WHAT TO DO WHEN A LOVED ONE DIES?
 SOME BASIC SUGGESTIONS

A death brings sadness and stress. Sometimes it happens after a loved one has suffered from a long illness. On other occasions, a loved one is snatched from among us by a sudden sickness or fatal accident. Members of the grieving family will have many decisions to make in a short time.

The Jewish Secular Community of Cleveland (JSC) is committed to providing support to JSC members and/or survivors.  We respect the decisions of each family when they plan for a funeral/memorial service.

A Jewish secular humanistic memorial/funeral service can be provided in many settings.  The JSC respects the decision of the family of the deceased to make a choice regarding venue and “degree of tradition of the service”.  The JSC will provide help consistent with its resources.
See list of funeral /memorial service providers at the end of this document.

When a death occurs, a surviving family member or friend should contact the President or any Board member of the JSC. The President or Board member contacted will notify the Sunshine Chairperson who will have four or more “point people” ready to provide assistance to the family. See web site for a list of current officers.

Examples of types of assistance the JSC can provide are as follows:
·  notify the JSC membership of the death,
·  find a location for a funeral/memorial service,
·  contact one of the JSC’s madrikhim who can develop and guide a funeral/memorial service,
·  provide food/an organizational donation/other financial support as approved by the JSC Board annually..

Although the focus of this document is issues to be faced when a loved one dies, the JSC urges members and their families to begin planning ahead of time.  Such planning can include:

1.     Ethical Will and other Advance Directives
2.     Funeral, Burial, Cremation—Costs and Services
3.     Secular Jewish Memorial Services and Traditional Jewish Funeral Services
4.     Site of Memorial Service
5.     Agency or institution to which memorial contributions can be sent
6.     Obituary

In conclusion, an important measure of the integrity of any congregation, whether “religious” or secular, is the degree to which members of that congregation can rely on it in times of need. When the death of a loved one occurs, the JSC reaffirms its commitment to reach out to it members in this most trying of times.


RESOURCES:
Berkowitz Kumin Bookatz
www.berkowitzkuminbookatz.com
1-800-448-2210 /216 932-7900
1985 So. Taylor Rd. Cleveland Heights
Berkowitz Kumin Bookatz Memorial Chapel is family owned.
They offer a full range of funeral services and can assist in preplanning.

Cleveland Memorial Society
www.clevelandmemorialsociety.org
216 751-5515
21600 Shaker Blvd Cleveland Ohio
A nonprofit dedicated to simplicity, economy, dignity and forethought in funeral arrangements. The Purposes of the Society:  To promote, through education and other means, dignity and simplicity in funeral arrangements; To plan for its members and their families either simple cremation or simple burial;  To aid in the bequest of body or anatomical gifts (cornea, kidney, temporal bones) to medical science.

Shapiro Funeral Service
440 498-1993
27099 Miles Rd, Chagrin Falls 44022
Also works with Cleveland Memorial Society

Cemeteries:
Hillcrest Cemetery
26700 Aurora Road in Bedford
Hillcrest is non-sectarian.  This may be important to those whose immediate families include non-Jews. There are also plots available only for use by Jews and plots available for Jews and non-Jews. Thus plots for spouses/partners in interfaith families can be side by side.  Their chapel can seat about 50 persons.

Lakeview Cemetery (nondenominational)
12316 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44106-4393
Telephone: 216-421-2665   Fax: 216-421-2415
email: Jennifer@lakeviewcemetery.com

Mt. Olive Cemetery
27855 Aurora Rd, Solon, OH 44139.
216 248-5100 (at cemetery)

Zion Memorial Park
51 Northfield Road, Bedford, OH 44146
216 662-4260

Adopted by the JSC Board, January 18, 2009,

Committee Members:
Carol Falender
Bev Feingold
Bobbie Varble
Mark Weber
Helene Weiss
Rona Weiss