34 THE QUEENS COURIER • JANUARY 21, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
coping with death
How to handle a death that occurs away from home
Whether you’re a snowbird going to a
warmer climate to escape winter weather
or you’re traveling on a business trip, it’s
wise to prepare for the unexpected.
Accidents happen. People fall victim to
new or existing medical conditions. Death
is always an overwhelming event, especially
so when it occurs away from home.
Th at’s why it is wise to carry a wallet-sized
card listing the names of your next-ofkin,
the telephone number of your funeral
director and stating whether any funeral
pre-arrangements have been made. Most
travelers wouldn’t dream of leaving home
on an extended trip without carrying
along copies of prescriptions, yet how
many think to include personal information
that would facilitate their fi nal
arrangements if the unthinkable happens?
Robert Ruggiero, a licensed New York
City funeral director, off ers these suggestions
to help cope with death away from
home.
Don’t leave the body. Th e most frequent
response by family members experiencing
a death away from home is to hurry home
to begin funeral arrangements.
However, most deaths that occur while
traveling are sudden and require an investigation
by the local medical examiner’s
offi ce and police department.
Th e family member traveling with
the person who remains available to the
authorities at the place of death will expedite
the return process.
If a person has died and family is not
with the deceased, survivors should not
fl y out to the place of death.
With today’s technology, there’s a good
possibility that if identifi cation is required,
survivors can save time by staying home
and requesting another means to accomplish
the necessary procedures.
Appoint your hometown funeral director
as the “point person.” Allow him or
her to select the means of returning your
loved one home. Your family funeral
director is familiar with the necessary
procedures to ease the process for you.
If the death occurs overseas, the U.S.
State Department’s Bureau of Consular
Aff airs in Washington, DC (202-647-
5225) or the local Embassy can provide
emergency assistance for Americans traveling
overseas who encounter a tragedy of
this nature.
For more information visit the Bureau
of Consular Aff airs website, https://travel.
state.gov/content/passports/en/abroad/
events-and-records/death.html
Any expense will ultimately be the
responsibility of the bereaved family but
because of the State Department’s intervention,
there may be no immediate
upfront expense in most cases.
For more information, you might want
to call your family funeral director before
leaving home.
Courtesy of NYS Funeral Directors
Association
What to do when a death occurs
Th e death of a loved one can be an overwhelming
experience.
In many cases, survivors are trying to
cope with their grief as well as arrange a
funeral service. It is enormously helpful
at this diffi cult time to rely on the advice
of a specially trained, licensed funeral
director.
Most families will call on the same
funeral director they’ve turned to in the
past to help them arrange the funeral.
If there is no family funeral director,
it is a good idea to secure recommendations
from friends or neighbors, or use the
NYSFDA Find A Funeral Home feature to
search a decedent’s neighborhood.
Th e fi rst step is to call the funeral home
for a conference to begin the process.
If a death occurs in another city, state or
country away from home, it is best to call
your hometown funeral director to make
the necessary arrangements.
Before making any arrangements,
determine if the deceased left instructions
about his or her funeral, or purchased
or prepaid funeral or cemetery arrangements.
Funeral arrangements made prior to
death should be honored.
Preplanning one’s funeral is a growing
trend that ensures peace of mind
and relieves the individual’s loved ones
of a decision-making process at a stressful
time.
Be sure to check if the deceased is entitled
to death benefi ts that would help
cover funeral costs.
Be aware that signing a contract for
funeral services will make you liable for
the cost of the funeral. Th e decedent’s
estate or available death benefi ts may
cover fi nal costs. It is important to check
with your family attorney.
By law, funeral directors must off er
accurate price information to people making
inquiries over the telephone regarding
funeral costs.
If you visit the funeral home, the funeral
director will give you a written, itemized
price list with all the specifi c goods and
services the funeral home off ers.
It is good to remember that it is entirely
up to the family to make the selections for
a personalized ritual to meet their emotional
needs anwwd economic situation.
Aft er the arrangements have been
agreed upon, the funeral director will provide
a written statement showing the total
cost of each item selected.
In addition to removing the deceased
from the place of death and caring for the
body, the funeral director will arrange all
details of the funeral service which may
include the following:
Contacting clergy and arranging an
appropriate time and place for the services
Writing and distributing obituaries
Contacting the cemetery/crematory
staff , fl orists, fraternal organizations and
memorial gift organizations
Working cooperatively with organ
donation teams
Preparing all legal documents (death
certificates, burial transit/cremation
permits, medical examiner certifi cates,
reports of death, social security and all
Veterans Administration benefi ts, and in
some instances fi ling insurance paperwork)
Providing an emotionally and spiritually
comforting environment for visitation
and life celebration services
Transporting family and friends in a
funeral procession to the place of fi nal
disposition
Th e funeral director provides quiet support
to the family during a time of great
emotional stress, and attends to all aspects
of the funeral service in a professional and
caring way.
Always remember that any questions
you may have may be directed to your
local funeral director.
Courtesy of NYS Funeral Directors
Association
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