FINAL WISHES
PLANNING GUIDE
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I’m the counselor who assisted in preparing this plan.
Please know that I’m available to help in any way I can.
This book belongs to :
A message to funeral participants
Name Telephone number Email Signature
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Someday this Final Wishes Planning Guide will speak for you.
Preparing the book now is a thoughtful gesture your family and friends will appreciate. You’ll notice that certain information is requested more than once. This is because funeral duties are typically divided among several participants. Your patience now will ease their tasks when the time comes.
The questions are simple and easy to follow. If you need assistance just ask your Assurant® representative for guidance in completing your Final Wishes Planning Guide.
The result will be a clear record of your final wishes, a source of important documents for legal and public records, and a permanent keepsake of your fondest memories to speak to future generations.
Please store the completed book in a safe but public place in your home. Everyone in your family should know exactly where to find it quickly and easily without a key or the distress of a search.
Your efforts now will lighten your loved ones’ burden and ensure that your funeral wishes are honored.
Your voice.
Signature
Witness
Date
Date
I wanted to spare you as much anxiety, grief and expense as possible at the time of my death, so in this booklet I’ve suggested some arrangements in advance. I hope they relieve some pressure at this difficult time.
This booklet is divided in two. The first section includes vital statistics, funeral service guidelines and cemetery requests, all important to the funeral director while planning the details of my service.
The second section is more personal and provides material for eulogies, obituaries and other remembrances.
If I needed more room I used the additional information pages at the end of the book.
Please accept these arrangements in the spirit they are given:
With love, hoping to soothe your hurt and help you remember the best times we shared.
To my loved ones.
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Information for the funeral director
When this section is thoroughly completed, the funeral director will have all the information needed to assist your family in making final arrangements as easy and as meaningful as possible.
Specifically, the section will help your funeral director identify the people responsible for making funeral arrangements, file necessary papers, guide your family’s claims for survivors’ benefits and arrange the details of your funeral with clarity on key matters.
Section one :
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The best things in life are the people we love, the places
we’ve been, & the memories
we’ve made along the way.
City : State : ZIP Code :
Same as above Other
City : State : ZIP Code :
First person to be notified upon my death
Name Street address
Telephone number Relationship Email
Executor
Name Street address
Telephone number Email
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City : State / Country :
City : State / Country :
Maiden Name :
City : State / Country :
Married Single Divorced Widowed Other
Vital statistics about me My birthdate
Birthplace Father’s name Birthplace Mother’s name Birthplace
Marital status
Spouse’s name
Education
Grade completed Degree(s)
Occupation
Employer Date retired if applicable
Next of kin Phone and/or address Email Secondary next of kin
Phone and/or address Email Tertiary next of kin Phone and/or address Email 10
Military service
Branch of service Service serial number Date enlisted Place enlisted Type of separation or discharge Place of separation Location of discharge papers Highest grade / rank / rating War(s) / conflict(s) served Medals / Honors / Citations
Additional Military Information
Additional personal information
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Date :
My preferences for the service
Person completing arrangements Telephone number Preferred funeral home / director
Place of service Type of service Clergy or Celebrant Eulogist / Tributes
Visitation Special requests
Lodge, society or fraternal organization(s) Music
Glasses Jewelry Clothing Pallbearers / honorary pallpearers
Preferred Casket Preferred Urn
Burial of Body Cremation
Family Only Family and Friends
Donations in lieu of flowers to
Other please specify
Remove Leave on
Leave to family Leave on
Purchased Selected
Phone : Phone : Phone : Phone : Phone : Phone : 12
Cemetery instructions
Name of Cemetery Location
Cemetery property owned?
Monument / Marker Inscription
Final disposition
Additional information
Following are my wishes regarding the final disposition of my remains.
Yes No
Earth burial
Inurnment
Columbarium niche
Scatter please specify location
Retain by Family
Other please specify
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Personal remembrances
A funeral should honor the life lived. And because your life is unique, its memorial should evoke your distinctive qualities.
This section will help participants in your funeral focus on how you wish to be remembered. Afterward, it will be a treasured keepsake of your life. You may wish to use a video or audio recorder to tape your responses, and perhaps have a family member interview you.
Section two :
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Information for the obituary
Suggested newspapers
Include photo Place of Birth Spouse Widow / widower of If yes, place of death
Children
Grandchildren
Siblings
In times of grief, survivors can overlook information crucial to a well-written obituary. Your thoughtfulness here will provide a complete record for their use.
Yes No
Date:
Yes No
Date :
Name Place of residence
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Yes No Education
Married Wedding date Religious affiliation
Clubs and lodges
War(s) / conflict(s) served
Employment
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Information for the eulogy
I would like the following religious beliefs expressed at my funeral
Some significant accomplishments in my life
One of my fondest memories
One of the greatest inspirations in my life
If I could live my life over again, I would …
Personal remembrances and life review
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Occupation Employer Business associates
Hobbies
Favorite places
Religious affiliation House of worship Address
Member since Religious activities and offices held
Organizations (service clubs, lodges, fraternities, sororities, etc)
Organization activities
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My favorite poem or scripture My favorite song or music My favorite flower My favorite color My unfinished work
My pets
My favorite things
I want my family to remember me for 20
A final message for my family and friends
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Location of important papers
Birth and marriage certificates
Will and testament location
Insurance policies
We all accumulate important papers. Some have sentimental value, such as graduation certificates, letters from loved ones, commenda- tions from fellow workers or employers, etc. Others have financial value, such as stocks and bonds, wills, savings account passbooks, deeds, veterans records and insurance policies.
You can spare your survivors the distress of searching for important papers (and the anxiety of fearing something’s still missing) simply by indicating where everything is stored.
Company Name : Policy Number : Company Name : Policy Number : Company Name : Policy Number : 22
Financial Planner
Savings account(s)
Bank account(s)
Credit card(s)
Name : Address :
City : State : ZIP Code :
Telephone : Email :
Establishment name : Account No. :
Username : Password :
Establishment name : Account No. :
Username : Password :
Establishment name : Account No. :
Username : Password :
Establishment name : Account No. :
Username : Password:
Type : Number :
Web address :
Username : Password :
Type : Number :
Web address :
Username : Password :
Type : Number :
Web address :
Username : Password :
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Military records
Description of homestead property owned Location
Mortgage holder name
Description of secondary property owned Location
Mortgage holder name
Information on benefits available from any retirement plan may be obtained from
Stock and bond certificates Name and location
Safe deposit box
Company name : Address :
State : ZIP Code :
Telephone :
Email :
Web address :
Username : Password :
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Lawyer
Doctor: Primary
Specialist
Social Media
Name : Address :
City : State : ZIP Code :
Telephone : Email : Name : Address :
City : State : ZIP Code :
Telephone : Email : Name : Address :
City : State : ZIP Code :
Telephone : Email : Site :
Username : Password :
Site :
Username : Password :
Site :
Username : Password :
Site :
Username : Password :
Site :
Username : Password :
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Friends and relatives to be notified
Name Relationship Street address
Telephone number Email Name Relationship Street address
Telephone number Email Name Relationship Street address
Telephone number Email
Everyone has special friends and infrequently-seen relatives who have been particularly close over the years. By recording their names and addresses here, you can be sure these special people will be notified.
City : State : ZIP Code :
City : State : ZIP Code :
City : State : ZIP Code :
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Name Relationship Street address
Telephone number Email Name Relationship Street address
Telephone number Email Name Relationship Street address
Telephone number Email Name Relationship Street address
Telephone number Email
City : State : ZIP Code :
City : State : ZIP Code :
City : State : ZIP Code :
City : State : ZIP Code :
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28 Name Relationship Street address
Telephone number Email Name Relationship Street address
Telephone number Email Name Relationship Street address
Telephone number Email Name Relationship Street address
Telephone number Email
City : State : ZIP Code :
City : State : ZIP Code :
City : State : ZIP Code :
City : State : ZIP Code :
Name 29 Relationship Street address
Telephone number Email Name Relationship Street address
Telephone number Email Name Relationship Street address
Telephone number Email Name Relationship Street address
Telephone number Email
City : State : ZIP Code :
City : State : ZIP Code :
City : State : ZIP Code :
City : State : ZIP Code :
For the sake of your survivors and their children, please take a few moments to jot down your recollections of what breathed life into these names. A space is provided for you to preserve living memo- ries — just a quick phrase about what endeared these people to you and others — under each entry.
My family tree.
My Grandchildren
My Child
My Grandchildren
My Child
My Name
My Mother
My Grandmother My Grandfather
My Grandchildren
My Child 30
My Grandchildren
My Child
My Spouse
My Father
My Grandmother My Grandfather
My Grandchildren
My Child
My Grandchildren
My Child
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Additional Information
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Additional Information
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To the survivors. A few thoughts on how to deal with bereavement.
Death is the most natural thing we do, but modern culture has made it hard to grieve naturally. We often tend to bottle our sadness inside. This only makes the process more difficult and less complete.
It’s important to share your feelings of loss with others. A sensitive funeral ceremony is an important first step, but the weeks and months following are crucial, too. We urge you to seek out family, friends, clergy or a professional therapist, even if you feel you’re coping well. This can be particularly important for children.
The pain of loss is a natural part of death, and it has a purpose.
Properly acknowledged and experienced, your hurt will eventually subside and leave in its wake the best and most tender memories of your loved one.
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Assurant, is committed to providing you with the outstanding customer service you deserve and answers to all of your questions and concerns when needed.
For more information regarding this guide, please contact your local representative, or contact our customer service center:
Assurant PO Box 2730
440 Mt Rushmore Road Rapid City SD 57709 1.800.773.6333 Monday – Friday
7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. MST
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440 Mt. Rushmore Road Rapid City, SD 57701 1.800.773.6333 www.assurant.com
