Many grief resources are available online. Click the links on this page for helpful information to guide you through your grief journey. We sponsor an annual holiday program featuring Dr. Darcie Sims. This event is usually held on the first Saturday in November. For more information on Dr. Sims and the organization Grief, Inc., click here.
Center for Loss & Life Transition
The links below provide information to those who are seeking information regarding benefits from various government agencies.
Social Security Administration (click on Benefits, then Survivors)
KPERS (Kansas Public Employees Retirement System)
Federal Retirees (U.S. Office of Personnel Management)
MOSERS (Missouri State Employees Retirement System)
The forms listed below can be used to apply for burial benefits from the U. S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs. In order to apply for most Veteran’s benefits, you will need the Veteran’s VA claim number or a copy of the DD214 form given to all honorably discharged Veterans. You may call the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs at (800) 827-1000 for further information or visit their website http://www.va.gov/.
If you desire to bury the cremated remains at a National Cemetery, helpful information may be found by clicking this link http://www.cem.va.gov.
We all meet many different people throughout our lifetimes, and family members aren't always able to personally inform every one of the death. This is why an obituary can be an important to prepare, it informs those of your loved ones passing, including people that you may not know.
As you're writing and reading the obituary, think about how your loved one would want others to remember him/her. If fishing was his life, you should include that. If he was in the chess club just to pass the time, you might want to leave that out. If she was close to her extended family, you might want to make an effort to get those names in.
Decide what you want to include. If you don't have all of the information you need, you'll want to make phone calls and gather these facts, preferably before you start writing.
The basic obituary usually includes:
Other things you might want to consider including:
Again, think about what your loved one, not you, would want. There are plenty of template options you can find online. Or, go to cremationcenterkc.com and read some obituaries of some of our families we have served for ideas.
Have someone else, preferably a close family member or friend, proof the obituary. It is always a good idea to have someone else read the obit before you submit it. This person should not only check for spelling and grammatical errors, but they also should make sure you didn't leave out important family members or anything else that was inadvertently excluded.
A photo of your loved one is a nice addition to your obituary. Find a photo that is clear and shows your loved one in their best light.
Should you wish to print the obituary in a local paper, consider that the length dictates the price. We suggest a simple listing in the paper that notes their name, dates of birth and death and then the note “For the full obituary, please go to www.cremationcenterkc.com”. This will save you time and allow your friends and family
to leave their condolences online for you to read.
Lastly, remember that there is no formal rule to follow when writing their obituary. Short or long, as long as the written tribute befits the person, that is all you need.
NAME, AGE, of RESIDENCE, died (passed away, went to heaven, etc.), DATE (cause of death optional).
HE/SHE was born (PLACE, DATE OF BIRTH, PARENTS). NAME graduated from SCHOOL and received DEGREE from SCHOOL. HE/SHE was married to SPOUSE'S NAME (date of wedding optional).
INSERT OPTIONAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION HERE: Employment history, accomplishments, organizations, activities, etc.
HE/SHE was survived by CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, ETC. (Make sure to separate each entry with a semicolon or it can get messy. See the example below.)
A service will be held TIME, DATE and PLACE.
Cremation Center of Kansas City
Phone: (913) 384-5566 | Fax: (913) 384-5567
4926 Johnson Drive
Roeland Park, KS 66205