'When the need arises’

Press, 29 June 1982, Page 19

'When the need arises’

When death occurs it is normal for the bereaved

familv to experience shock and grief, even when the deceased person has suffered a long illness and death was expected.

Most natural deaths occur in a hospital or nursing home where a doctor is in attendance and can issue a death certificate.

If a death happens at home, where the family doctor can issue the certificate, it is important that the body is attended to and removed by the funeral firm without delay.

At the family's request, the body is discreetly removed as soon as the certificate is confirmed, and a time is agreed for deciding on the arrangements. In the case of sudden death, where a doctor has not attended the person within the previous three months, the body must not be moved or disturbed until the police instruct removal to a public hospital. In this case, further directions are given by the coroner. Whatever the circumstances of the death, it is advisable to notify the funeral directors as soon as possible to seek guidance and hand over the funeral responsibilities to professional people familiar with the requirements. The conference to decide arrangements may take place at the family home or in the funeral director’s office.

Arrangements normally made by the funeral director on behalf of the family include obtaining a death certificate and, for cremation, a cremation authority; liaison with clergy and with the cemetery or crematorium; newspaper notices: the ordering of floral tributes on request; the handling of wreaths or. in lieu of flowers, donations to societies; the provision of cars, including the hearse, at the time of the funeral; the burial certificate and registration of the death. The funeral director can also obtain additional copies of the death certificate for insurance purposes and the closing of savings accounts and he can also be of great assistance in advising of the financial help that is available.

Lamb and Son can arrange a full funeral service involving a committal ceremony in the Ferry Park Chapel —

where there is no time restriction, in a church or in a home, or the service can be in two parts with a committal ceremony either at any cemetery or at one or other of the two city crematoriums.

Yet another alternative is to have the full service at either , the Canterbury Crematorium in Bromley or the Harewood Crematorium in Johns Road.

The prime responsibility of the funeral firm is the care of the dead person, and it is the firm's duty to prepare the body so the last memories of the bereaved are not marred by the circumstances of death.

It is nearly always possible for the embalmer to restore the features, composing them as if in sleep, and when the funeral is delayed, preservation treatment is also given. By established practice the body is treated in the firm's mortuary with the same care and reverence expected during life. Burial garments to suit the choice of coffin lining are worn by the deceased person except when clothing of sentimental value is requested instead. Lamb and Son has coffins and what it calls "caskets" ranging in price from about $l5O to $B5O complete, with a choice of mahogany, oak. rimu. plain pine or veneered Customwood for adults' coffins and a “swansdown" cloth covering for children's coffins.

Funeral directors make a name distinction between tapered coffins and straight oblong ones, which they call caskets and fit out with a more luxurious lining.

Lamb and Son carries an extensive stock of 60 to 80 coffins of both shapes to meet all requirements.

If it is not convenient to visit the firm's premises, a selection of funeral furniture can be made from photographs covering the full range displayed in the selection room.

In addition to suffering a bereavement the survivors have to face funeral expenses which frequently appear as a greater burden when the deceased person was the breadwinner of the family. Lamb and Son understands this and can make cash advances for the purchase of cemetery allotments and for cremation fees, newspaper notices and many other items.

They can also prepare an estimate in writing for' the complete cost of the funeral, including the coffin. The funeral account may be paid on presentation, or arrangements may be made to pay it over several months. In New Zealand, it is the "first charge" against an estate before other debts are deducted, so funeral costs can usually be settled easily by the solicitor when an estate is involved.

Before

The arrangement of a funeral is not a simple matter, and J. Lamb and Son. Ltd. suggests that, for the sake of one’s relatives. a list of basic personal details is kept in a place known to one's next-of-kin.

Besides stating with whom the will is lodged, it is helpful to list those who should be notified of the death: names and addresses of relatives, friends and perhaps lodge, club or association secretaries.

One’s solicitor or trustee company should be stated, along with the location of important papers such as insurance policies, house and car ownership papers, and

deposit, share and debenture certificates.

The whereabouts of cheque and savings bank books and other valuables should also be given. It is important to note whether or not one is in receipt of an age. invalid, widow’s or service pension, and if so. which. In the case of the family breadwinner. where the family home is subject to a mortgage, it is wise to insure against the possibility of the home having to be sold in the event of the mortgagor's death. A suitable "term," "endowmen" or "whole of life" policy can be taken out for the purpose, or insurance that is actually called "mortgage repavment insurance (MRI)."

Information needed for the registration of the death includes one’s full name and address, date and place of birth, occupation, years in New Zealand, place of marriage and age at marriage. The full maiden name of a man’s wife is also required, as are the full names and birth dates of all living children. Going back to the previous generation, the name and occupation of the father of the deceased, and the name and maiden name of the mother are also required. In the case of married people, all this information is included on their marriage certificates. A former serviceman’s number, rank and regiment should be given, along with

the location and dates of overseas service. Those with Maori or Pacific Island ancestry should state both the degree of Maori or Pacific Island heredity and the tribe or family of origin for each parent. If one has a preference as to burial or cremation this should be stated, and one may care to specify where the funeral is to be held. It is possible for a person to make nearly all his own funeral arrangements, and many people have done this by adopting Lamb and Son's pre-arrangement plan. If a person also wants to make some pre-payment, he may do so: the funds are then held in a trading bank trust account in his name.