Setting up a Funeral

Yesterday was an interesting day. It started with Jari and I going to the nursing home and telling dad that mom had passed away during the night. When we walked into the room we told him hello and were going to talk about a few things and then broach the subject on mom. The first words from his mouth were, predictably, How is Jeanne doing? He actually took the news fairly well, clenching our hands and holding back tears for a moment or two. We talked for another half hour or soa dn then Jari left to talk to church and the funreal home. I stayed with my dad for another 45 minutes or so until he asked me to get the nurse to give him a sedative so he could rest. I did and then I slipped out.

Once out I called Jari and she had been at church talking with the priest and had not yet been by the funeral home. We agreed to meet at home and then go out together to the funeral home.

The process at the funeral home was interesting. I never know what all services a funeral home really did. They not only prepare the body for burial and provide the casket, but they arrange for the death certificates and take care of a lot of the behind the scenes work. To get a certified death certificate you need to have the deceased's parent's name. We had to come back home and look that information up. We also had to go by the florist and arrange for flowers. We had to call the church and select readings and arrange the service. It's just a lot of running around and organizing.

We talked to Sylvia and she came home late last ngiht and is planning on going to the funeral service today and then driving with us to Sherman tomorrow to attecd the graveside service. From there she will drive back to college directly and Jari and I will come back home.