What to do when there’s a sudden death in the family.  More to the point what to do when someone dies in their sleep in your own home when you’re least expecting it.

This is what happened to Emma Grey as reported in this story: Death admin is something few people think about. Here’s why you should  by Sophie Kesteven.  (ABC News, Friday 14 February 2020).

Says Kesteven: ‘Before she needed one, Emma Grey had never thought to make a plan for what to do in the event of the sudden death of a loved one.’

That was until the 45-year-old mother-of-three checked on her husband one afternoon while he was off work sick with the flu.

“He just seemed to be asleep,” Emma Grey recalled. 

One minute everything was normal and then the next it was very different and she wasn’t prepared, at all.

With a death comes a lot of other matters that have to be dealt with.  The expected grief and emotional swings are compounded by what Emma Grey said was: ‘the administrative side of death’ and the toll it had on her family. It’s something she believes most people are similarly unprepared for.  

Her husband, Jeff Grey died without a will, writes Kesteven: ‘so Ms Grey had to navigate the legalities and administration, which included her late husband’s bank accounts, mortgage information, funeral expenses, electricity providers, subscriptions, mobile phone contracts, car registration, licences, memberships, taxes, and countless passwords.’

“I don’t think we talk about this sort of thing. I think our culture is really quite wary and scared of death, dying, and grief,” she said. 

And she’s dead right (excuse the pun). 

Talking can make your death easier on the people you love… read now.

Get the full story here: Death admin, it’s time to get sorted   and listen to a Pineapple Project podcast here:  Pineapple Project – there’s a body what next

More ideas about getting prepared at these sites:   What to do when someone dies – Choice      How to get prepared for your own death        Here’s how to prepare including a check list      End of life planning in 16 easy steps      The It’s OK to die checklist      Planning ahead toolbox