteran at no charge. To request a headstone, grave marker, or niche marker, fill out the VA Form 10-1330 and send to:

Department of Veteran Affairs 5109 Russell Road, Quantico, VA 22134-3903

For more information regarding VA burial benefits and memorial items, visit https://www.va.gov/burialsmemorials/ or contact the VA office at 1-800-827-1000.

Why Plan Ahead

Why it makes sense to make choices about your future funeral now.

There’s a lot that goes into planning a funeral, but making those arrangements beforehand gives you time to consider all of your options and make sure that you’re covering all of the necessary details. Still feeling unsure? Here are some of the most important reasons why planning ahead may be the best option.

It’s Easy

Fill out a form or meet with a member of our staff to put your plan in place. Anyone can create a plan, at any stage in their life, and you always can make changes if you wish.

You Decide

Preplanning lets you create your own unique life celebration. Including your family in the planning process can help them feel connected to you both in life and in death, knowing that your arrangements reflect your desires.

Relieve Your Family’s Burden

Preplanning relieves your family of that burden and gives them more time and energy to focus on healing and remembrance.

You Can Prepay

Prepayment generally means that you save money by being protected from inflation and price changes. We deposit all prepayments into an insurance policy where it remains until needed. Prepaying also provides peace of mind for your family, who won’t have to figure out your funeral expenses when the time comes.

What If I Move?

We keep a record of your preplanned arrangements and any prepayments, and they’re easily transferable to any funeral home in the United States.

Where Do I Start?

First, check out our preplanning checklist on the next page to help you consider all your possibilities. Then you can preplan online or use our publication to create your personalized arrangements or you can schedule a time to meet with our staff to discuss your options and make a plan.

Pre-planning Checklist

The following checklist will help you create your personalized plan.

Ways to Plan Ahead:

General

• Gather personal information for your obituary.

• Choose a charity to direct donations to, if desired.

• Choose a funeral home.

• Make note of any instructions for your services and final disposition.

Funeral Service

• Choose burial or cremation.

• Select a casket or cremation container.

• Choose locations and types of services.

• Choose floral arrangements.

• Select which photographs and memorabilia you’d like to display.

• Consider any customs, traditions, or religious rites that are important to you and your family.

• Choose the clothing you’d like to be dressed in.

• Select music and hymns, if desired.

• Choose whether to use a limousine or family cars to services and final resting place.

Participants

• Choose a clergy member or officiator to preside over the service.

• Select any musicians whose talents you’d like to employ.

• Select pallbearers.

• Choose friends or family members to perform the eulogy, read scripture, or prepare a speech.

Final Disposition

• Choose a cemetery.

• Select a burial plot or mausoleum.

• Select a memorial or grave marker and inscription.

• Decide who will keep your urn.

• Decide who will scatter your cremated remains and where.

Information You’ll Need

Personal Information

• Your father’s name

• Your mother’s maiden name

• Your level of education

• Your social security number

Affiliations

• Fraternal organizations

• Service organizations

• Union memberships

• Any special recognitions you have Military Service Information

• Branch and rank

• Date of enlistment

• Date of discharge

• Name(s) of war/conflict(s) toured

• Serial number

• Have DD-214 or other record of Military Service available

• Decide if you will want honors rendered at the funeral home, church, or cemetery

Remember...

There’s no need to make all the decisions right away. For personalized assistance in creating your plan, contact one of our experts to schedule a one-on-one meeting.

To my Family and Loved Ones

I wished to spare you as much anxiety, doubt and confusion as possible at the time of my death, so in this booklet I have suggested some arrangements in advance.

This booklet includes vital statistics, funeral service guidelines and cemetery requests, which are all important to share with the funeral director while assisting you to plan my service.

Signature

The booklet also includes more personal material for eulogies, obituaries and other remembrances as well as advice and guidance on other important issues you may come across.

Please accept these arrangements in the spirit they are given: with love, hoping to give you comfort and help you to remember the times we shared.

Witness Date

Person to be notified first upon my death:

Name Notes Relationship

Information for Obituary Place

Spouse

Vital Information About Me

Full Name (First, Middle, Last)

Address ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... City

County Zip Code

Social Security Number .......................................................................................................................................................................................................

Date of Birth Gender

Place off Birth (City, State) ................................................................................................................................................................................................ Occupation

Military Service/Branch ........................................................................................................................................................................................................

Marital Status

Maiden Name .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Name of Spouses (inc Maiden Name)

Father’s Name

Mother’s Name (inc Maiden Name) ...........................................................................................................................................................................

My Preference for the location of the service or Celebration of Life:

Funeral Home o Outside Venue o Place of Worship o Other o

Address of venue, place of worship or other location

My Service

Officiating Family Prayer Organist Chorister

Opening Song ................................................................................................. Opening Prayer ............................................................................................ Life Sketch Speaker

Musical Selection ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Speaker Concluding Remarks

Closing Song .................................................................................................... Closing Prayer ............................................................................................... Graveside Services Cemetery

Dedication of the Grave ................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Personal Life Review

Community Organizations or Clubs that may participate ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

One of my fondest memories

I would like the following religious beliefs expressed: ..............................................................................................................................................

Favorite poem, verse or scripture ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

If I could live my life over again, I would change .........................................................................................................................................................

Favorite places

Favorite color flower, food, etc ..................................................................................................................................................................................................

I want my family to remember me for A message to my family and friends ..................................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

The following are my wishes regarding my final resting place

Name of cemetery ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Address

City/Town/County .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Property, Crypt or Niche Owned? Yes o No o

If yes, specify location written on cemetery purchase agreement ...............................................................................................................

Final Resting Place Burial o Mausoleum o Interment following cremation o Niche o

Other ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Marker or Monument Purchased? Yes o No o

Monument company name ........................................................................................................................................................................................................

Inscription Instructions

Reception Location: Funeral Home o Outside Venue o Place of Service o Other o

Details ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Legal Issues

Wills, probate, joint property, estate taxes, selecting estate trustees/attorneys for property and personal care and other issues may appear somewhat intimidating at first.

Fortunately, with a little guidance and preparation, dealing with such matters does not have to be so overwhelming. Planning ahead and revising your plan often will help avoid unnecessary grief and confusion in the end.

Estate Planning includes all of the following issues and documents.

Wills

A Last Will and Testament is one of the most important legal documents a person can create during his or her lifetime. If a person dies without a Will they are said to have died “intestate” and state laws will determine how and to whom the person’s assets will be distributed.

If a person dies without a Will the beneficiaries can not dispute the court’s distribution of that person’s estate under the intestacy laws. Even if that person expressed different wishes verbally during their lifetime the statutes control the distribution. With a valid Will, a person can legally determine how their property will be distributed… and to whom.

Most intestacy statutes distribute a deceased person’s assets between a surviving spouse and their children or to only the children if there is not a spouse.

If there are no surviving children the assets then are generally distributed to extended family members.

Powers of Attorney

Power of attorney (POA) is a legal document granting authority to a trusted person to act on your behalf. That individual, called an attorney in fact, is empowered to manage your financial, business and legal affairs. Power of attorney can be broad or limited to specific matters. Depending on the terms, that person could:

• Pay bills • Manage banking and investments

• Sign documents • Make business decisions

• Sell property • Hire professional help

Powers of attorney can be granted at any time if you are ready to turn over the reins, or it can be set up to “spring” at a future point if and when you can no longer manage your own affairs. A durable power of attorney means that the powers endure after incapacity until you either recover or pass away.

Probate

What is Probate?

When a person dies, their assets are distributed in the probate process. Probate is a general term for the entire process of administration of estates of deceased persons, including those without wills, with court supervision. If a person dies with a will, a petition to probate the will is filed with the probate court in the county where the deceased resided at the time of death, asking for letters testamentary to be issued, giving the executor authority to handle the estate affairs. If a person dies with a valid will, an executor is named to handle the distribution of the estate. If the person dies without a valid will, the court appoints an administrator to distribute the decedent’s assets according to the state’s laws of intestacy.

The court will issue letters of administration, also called letters testamentary, to the administrator, giving the authority to handle the affairs of the deceased. An heirship affidavit may also be used to conduct estate affairs when a small estate is involved. In cases where the decedent didn’t own property valued at more than a certain amount, which varies by state, the estate may go through a small estate administration process, rather than the formal probate process.

Information Gathering

Upon death, one of the first things to do is to gather as much information as possible. It is important to look for and gather any Wills, deeds, financial documents, notes and insurance policies that the deceased may have. Before estate matters can be pursued (i.e transferring a house or automobile, other legal matters), a copy of the death certificate is also required. Speak to the funeral home about obtaining certified copies of the death certificate (as some agencies will not accept photocopies).

Estate Planning

Estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy. Planning what you want to happen to your property and money when you die can give anyone peace of mind.

Understanding the Basics

See what you need to know to take action.

Making plans for your property and loved ones after you die can feel intimidating. But it can be a huge help to your loved ones after you are gone. This page will walk you through some common estate planning tools and questions.

Step 1 – Appoint a Health Care Agent

A health care agent is an individual who acts on behalf of the estate owner (a.k.a. the principal) and communicates their medical preferences when they’re unable to make competent decisions. Selecting a health care agent can be achieved by completing a Power of Attorney document. The appointed agent will have the capacity to make decisions concerning life support, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and other lifeprolonging treatments.

Step 2 – Appoint a Financial Agent

The principal will need to nominate someone to serve as their financial agent. This individual will be responsible for maintaining the principal’s finances while they are mentally incapacitated or disabled. The agent’s duties may vary but will generally involve paying bills, conducting business transactions, managing real property, and overseeing financial accounts.

Step 3 – Create a List of Current Assets

Before making efforts to draft a Will or Living Trust, the principal should create a report of the assets currently part of their estate. The report should include a description of the principal’s real estate, motor vehicles, insurance plans, household property, financial accounts, and other items under their ownership. For this purpose, the principal can use the Current Assets List and include it with their estate planning documents once completed.

Step 4 – Decide Who the Beneficiaries Are

Next, the principal will need to nominate the recipients of their assets. These individuals are known as the “beneficiaries” and will inherit specific property following the death of the principal.

Usually, the beneficiaries will be the principal’s spouse, children, siblings, or other related family members. However, if no such individuals are available, the principal can leave their assets for a charity or close friend.

Step 5 – Make an Estate Distribution Form

The next step requires the principal to create a document that states how their assets will be distributed following their death. This document will be used to identify the beneficiaries and provide a description of the assets that each party is entitled to inherit.

Step 6 – Find a Secure Location to Store the Estate Documents

The final step in the process will be to store the estate planning documents in a safe place that can be accessed quickly in the event of a medical emergency or upon the principal’s death. Original copies of the Power of Attorney forms can be kept with the appointed agents. The Last Will and Testament and/or Living Trust should be retained by the principal’s attorney, spouse, or children. The principal may wish to submit the completed documents to a licensed attorney so that they can be reviewed.

Grief Support

Every person must cope with the loss of a loved one on his or her own terms.

Allow A Search For Meaning

You may find yourself asking, “Why did he/she die?” “Why this way?” “Why now?” This search for meaning is another normal part of the healing process. Some questions have answers, some do not. Actually, the healing occurs in the opportunity to pose the questions, not necessarily in answering them. Find a supportive friend who will listen responsively as you search for meaning.

Treasure Your Memories

Memories are one of the best legacies that exist after someone dies. Treasure them. Share them with your family and friends. Recognise that your memories may make you laugh or cry. In either case, they are a lasting part of the relationship that you had with a very special person in your life.

Move Toward Your Grief And Heal

The capacity to love requires the necessity to grieve when someone you love dies. You can’t heal unless you openly express your grief. Denying your grief will only make it become more confusing and overwhelming. Reconciling your grief will not happen quickly. Remember that grief is a process, not an event.

Be patient and tolerant with yourself. Never forget that the death of a loved one changes your life forever. It’s not that you won’t be happy again; it’s simply that you will never be exactly the same as you were before the death.

Accepting A Loss

For each of us - rich or poor, young or old - there are times in our lives when we must face and deal with personal losses along with the pain and sorrow they cause. Examples that come easily to mind are the death of a parent, spouse, child, or other close family member or friend. Many other events and transitions also bring with them sadness and a need to grieve:

• Being told you have a serious, possibly terminal illness.

• Having to give up interests and activities that have been a major part of your life.

• Seeing serious decline in the mental or physical health of someone you love.

• Retiring from career or voluntary activity that has helped shape who you are and what you stand for.

• Losing a significant part of your independence and mobility; even giving up driving can be significant loss for many people.

• Moving out of your home.

• Saying goodbye to a favorite pet.

Losses such as these are simply part of life. Like their counterparts among the joyful occasions in our lifetime - the birth of a child or grandchild, a celebration of marriage, an enduring friendship - they are part of what it means to share in the human experience. The emotions they create in us are part of living, as well.

The emotional upheaval these trying times can cause is sometimes so overwhelming that even the support of friends and family may not help relieve the amount of sadness and grief you feel. If you prefer a grief support group closer to home, we work closely with area hospice organizations and grief support groups. We can refer you to the resources that best fit your needs.

GriefNet

GriefNet is an Internet community of persons dealing with grief, death, and major loss. They have many email support groups. Their integrated approach to online grief support provides help to people working through loss and grief issues. Call us at (717) 653-5441 if you have any questions.

Domani for Grief

Our funeral home is proud to partner with Domani for Grief to provide the best resources and information to you during this period of grief and healing. Domani for Grief provides expert grief support, honest conversation, and heartfelt community. info@thedomanigroup.com 801-655-5039

Crisis, Grief and Healing

Webhealing.com, the first interactive grief website on the internet, offers discussion boards, articles, book suggestions, and advice for men and women working through every aspect of grief. The site’s founder, Tom Golden LCSW, has provided book excerpts and contact information to help those healing from loss. webhealing.com

Grief and Loss

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) website contains a Grief & Loss section with grief-related articles and information. www.aarp.org/relationships/griefloss/

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s website provides a host of information and resources for people facing a life-limiting illness or injury and their caregivers. 703-837-1500 www.nhpco.org

Our Business Partners

www.realestatelancastercounty.com