A Practical Guide for Dealing with Death: Navigating the Tough Decisions

Dealing with the death of a loved one is one of life’s most challenging experiences. Amidst the grief and emotional turmoil, practical matters must be attended to promptly and efficiently. From notifying authorities to making funeral arrangements, there are numerous tasks that need immediate attention. This practical guide, provided by RIP.ie, offers a comprehensive overview of the steps involved in handling the aftermath of a death.

Initial Steps:

1. Contact Next of Kin: Informing immediate family members, especially those residing abroad, should be the first priority. They may need to make arrangements for travel to attend the funeral.
2. Notify Doctor: If a doctor is not present at the time of death, contact one to obtain a death certificate. In cases of sudden or suspicious death, refrain from moving anything until an official pronouncement has been made.
3. Organ Donor Card: If the deceased had an organ donor card, notify the doctor promptly.
4. Locate Burial Instructions: Search for any documents outlining the deceased’s burial wishes. These may streamline the funeral planning process.
5. Contact Authorities: If the death occurs at home, consider contacting local law enforcement, who may need to involve the coroner.
6. Notify Others: Inform close friends, relatives, employers, and colleagues of the death.

Funeral Arrangements:

1. Engage Funeral Director: Seek assistance from a funeral director to facilitate funeral arrangements. They can guide you through the entire process.
2. Discuss Preferences: Determine whether the deceased desired a wake, the type of service, coffin or casket preferences, floral arrangements, etc.
3. Cancel Services: Consider canceling services like subscriptions, deliveries, and utilities associated with the deceased.
4. Explore Burial Options: If the deceased expressed a preference for natural or woodland burial, research appropriate organizations or burial grounds.
5. Religious or Non-religious Ceremony: Contact the appropriate religious or humanist advisors based on the deceased’s preferences.
6. House Security: Arrange for someone trustworthy to look after the deceased’s house during the funeral to prevent burglary.

Support Network:

1. Accept Help: Be open to assistance offered by friends and family, whether it’s cleaning the house, taking care of pets, or looking after children.
2. Gather Documents: Locate essential documents such as the death certificate, wills, insurance policies, and financial records.
3. Settling the Estate: If there’s a will, the designated executor should oversee the distribution of assets. In the absence of a will, legal procedures determine who manages the estate.

Navigating the practical aspects of death amidst grief can be overwhelming. However, by following this practical guide, you can ensure that necessary tasks are handled efficiently, allowing you to focus on grieving and honoring the memory of your loved one. RIP.ie aims to provide comprehensive support during this challenging time, offering guidance and resources to help you through every step of the process. Remember, you’re not alone, and support is available when needed.

Obituary Submission Guidelines

To submit an obituary on RIP.ie, kindly request your funeral director to assist you. This service is provided free of charge to grieving families, and all funeral directors in Ireland have secure access to the site for posting obituaries for the funerals they are managing.

In situations where a funeral is occurring abroad, families can directly contact RIP.ie, and we will coordinate with the involved funeral director.

Due to the sensitive nature of the content on RIP.ie, we are unable to accept submissions directly from the public. Likewise, we cannot edit obituaries posted on the site by funeral directors; only they have the authority to make changes.

The sole way to ensure an obituary is featured on RIP.ie is through publication by a funeral director.

All obituaries on RIP.ie are archived and searchable by surname, county, town, or date range. Our records extend back to July 2006.

If a loved one passes away abroad without Irish-based funeral director involvement, RIP.ie can publish the obituary upon receiving proof of death. Acceptable forms of proof include a death certificate copy, cremation certificate copy, a link to the obituary on the foreign funeral director’s website, or an email confirmation from the overseas funeral director handling arrangements.

A €35 (incl. VAT) administrative fee applies for obituaries of funerals not managed by Irish-based funeral directors.

To proceed with publishing the obituary on RIP.ie:

1. Submit proof, along with the obituary wording and a photo, to info@rip.ie.
2. Upon verification, we’ll send an invoice for online payment.
3. Once payment is received, the obituary will be published, and a link will be provided.

Please note: All RIP.ie obituaries must be associated with an Irish county.

The homepage offers several options to assist in finding specific obituaries:

• Search by surname for notices published in the last 7 days.
• Search by surname and county for notices matching those criteria in the last 7 days.
• Search by specific criteria within a designated date range.

Bookmark frequently visited pages, such as notices from a particular county, for quick access during future visits.

The “Death Notices” tab on the homepage displays recently published notices, including those from today and yesterday, as well as ongoing funerals and notices awaiting confirmation. The same search and sorting options available on the homepage are also accessible here.

Please be aware that we are not funeral directors and do not have direct contact with bereaved families. The only guaranteed method for an obituary to appear on RIP.ie is through publication by a funeral director.