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Where to Begin

Where to Begin

Planning a cremation can be overwhelming, but you are not alone in this. We’re here to support you throughout this journey and make this process one of love, healing, and life celebration. Below is some information to help you get started, but you can contact us at any time if you need help.


Within Hours

When a loved one dies at home or in a place that isn’t a healthcare facility, you’ll need to contact emergency personnel before they can be taken into our care. If your loved one was under medical care, it’s a good idea to call their physician as well.

If your loved one dies in a healthcare facility, they will notify the proper authorities, and will contact The Nebraska Cremation Society once you have given them permission to do so.

If the person dies at home under hospice care, call the hospice nurse who can declare the death and help facilitate the transport of the body.

A member of the staff of The Nebraska Cremation Society staff will be in contact with you to begin the process of working with you to begin the process of authorizing and planning the cremation. The first step will be to complete our Vital Records Form which can be done over the phone, in person, via email, or online at NebraskaCremation.com. This information will allow us to place the death certificate into the doctor’s work queue on the Electronic Death Registration System. Once the doctor has signed the death certificate, we will obtain a Cremation Permit from the County Coroner. We will also ask the next of kin to sign a Cremation Authorization. Once this paperwork is complete, cremation can take place.



Within the First Few Days

You’ll want to notify close friends and relatives, both through personal phone calls as well as your loved one’s death notice. If this process is too painful for you, it’s absolutely okay to ask a trusted family member or friend to help you.

Ask a friend or relative to keep an eye on the person’s home, answer the phone, collect mail, throw food out, and water plants.

Call the person’s employer, if he or she was working request info about benefits and any pay due. As whether there was a life-insurance policy through the company.

Obtain death certificates from The Nebraska Cremation Society. You’ll need these for financial institutions, government agencies, and insurers. Most people find 3-5 certified copies of the death certificate is sufficient.

Take the will to the appropriate county or city office to have it accepted for probate. Your attorney can do this for you.

If necessary, the estate’s executor should open a bank account for the deceased’s estate. Your attorney will advise you of this as well as any other legal and financial steps you should take.

Contact:

  • A trust and estates attorney, to learn how to transfer assets and assist with probate issues.
  • Police, to have them periodically check the deceased’s house if vacant.
  • Any religious services you will need, such as clergy or spiritual leaders
  • Accountant or tax preparer, to find out whether an estate-tax return or final income-tax return should be filed.
  • The person’s investment adviser, for information on holdings.
  • Bank, to find accounts and safe deposit box.
  • Life insurance agent, to get claim forms.
  • Social Security (800-772-1213; socialsecurity.gov) or Lincoln Office of Social Security (866-593-2880) and other agencies from which the deceased received benefits, such as Veterans Affairs (800-827-1000; va.gov), to stop payments and ask about applicable survivor benefits. The Pruss-Nabity Funeral Home automatically notifies Social Security as part of filing the death certificate.
  • Agency providing pension services, to stop monthly check and get claim forms.
  • Utility companies, to change or stop service, and postal service, to stop or forward mail.

 

These questions are just a starting point, and you don't need to know the answers right away. Don’t hesitate to contact us to gain a better understanding of your options. We're here to make this process easier for you.




What to Expect When We Meet

When you meet with a member of our staff to discuss your arrangements, we'll first provide you with a general price list to give you a basic idea of what our services cost.

We'll then ask you about your loved one to gain an understanding of the person the services will honor. Use this time to communicate your ideas and preferences, share your loved one's life story, revisit memories, and highlight their accomplishments. Our professionals will use this information to guide you in the creation of a personalized, meaningful celebration of your loved one's life.

This process may include:

  • Preparing and filing the official death certificate
  • Scheduling the services and events (including the location, date, and time)
  • Selecting a rental casket, urn, or other products you may need
  • Choosing an interment option for the cremation urn, such as cremation niches within a local mausoleum, area cremation gardens, or interment plots
  • Drafting an obituary
  • Arranging necessary transportation
  • Selecting pallbearers, if applicable

 

We'd like to make this process as smooth and stress-free for you as we can, so remember to bring the following information about your loved one with you as well:

  • Full legal name and home address
  • Social security number
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Father's name
  • Mother's maiden name
  • Veteran's discharge papers (DD-214), if applicable
  • Highest education
  • Occupation
  • Information about the burial or interment location if applicable
  • Clergy name and phone number if applicable
  • Names and relationships of survivors
  • Insurance policy information if using to pay for funeral expenses

 

Please also bring a recent photograph and any clothing you'd like us to use when dressing them for the service.

The Nebraska Cremation Society
Phone: (402) 200-3366
911 N. Linden Street, P.O. Box 127, Wahoo, NE 68066

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