Inform Family & Friends of Service Details

Primary Goal of this Step

Inform people of the death and the funeral or memorial service details, including any events before or after the service.

Important Tasks: Inform Family & Friends of Service Details

Figure out who you need to contact

Depending on the method of notification that you’ll be using, you may need access to the deceased’s address book or email account. 

Figure out what to say

As these calls can be emotionally difficult, it can be helpful to develop a script, or jot down talking points, so you make sure you provide all necessary information. 

Notify people using the most appropriate means

Use a family and friends network: Identify a point-person from each main social area of the deceased’s life (work, clubs, etc.) and ask that person to inform the other members of that group.

Call or email: You may want to contact close friends and family members personally, either by phone or by email.

Funeral Update: Create a free funeral website with a personalized URL to share information about the funeral and surrounding events, notify your family and friends of the details, and update everyone at once if anything changes.

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