My Funeral and Burial Wishes

From the Open Files of: Eastern North Dakota Resource Center , 701-232-3180 Contributed by: Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, MN This file is available in Rich Text Format version for editing

My Funeral and Burial Wishes __________________________ Your Name   Trinity Lutheran Church Moorhead, MN My Funeral and Burial Wishes To you whom I love: In the spirit of the risen Lord and with the sure and certain hope of the fullness of life after death, it is my wish to spare you as much anxiety, expense and inconvenience as I can. These requests will help you carry out my wishes at the time of my death and are meant to be a reassurance to you in time of grief. My signature below indicates my request that these wishes be faithfully implemented by my family and friends, as best they can: Full Name:______________________________________________ __________First_____________Middle____________Last Address:________________________________________________ Signature:_______________________________ Date:____________ When this booklet has been completed, please make copies for those who will be handling your funeral arrangements and have the original placed in your permanent file at the church office. You will note that each booklet is for one person's wishes only, married couples will each need to fill one out. If you are interested in donating all or some of your bodily organs, please make that known when you renew your driver's license so that it can be stamped "Donor." If you are interested in preparing a "Living Will," you should make those arrangements. Inform others such as family members, hospitals, physicians, clergy, etc., of your wishes. After your death, it may be too late to carry out your wishes if these people have not already been informed of your intent to have your organs donated. I request and authorize the following person(s) to see that the directives noted in this booklet are followed as fully as possible, and make additional necessary decisions concerning my funeral and burial service. Kindly notify these persons as soon as possible at the time of my death. Name_____________Address______________________Phone Name_____________Address______________________Phone Name_____________Address______________________Phone Name_____________Address______________________Phone Name_____________Address______________________Phone My signed and executed last will and testament is located at: A copy of my living will/health care declaration may be found at: Social Security Number________________________________________ Veterans Records____________________________________________ Identification Number_________________________________________ VA Office to notify___________________________________________ Location of discharge papers____________________________________ Pension benefits from employer - who should be notified? Insurance Policies Individual Retirement Accounts, Keogh Plans, etc. with the following institutions: Safe Deposit Box____________________________________________ Key location:_______________________________________________ Bank Books and certificates____________________________________ I have money deposits at the following places: Personal Property insurance____________________________________ Automobile insurance_________________________________________ Extra key for car located______________________________________ Other important documents_____________________________________ To administer my estate I have appointed:__________________________ My attorney is_______________________________________________ In case my spouse and I should die at the same time, _______________ of ___________________ has/have consented to act as Guardians of our minor children. I would like obituaries sent to the following publications: Names of your parents: Your birth date_______________________________________________ Your birthplace______________________________________________ Names, addresses, relationship and phone numbers of relatives to be noted in obituary: (use additional paper if needed) Other important dates (i.e. marriage, graduation): Education: Information about employment: Organizations, churches, special interests, honors and/or awards: Making a last will and testament is one of your biggest responsibilities. If you die intestate, without a will, you may cause several difficult legal problems, additional expenses, and prolonged disputes between family members. Also, your property will be distributed to those relatives and in those proportions designated by the State. ****** My Funeral Service The funeral home I request is ___________________________________ Type of casket _____________________________________________ I desire the use of a pall on my casket (white cloth covering for the coffin)__ I request a religious funeral service________________________________ Church______________________ City____________________ With afternoon ________ and/or evening _______________ reviewal Service to be conducted by_____________________________________ Suggestions for organ music____________________________________ Suggestions for hymns________________________________________ Names of musicians__________________________________________ Scripture passages to be read___________________________________ Prose/poetry________________________________________________ Names of readers____________________________________________ Favorite prayers to be offered___________________________________ Active Pallbearers Honorary Pallbearers My body should be buried in __________________ Cemetery I have a burial lot _____________ Number _________ Location________ Grave Marker_______________________________________________ Memorial gifts can be sent to Additional directives for my funeral and burial_______________________ I request only a memorial service ________________________________ At_______________________________________________________ I request only a graveside service ________________________________ Please describe _____________________________________________ I wish my body to be cremated _________________________________ The ashes to be present at the funeral service________________________ In conclusion: Everyone should fill out their own funeral booklet, including each spouse of a married couple. Please return the original to the church to be filed in your permanent file. It would be a good idea to have copies of the booklet made for those who will be planning your funeral. Send each person a copy or discuss it with them so they are aware that it exists, prior to your death. The name and address of the church is_______________________________. Dear Lord, Do you want me to think of dying? I think you do. But you have told us not be troubled, because you have gone on to prepare a room for us, and will come to get us when our time has come. Help me to think of death not so much as the end, but as the beginning of a wonderful life with you and with dear friends who already are with you. Amen. Dr. Alvin Rogness Additional notes or instructions to my loved ones:

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