Help for Funeral Planning

Olathe Memorial Cemetery staff realizes the important decisions that need to be considered upon a death in your family. It is our mission to assist you through the funeral planning process.

• Funeral home or crematory
• Cemetery
• Church or minister
• Relatives, friends, acquaintances (May need to arrange accommodations for out-of-town guests)
• Employers and schools of those attending the service
• Childcare provider, if needed
• Insurance companies
• Veteran’s associations
• Member organizations
• Family attorney and executor of will
• Utility companies, landlord and post office if deceased was living alone
• Check on all debts and installment payments – including credit cards
• If Social Security check are automatic deposit, notify bank of the death

• Deceased personal information for death certificate (Social Security Administration 1-800-772-1213)
• Life insurance certificates (Social Security, credit union, trade union, fraternal and military)
• Clothing for deceased
• Obituary information
• Photo of deceased
• Veteran information (discharge paperwork)

• Meet with cemetery staff for information and pricing
• Select burial/cremation space
• Pay for opening and closing the grave
• Order final date for existing monument
• If no existing monument, design and order monument

• Amount to spend on service/ arrangements
• Select cemetery or memorial garden
• Select the casket or urn
• Order tent and chairs if desired
• How many copies of death certificate
• Select outside burial container
• Select pallbearers
• Select music for service
• Select readings for service
• Prepare eulogy
• Types of floral/plant arrangements (arrange for disposition of flowers after funeral)
• Military honor – if applicable
• Set up memorial fund (church, hospice, charity or school)