How do you deal with a death as next of kin?

There is a lot to do after the death of a loved one. Friends and family need to be informed, and the funeral has to be organized. In addition, there are a lot of official steps that need to be carried out.

You will find helpful checklists and information on the types of funerals in Switzerland at www.ch.ch/en/death.

As the formalities are subject to different regulations from municipality to municipality, it is best to contact the municipality of residence of the deceased in order to speak with the relevant officials in the registry and burial offices.

The following suggestions should help you to organize the burial:

1. Find out whether the deceased had any special wishes in a last will or testament.
2. Decide on the type of funeral (burial or cremation) and the place of funeral.
3. Visit the registry or burial office and take the necessary documentation with you.
4. Decide who you wish to invite to the reception afterwards and organize this.
5. Order the flowers for the funeral hall or church as well as for the restaurant (if required).

Helpful links: general information www.ch.ch/en/death; decorative urns www.theurn.com; for placing ashes in nature www.friedwald.ch.

You can decide between church or secular service.

1. Church service: when deceased persons are buried in a cemetery, this is often associated with a religious service, a short memorial service or another type of funeral service. Arrange with the parish office for the time.
2. Secular service: if the deceased was not a member of a religious community, you may choose to have a secular service. This may be led by a family member or a speaker from a non-confessional community. Make sure that the deceased has not expressed any wishes in this regard (e.g. last will, testament) and also respect any religious beliefs of the departed.

You are free to choose the cemetery. However, you are only officially entitled to be buried in the cemetery in the parish where you were last registered before death.

A cemetery is not obliged to accept outsiders from the parish for burial. Make enquiries at the parish cemetery of your choice and obtain an authorization if necessary.

If the deceased person has expressed wishes, these should be taken into account. Otherwise, a place of rest to which the bereaved have an affiliation is recommended.

There is no need to have any death notices or announcements. These are purely formalities in order to inform relatives, friends, etc. of the death. If they are sent and/or posted before the funeral, they are automatically assumed to be an invitation to attend the funeral service.

The following details are generally required:

1. first name, last name (also maiden name) and possibly a photo of the deceased;
2. date of birth and death or age plus place of death;
3. short information (e.g. died unexpectedly ... or: following a long illness ...);
4. short poem or quotation;
5. list of those left behind (e.g. spouse, children and their families);
6. place and date of service with exact address.

The service is a highly charged event emotionally. Try to make is as respectful but also as beautiful as possible.

This includes, for example, flowers, some information about the life of the deceased, music (organ, favorite music of the deceased, a live singer, choir, etc.), poems or Bible texts.

There is also the custom of placing a large container filled with sand and a box of long, thin candles. The mourners can then take a candle, light it and place it in the sand.