You can start the process now, or meet with one of our pre-planning advisors for additional support. It just makes sense.

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2 First and foremost, know that it is not unusual to be caught off guard and unsure of how to proceed. This is a difficult time, but planning ahead and getting organized can help ease the pain. This booklet can help you plan a personalized memorial ceremony, one that will help comfort you and other family members. Funerals fill an important role for those mourning the loss of a loved one. By providing surviving family members and friends a caring, supportive environment in which to share thoughts and feelings about the death, funerals are the first step in the healing process. The ritual of attending a funeral service provides many benefits including: Providing a social support system for the bereaved Helping the bereaved understand death is final and that death is part of life Integrating the bereaved back into the community Easing the transition to a new life after the death of a loved one Providing a safe haven for embracing and expressing feelings Reaffirming one s relationship with the person who died Providing a time to say good-bye It is possible to have a full memorial service for those choosing cremation. The importance of the ritual is in providing a social gathering to help the bereaved begin the healing process.

3 When your loved one s death occurs at home, while under the care of hospice, simply notify the hospice nurse, and he/she will take the proper steps to notify us of the appropriate time to arrive at the residence. The next step will be to set an appointment time to complete the service arrangements. Ask for help from a family member or friend. Choose a local, licensed funeral director. Write down your questions. It is easy to forget what you wanted to ask or need to know. Use the enclosed preplanning check list. Ask questions. Pre-planning your funeral should be a natural part of life, because it provides you with time to make end-of-life decisions in a calm and rational atmosphere. There are lots of details that can be overwhelming to your loved ones. This brochure provides a checklist that will give you and your loved ones the ability to check off each task one by one, allowing you to complete the preplanning process in manageable steps. You can start the process now, or meet with one of our pre-planning advisors for additional support. It just makes sense.

4 Step One: Laying the Foundation This step, or series of steps, takes a bit of time, but, it s worth every moment spent. To get started you can use the enclosed form or fill out the form provided online at 1. Prepare a contact list of individuals who should be notified in a medical emergency or death. Phone Number Phone Number 2. Write an obituary or simply jot down information you would like included in an obituary. 3. Decide where obituary and memorial information should appear. Ask one of Bradford O Keefe s counselors about our online memorialization page. Visit for examples.

5 /Announcement Full name of the deceased, including nickname, if any Age at death Resident city at time of death Day and date of death Place of death Cause of death Life Date and Place of birth s of parents Life Experiences: Childhood, siblings, stories, schools, friends Marriage(s): date of, place, name of spouse

6 Education: school, college, university and other Designations, awards, and other recognition Employment: jobs, stories, colleagues, promotions Cities of Residence and Duration Hobbies, sports, interests, activities, and other enjoyment Charitable, religious, fraternal, political, and other affiliations; positions held Achievements

7 Unusual attributes, humor, other stories Family Predeceased by (and date of death): Grandparents Parents Spouse Children (in order of date of birth) Grandchildren Siblings (in order of date of birth) Others, such as nephews, nieces, cousins, in-laws

8 Survived by (and city of residence): Grandparents _ Parents _ Spouse City, St. Children (in order of date of birth, and their spouses) _ Number of Grandchildren Number of Great-grandchildren Number of Great-great-grandchildren Siblings (in order of date of birth)

9 Others, such as nephews, nieces, cousins, in-laws Services Visitation information if applicable: day, date, time, place Memorial service: day, date, time, place of of officiates pallbearers, honorary pallbearers

10 Reception information if applicable: day, date, time, place Type of Service, i.e. military, non-denominational, or fraternal Cemetery lot location Quotation or poem Three words that best describe your loved one s life If donations are preferred, list charitable organizations including addresses: Recognition of special caregivers, groups, or institutions

11 Funeral home in charge of arrangements r Bradford O Keefe Funeral Home - Howard Avenue 675 Howard Avenue Biloxi, MS Telephone: (228) r Bradford Funeral Home - 15th Street th Street Gulfport, MS Telephone: (228) r Bradford O Keefe Funeral Home - Pass Road 2511 Pass Road Biloxi, MS Telephone: (228) r Bradford O Keefe Funeral Home - O Neal Road O Neal Road Gulfport, MS Telephone: (228) r Bradford O Keefe Funeral Home - Ocean Springs 911 Porter Avenue Ocean Springs, MS Telephone: (228) r Bradford O Keefe Funeral Home Vancleave 4901 Jim Ramsay Road Vancleave, MS Telephone: (228) info@bradfordokeefe.com

12 Contact Bradford O Keefe for additional information, to schedule an appointment or to review your check list. The list provided is just a guide to assist you, not all information is necessary or required. Choose the type of service you would like, including the burial you prefer, and make those arrangements. First, you will need to decide whether you wish to be cremated or buried. Then, you will need to decide on one or more of these factors, depending on that original decision: Casket or cremation urn type Vault or sectional crypt Contact details for the funeral home you designate to care for you: list locations with phone number Pallbearers, music, flowers, scripture or other readings Select the speakers and the eulogies that you would want to represent you Time to Delegate The people who know and care about you will be there when you need them. You only need to provide them with instructions, important financial details, and let them comfort and care for you in your time of need. Give your executor a copy of your will. Safety deposit boxes are often opened up during the estate settlement process, long after the funeral. Any funeral planning documents therein can be of no help to your executor.

13 Make sure your representative has a list of important account information or telephone numbers for retirement plans, insurance policies, investments, bank accounts, safe-deposit boxes, properties, preferred law and accountant firms. Remind your personal representative that the Social Security Administration will need to be called, and, if you re receiving benefits such as those from the Veteran s Administration, they should be contacted as well. Designate a power of attorney and or an executor to ensure that proper information can be accessed after death. Be aware of the fact that most power of attorney codicils cease at death, unless the power of attorney specifically states it covers the funeral arrangements. Contact your legal advisor to insure that your wishes are carried out if you are unable to do so personally. You can also contact us at for additional information. We re pleased to answer any questions you may have, without obligation.

14 If you are having a difficult time getting through the grieving process. Know that the feelings you are experiencing are totally normal and will be easier to sort and cope with in time and with the support of friends and family. Take the help offered and take your time to heal. There are a number of support groups and therapists specializing in survivor grieving and bereavement which can provide valuable counseling during and following this very difficult time. Visit the Grief and Healing page at for more information. Planning a funeral or memorial service is a process where you reach into your heart and ask the big questions of how to honor a life, what to do or say, and where it should be held. We have the experience to help. r Yes, I would like to speak to one of your representatives about planning a funeral. : Street: City: St: Zip: Phone:

15 Helping to make the toughest time of your life a little easier. Since 1865, the O Keefe family, along with a host of dedicated funeral service professionals, has been serving families of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and beyond. By understanding the legacy of commitment and pride our forefathers took in establishing Bradford O Keefe, we understand the level of excellence the past demands of us today. Today Bradford O Keefe Funeral Homes offer six convenient funeral home locations, two cemeteries and Mississippi s first crematory. We invite you to our website at to learn more about our History, Management, Services, and we encourage the use of our Grief Library. Notes

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