FUNERAL PREFERENCE ARRANGEMENTS YOUR RECORDS Name: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- date:---------------------------------------------- Prepared by: PEACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 801 Maple Grove Drive, Fredericksburg, VA 22407 (504) 786-8585 churchsecretary@passthepeace.org Pastor@passthepeace.org Updated Sunday, August 2010 Page 1 of 6
THE FUNERAL PREFERENCE FILE One of the certainties of life is that we will eventually die. When that happens it will have a profound effect on our loved ones and friends. Our Christian faith provides us with a resource, to face the inevitability of our deaths with hope, courage and the Love of God. To plan ahead for the event of our death is not a morbid attitude but a hopeful and valid expression of the value of the life God has given us. This is something that you can take care of, then move on with the gift of life, knowing that you ve prepared a thoughtful legacy to make your preferences known in advance. 'I'HE FUNERAL PREFERENCE FILE is to meet these concerns; 1. That when I die I want my next-of-kin, pastor and friends to have easy access to information as required and be able to plan for the funeral and take into account my preferences such as Music, Flowers etc. 2. It is our intention that in offering this document to our Peace UMC pastor, where the information could be lodged in a safe place in our church office, fully confidential and easily accessible when needed for my pastor, family and friends. (You might also want to pass copies of this information on to a family member/ friend, and place a copy with your lawyer, and/or with your funeral home, and keep it yourself for safekeeping.) 3. It would be understood that if I wished to make any changes in the contents I can do so easily and without embarrassment. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = THIS FOLLOWING PAGES YOU WOULD KEEP FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION AND, IF YOU PREFER, RETURN COPIES TO THE MINISTER, AND OTHERS. YOU DON'T NEED TO FILL OUT EVERY QUESTION. JUST RECORD THE INFORMATION YOU WANT YOUR CHURCH and/or YOUR FAMILY TO KEEP. YOU ARE WELCOME TO MAKE EXTRA COPIES IN THE CHURCH OFFICE = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = PLACES TO FILE COPIES (SEE CHECK LIST BELOW - KEEP A COPY FOR YOURSELF) WITH THE CHURCH OFFICE (AT A MINIMUM), WITH YOUR WILL and/or WITH YOUR LAWYER. AND IN A PLACE THAT S KNOWN & QUICKLY ACCESSIBLE TO YOUR LOVED ONES (specify where if you wish). AND IF YOU HAVE MADE FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH A FUNERAL HOME, YOU MIGHT WANT TO FILE A COPY WITH THEM TOO.. PLEASE SIGN AND DATE DATE EACH PAGE, THEN MAKE COPIES. (IT WILL SAVE CONFUSION SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO UPDATE THIS FUNERAL SERVICE ARRANGEMENT AT A LATER DATE. ) Page 2 of 6
DETAILS REQUIRED WHEN A DEATH IS REGISTERED: Full Name... I prefer to be called: (example: Bill ) Date of Birth.. Where Born.. Occupation(s) (before retired) Father s full Name. Mother s full Name. Mother s maiden Name Father s Occupation. Mother s Occupation. Notes of Interest* (attach if necessary):.. Marriage To (include maiden surname) Age married when, where married 1 st 2 nd 3 rd First names and birth dates of all your children... Wife/Husband s date of birth..where born If an active duty or retired ex-serviceman or woman a) Service No:. b) Rank c) Service d) Places where served: * Notes of Interest: (Attach as much as necessary. We d rather have an abundance of information and background. Often grieving family, friends and pastor find it difficult to find or recall adequate notes for a service, memorial materials, or newspaper. The service information might also be useful in making arrangements for military honors or burial in a military cemetery.) Your Name: Date: Page 3 of 6
DETAILS HELPFUL TO YOUR FAMILY Name and address of next of kin Name and address of Friends:..... My Lawyer is:. My will is kept:. Preferred Funeral Home or Director:.. PERSONAL INFORMATION REGARDING MY FUNERAL: Funeral arrangements: Please place check marks: I wish to be: Cremated or buried: There is plot owned. Where?.. If you desire to be buried /interred in a military cemetery, check here. If cremated Remains to scattered/interred/other. My wishes concerning flowers and or donations to charity...... Service arrangements (check off, please make notes:) Service at Church (which?)... Service at Funeral Home (Which?)... Type of Service (check one): Memorial, Funeral (casket/urn present) Service at grave side only.. Church service with grave side burial interment at.. Guests to have reception in Burgess Hall? Other Lodge (Masons, etc.) or organization that I wish involved in my service. Military honors requested? Uniformed detail / Taps.. Page 4 of 6 If possible I d like to be buried wearing
Your Name: Date: Service arrangements (continued) Preferred Hymns.......................... Preferred Readings..... Poems (if any)... By (if known)... Choice of Minister/or person conducting.. Others I would like to take part in the service. (Try to specify what you might like them to do. Use page 6 if needed.).. My pall bearers (if possible) would include: 1.. 4.. 2.. 5.. 3.. 6.. Alternate or honorary pall bearers: 1.. 3.. 2.. 4.. You might wish to leave here any information about family plots in the cemetery etc. Any special preferences regarding headstones etc? I want the church to be aware of the following bequests, endowment, or legacy that I have arranged for the church in my current will... My current thoughts on the use of this bequest are that:..... I realize that it may not be possible to carry out all these matters exactly as I have expressed them and realize that much will depend on the particular situation that exists at the time of my death. I hope those who are making arrangements will be helped by these suggestions. Your Name: Date: Page 5 of 6
Is there anything not covered above and you would like to record?................................ Now that you have made these arrangements, go and live life fully in the One who gave his life to make ultimate arrangements for you. Jesus Christ said: I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10 b (NIV) God is good and life is fascinating. - Pastor David Erickson, Peace UMC, Fredericksburg, VA. Further Notes attached, or on back of page : Your Name: Date: Page 6 of 6