Hello forum friends,
My 100-yr old Auntie passed away peacefully in her sleep this morning at the rehab facility. I'm praising my Lord because He answered some very specific prayers:
That she not endure a long, drawn out dying, being hooked up to machines or having to take all sorts of medications.
That she would die peacefully in her sleep.
That she would go home to the Lord before having to go into a permanent facility, which was in process to happen this coming week.
Even after falling and breaking her hip before Christmas, and foregoing the surgery to repair it, she was only on Tylenol and only had pain if she tried to put weight on that leg and walk. Otherwise, she had no pain.
As requested (and as her PoA/Executor), I gave the rehab facility the name of the funeral home where she will be cremated. I know to ask for at least 5 copies of her death certificate. Other than this, I'm not sure what the process will be.
I'm in MN and she is in FL. Many of our family will be traveling from out of state for her Celebration of Life. Many have jobs and families.
Should I plan the event for a Friday or Saturday? Should I delay the event so that people have time to book flights, etc.? Two weeks or more? If we delay the funeral, is there a cost to store her body?
My Aunt Nancy spent all but 2 of her 100 years with her sister Anna (103, still living at their house). They even worked at the same company all their lives. So, their names are joint on everything... house, banking, investments, etc. She had a small life insurance policy from her company. Anna was her beneficiary on investments. She also owns a lot of EE bonds.
We were recently cashing out some of her investments, like CDs, getting ready to pay for rehab and facility care. Does this mean I have to file taxes for them?
Any suggestions regarding any of this is greatly appreciated.
Thank you, everyone!
There have been so many nasty weather events impacting travel, I would wait until closer to spring. When people have to travel to a service they will miss work days, anyway. Day of week wouldn't really matter I wouldn't think.
Since she is to be cremated you don't need to store an urn. Or keep it with her sister until the time comes. No storage fees.
In terms of the funeral, what we did with my MIL was to proceed with cremation shortly after her death and then had a graveside service to inter her ashes in the Spring, several months after her death. Could the ashes be stored at her sister's home until the actual funeral?
In terms of taxes, were the CDs and bonds held in tax-advantaged accounts?
As sorry as I am for your loss, I agree that she was granted the blessing of a "good death". Rejoice in that, and in your good memories of her.