Personal Planner. Name: Date: Columbarium Niche#:

Transcription

1 INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK OLS Columbarium Gardens Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church 1728 Oxmoor Road Birmingham, Alabama Personal Planner Name: Date: Columbarium Niche#: CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday-Friday 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM ols@ourladyofsorrows.com CHURCH WEBSITE:

2 Funeral Planning Documents: Documents related to funeral preferences should not be kept in a safe deposit box, as they may be needed at night, on weekends, or holidays. It is best to keep them in a safe but accessible place. For maximum benefit, give a photocopy of your documents to a close friend or relative who lives outside your home. Your Will: No matter how large or small your estate, it is essential that you prepare a will and revise it regularly. A will is the least expensive way to protect your life s work and savings. If you die without a will, state law and a probate judge will determine who will administer your estate, who will handle your finances, and who will be the guardian of your minor children. INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Living Will: With advances in medical science, issues of quality of life and the right to die with dignity are receiving increased attention. By discussing these issues, you and your family can avoid any uncertainty that could arise at the difficult time of a serious, prolonged illness. If you have strong feelings regarding these issues, you may sign a Living Will. For more information, including Living Will forms appropriate for your state, contact the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization at , or visit their website at 16

3 Some hymns from the Gather hymnal to consider in your planning: GATHERING SONG #853 - Alleluia! Sing to Jesus (not during Lent) #612 - Amazing Grace #638 - Eye Has Not Seen #494 - How Great Thou Art #507 - I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light #771 - Jerusalem, My Happy Home #317 - O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Advent only) #611 - On Eagle s Wings #874 - Precious Lord, Take My Hand #774 - Shall We Gather at the River #442 - Sing With All the Saints in Glory (not during Lent) #770 - Soon and Very Soon #699 - We Have Been Told #649 - You Are Mine RESPONSORIAL PSALM #23 - Psalm 16 - Keep Me Safe, O God #31 - Psalm 23 - Shepherd Me, O God #36 - Psalm 25 - To You, O Lord (good for Advent) #38 - Psalm 27 - In the Land of the Living #39 - Psalm 27 - The Lord is My Light #80 - Psalm 85 - Come, O Lord, and Set Us Free (good for Advent) #99 - Psalm The Lord is Kind and Merciful #100 - Psalm The Lord is Kind and Merciful #118 - Psalm I Lift Up My Eyes COMMUNION SONG #608 - Be Not Afraid #838 - Eat This Bread #828 - I Am The Bread of Life #817 - Jesus, Wine of Peace #833 - Now in this Banquet (good for Advent or Lent) #611 - On Eagle s Wings #814 - Taste and See #844 - Without Seeing You (good for Easter or anytime) SONG OF SENDING FORTH #494 - How Great Thou Art #390 - Jerusalem, My Destiny (good for Lent) #771 - Jerusalem, My Happy Home #528 - Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You #442 - Sing with all the Saints in Glory #319 - Walk in the Reign (good for Advent) #772 - We Shall Rise Again (528 and 442 are the same melody, different text) Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church Funeral Planning Guide PRESENTATION SONG #399 - Deep Within #608 - Be Not Afraid #647 - Come to Me #638 - Eye Has Not Seen #860 - I, the Lord #708 - I Danced in the Morning (good for Lent) #578 - Lord of All Hopefulness #328 - My Soul in Stillness Waits (Advent only) #611 - On Eagle s Wings #621 - Only in God #619 - The Lord is Near #699 - We Have Been Told #649 - You are Mine #604 - You are Near 15

4 Introduction The death of a loved one is a difficult time, wrought with emotion. Added to that is the need to plan funeral services and burial for the deceased. Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church community is able to assist a family with funeral planning needs by offering assistance with the arrangements and guidance to the family. Planning a funeral service can seem to be an insurmountable task. However, consultation with OLS s staff and a funeral home will ease the process considerably and enable you to plan a personal service that suits the wishes of the deceased as well as the emotional, spiritual and financial needs of the family. Our Lady of Sorrows Some Scripture Readings to consider in your planning: When a death occurs please notify the Pastor by calling the Church office. If it is after regular office hours, an emergency number is available. This number is monitored at all times. The priests and staff of Our Lady of Sorrows will assist you with the following: Hebrew Scripture Readings Daniel 12:1-3 Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9 New Testament Readings Acts 10:34-43 Acts 10:34-36, Gospel Readings Matthew 5:1-12a Matthew 11:25-30 Scheduling - the staff will work with your family (and the funeral home you have chosen) to coordinate dates and times for funeral services. Visitation - if you wish, visitation may be held at the church or at the funeral home. When visitation is held the evening before the funeral mass, a vigil service normally concludes the period of visitation. Job 19:1, Lamentations 3: Maccabees 12:43-46 Wisdom 3:1-9 Wisdom 3:1-6, 9 1 Corinthians 15: Corinthians 15: Corinthians 15: Corinthians 4:14-5:1 2 Corinthians 5:1, Matthew 25:1-13 Matthew 25:31-46 Mark 15:33-39, 16:1-6 Mark 15:33-39 Luke 7:11-17 Funeral Mass - the church offers a guide for planning a funeral Mass (Through Death to Life). Suggestions for readings, music and prayers are provided. The staff will assist you in choosing readings, music, and prayers suitable for the service and will contact musicians and liturgical ministers. Wisdom 4:7-15 John 3:1-2 1 John 3:14-16 Phillipians 3:20-21 Luke 12:35-40 Luke 23:33, Luke 23:44-46, 50, 52-53, 24:1-6a Funeral Luncheon - upon request, a luncheon can be held in the church facility following the funeral service. While the family normally arranges to have this catered, the church will provide drinks and dessert. Revelation 14:13 Revelation 20:11-21:1 Luke 23:44-46, 50, Luke 24:13-35 Burial - Our Lady of Sorrows Columbarium is available for those parishioners who wish to have their final resting place on the church grounds. At the time of need, the staff will help with procurement of a niche or use of a previously purchased niche. Revelation 21:1-5a, 6b-7 Romans 5:5-11 Romans 5:17-21 Luke 24:13-16, John 5:24-29 John 6:37-40 The Funeral Home Romans 6:3-9 Romans 6:3-4, 8-9 John 6:51-59 John 11:17-27 Funeral home-personnel are compassionate, knowledgeable people who are able to help the family of the deceased with all aspects of burial as well as other details which require attention. Some of the arrangements with which a funeral home can assist include: Romans 8:14-23 Romans 8:31 b-35, Romans 14:7-9, 10c-12 John 11:21-27 John 11:32-45 John 12:23-28 Transportation of the deceased from home or hospital to the funeral home, crematory and church. Planning of funeral services including time and date, inclusion of and location of visitation. Determining burial plans. The funeral home will assist with choosing a burial plot, mausoleum or columbarium as well as casket or urn. If cremation is chosen, the funeral home will make all the necessary arrangements. Placement of obituaries in the local newspapers and assistance with writing them. Notification to the Social Security office. Ordering prayer cards for distribution at the visitation. Ordering death certificates. Assistance with other arrangements or details including referrals to florists and musicians. Thessalonians 4: Timothy 2:8-13 John 12:23-26 John 14:1-6 John 17:24-26 John 19:17-18,

5 Part Three: Saying the Last Good-Bye In addition to helping with funeral arrangements at the time of death, most funeral homes offer pre-planning services. This enables the family to make arrangements in a less pressured and more thoughtful environment. OLS Parish offices offer preplanning services when considering the OLS Columbarium Gardens. Funeral Homes The following is a list of funeral homes in the Birmingham area: (1) Concerning my inurnment. I would prefer: Columbarium Service For the public For my family only Abanks Mortuary & Crematory, 808 5th Avenue N., Birmingham, Charter Funeral Home & Crematory, 2521 Hwy. 31, Calera, Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home, 2701 John Hawkins Pkwy., Hoover, John Rideout s Elmwood Chapel, 800 Dennison Ave. SW, John Rideout s Roebuck Chapel, 9012 Parkway East, John Rideout s Southern Heritage, 475 Cahaba Valley Rd., Pelham, John Rideout s Valley Chapel, 1802 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, Lakeshore Memorial Chapel, 131 Oxmoor Ct., Rideout s Cremation Service, 2116 University Blvd., Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory. (2) I would like the following Scripture Reading proclaimed: (3) I would like the following song sung: Funeral Planning Resources The following websites offer comprehensive information on funeral planning, including a downloadable funeral planning guide, cremation options, grief support and much more. Catholic Funerals: A Guide Funeral Planning - Everything You Need to Know about Funerals, Funeral Homes and Grief Support (4) Other requests that I would like to have considered for my Service of Inurnment are: Funeral Help Program - The Consumer s Guide to Going in Style Without Going in Debt Cremation Information Cremation Urns Our Lady of Sorrows Columbarium niche would require an urn be no larger than 6½ Diameter x 9¾ Tall. Urns can be purchased from local funeral homes or the OLS Ave Maria Shop in the Church Vestibule. 13 2

6 Other Resources Veteran s Affairs Benefits: There are numerous benefits available to veterans, especially those who have served during wartime. Some of these include pension, aid assistance, healthcare, prescription assistance, and headstone, grave markers, and burial flags. Contact the VA at either or at The local VA Medical Center is located at 809 Green Springs Highway, Suite 100, Homewood, AL 35209, ph#: It is advisable to go to the service center to apply for benefits with the assistance of a service officer. The office hours are M-F from 7:30-4:30. Social Security Benefits: There are survivor benefits and a one-time lump sum death benefit of $255 available through the Social Security Administration. Upon death, immediately contact Social Security at to notify them of a loved one s passing. Their website is also very helpful and offers detailed information on benefits: or Funeral Planning Information: The following websites offer comprehensive information on funeral planning, including downloadable funeral planning guide, cremation options, grief support and much more. or The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) provides free brochures explaining the Funeral Rule. Write Public Reference, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C , and ask for: Funerals: a Consumer Guide, or telephone (TDD ) in Washington; for the Atlanta regional office. The website for obtaining information or making a complaint is Funeral Consumers Alliance is the only national funeral consumer advocacy group and it offers many helpful publications at minimal cost. The address is FCA, 33 Patchen Road, So. Burlington, VT 05403; telephone to join or order materials, or go to (9) I would like the following person to be asked to provide Words of Welcome and Remembrance. (10) I would like the following to serve as Lectors: as Eucharistic Ministers: (11) I would like the following to participate in the procession of gifts at the Offertory: AARP, a non-profit, non-partisan organization of and for seniors, publishes Funeral Goods and Services and Prepaying Your Funeral. For free copies go to or write AARP Fulfillment, 602 E Street, Washington, D.C Local Elder Law and Estate Planning Attorneys and general information on power of attorney and living wills: (1) Alabama Bar Association, (2) Legal Counsel for the Elderly, A University of Alabama Law School Clinical Program, (3) Birmingham Bar Association, locator action.cfm (12) Other requests that I would like to be considered for this service are: Caregiver Support Groups and literature: There are numerous caregiver support groups in our area that offer emotional support to caregivers and the services are generally free. Some are specifically targeted at the caregivers of Alzheimers and dementia patients and others are general in nature. A listing of local caregiver support groups can be found at Alzheimers of Central Alabama offers many caregiver publications and audiovisual materials for check out. A listing of available resources can be viewed at Some national caregiver resources are available at or Hospice: There are numerous local hospice agencies that provide end of life care and your physician can make a referral for you. The following websites offer excellent information on the hospice concept: and Grief and Bereavement support groups, counseling and literature: The best resource for local grief support groups is the following website It offers numerous locations where emotional support can be accessed and the services are normally provided. 3 12

7 (5) Some special concerns that I would like to have included in the Prayers of the Faithful are: Relatives and Friends To Be Contacted (6) At funerals, a funeral pall is draped over the casket/urn at the beginning of the liturgy. The pall reminds us of the garment given at baptism and symbolizing our life in Christ. It also signifies that all are equal in the eyes of God. Family members or friends are encouraged to place the pall. I would like the following to place the pall upon my casket/cremains: I would like the following to serve as Pall Bearers: (7) I would like the following symbol of Christian life carried in procession and placed upon my casket: Crucifix Bible I would like it carried and placed by: (8) At funerals with an urn, the funeral pall is placed on the Ossuary. I would like the following to serve as Ossuary Bearers: 11 4

8 Organizations To Be Contacted Part Two: FUNERAL MASS and/or Scripture Service Choose either (A) or (B): (A) I would prefer that a Mass be celebrated at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church Personal Information (B) I would prefer only a Scripture Service be celebrated at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church My Name: Address: Birthdate: Birthplace (City & State): Social Security #: U.S. Armed Forces Serial #: At this Mass or Scripture Service: (1) I would like these songs sung: Occupation: My Father s Name: Birthplace (City & State): My Mother s Name (Maiden Name): Birthplace (City & State): (2) I would like these Scripture Readings proclaimed: My Spouse s Name: Address: Birthdate: Birthplace (City & State): (3) I would like the following minister to be invited to preside at the liturgy: Social Security #: U.S. Armed Forces Serial #: Occupation: Name of Spouse s Father: (4) I would like the homily to focus on my belief that... Birthplace (City & State): Name of Spouse s Mother (Maiden Name): Birthplace (City & State): 5 10

9 Choose either (A), (B) or (C): Part One: WAKE SERVICE and/or VISITATION _ (A) I would prefer public visitation and a Wake Service to be held at the Funeral Home _ (B) I would prefer public visitation and a Wake Service to be held at Our Lady of Sorrows Church the night before the Funeral Liturgy. Other Information My attorney is: Phone: Address: In these spaces, indicate where important papers and documents can be found. Include: wills, cemetery deeds, insurance policies, safety deposit boxes, bank accounts, real estate deeds, birth and marriage certificates, stocks, bonds, negotiable papers, mortgages, contractual agreements, promissory notes, trust fund data, and any other pertinent information. _ (C) I would prefer public visitation and a Wake Service to be held at Our Lady of Sorrows Church immediately prior to the Funeral Liturgy. Document Location In choosing (A), I would like: 1) The following song: 2) The following Scripture Reading proclaimed: 3) I (would / would not) like photos of me or other personal mementos to be displayed at the Wake Service. If so, I would suggest: 4) I (would / would not) like someone to speak at the Wake Service. If so, I would like the following persons to be asked to do so: 5) Other requests that I would like to be considered are: (e.g. Rosary prayed by family before visitation) I (have / have not) made arrangements for an anatomical donation at the time of my death. Necessary information regarding this donation can be obtained by contacting: Name: Phone: It is my preference that Memorial Donations at the time of my death be made to: 9 6

10 I would like the following information to be included in my obituary: Name (maiden / nickname): My photo: yes no My place of birth: yes no My age: yes no My date of birth: yes no Places I ve lived: My occupation, places of employment and years of tenure: My Funeral Plans Funeral Home: Funeral Director: I (would / would not) like my body to be publicly viewed after my death. I (would / would not) like my body to be privately viewed after my death. I prefer my body to be cremated after my death. My church affiliation: Education / military service: Clubs and organizations with which I have been affiliated: I have made the following arrangements concerning my final resting place: Interment of my cremated remains: Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church Columbarium (Niche# ) Personal / professional accomplishments: Hobbies and special interests: My immediate family members and their cities of residence: Grandchildren: Great-grandchildren: Other information: 7 8