End-of-Life Task Team - Fairbanks, Alaska

Helping our community learn about death, prepare for death, and cope with end of life issues.

EXAMPLE OF A LETTER OF LAST INSTRUCTIONS

 I, Jane Marie Doe , have written this letter of last instructions to indicate my personal preferences regarding funeral and burial. 

1.    Anatomical donations or organ donation.

See donor card in wallet                                  

2.    Location of the will and name of the executor or executrix.

Safety deposit box at Key Bank #1039A:  Executor – Marion Glass   

3.    Instructions regarding funeral and burial.

Funeral Director: Alaska Memorial Chapel – Cicely, Mark Hall 

Clergy: Reverend Gary Smith                       

Visitation/Viewing: One evening viewing for family and close friends  

Disposition of Body: Cremation & ashes buried on home property  

Music: You are My Sunshine, Amazing Grace                     

Flowers: Wildflower baskets if in season                    

Pallbearers: Gary Mears, Gordon Wallace, Steven Carr, Leonard Doe, Eric Masic, Scott & Milton Hurley

 Casket/outer enclosure: Simple homemade urn               

 Clothing: Clothes in bedroom closet in box marked funeral       

 Cemetery location: Northwest corner of property on Alaska 70 

Grave number ____  Lot ____  Section ____  Block ____

 Special instructions: Area marked on deed, marker from VA   

Obituary location: Draft in safe in den                

4.     Location of birth or baptismal certificates, social security card, marriage or divorce certificates, naturalization and citizenship papers, and discharge papers from the Armed Forces.

All located in safe in den.  Army discharge, marriage and birth certificates are at Cicely clerk office and in safe deposit box at Key Bank.                                              

5.    Location of membership certificates in lodges, fraternal organizations, or Native corporations which may provide death or cemetery benefits.

Member at American Legion Post #69                           

6.    Location of safe deposit boxes and the keys.

Safe despot box at Key Bank #1039A.  Key with manager and in safe in den.                                                   

7.    List and location of all insurance policies.

All insurance policies in safe deposit box with copies in den safe.  

8.    List of pension systems which may allow death benefits, for example Social Security Administration, Veterans Administration, government or state pension programs, railroad retirement, and other retirements.

Social Security, Veteran’s Administration, employer pension plan. 

9.    List and location of all bank, saving, or credit union accounts.

Key Bank #45763289 – savings:  National Bank of Alaska #124345098 – checking and savings:  USA Alaska Credit Union #19283746 – saving and business accounts.                                        

10.   List and location of all stocks and bonds.

Prudential – Equity & Growth:  Fidelity – Aggressive Mngr & Contra:  TCT – Growth:  American Funds Group:  Mutual of America located in den safe.                                                    

11.    List of all real property – personal, business, or other.  Include land, houses, vehicle, recreational equipment, heirlooms, etc.

Twenty acres in Vermont.  Five acres at Alaska Way in Cicely.  Ten acres at Burns Creek in Fairbanks:  4-wheeler, Arctic Cat and Polaris Sno-Gos.  Cessna 172 float plane:  Chevy 4-wheel truck, 1990 Subaru GL.   

12.   Instructions concerning all businesses, if any.

Partnership contract located with records in den safe.              

13.   An explanatory statement of action taken in the will, if desired.

        All funds are placed in an educational loan trust for siblings, and their descendants.                                           

14.   List of advisors and their addresses:  executor of estate, lawyer, life insurance underwriter, accountant, investment counselor, physicians, preferred funeral director, business partners, clergy, etc.

        Lawyer – Jim Miller; life insurance – Steven Copus;  executor and education trustee – Marion Glass; accountant – Mike Cost; investment counselor – Gordon Kall; business partner – Jake Booksey.    

15.    Personal Information:

Full Name:             Jane Marie Doe        Maiden Name:             Dear 

Telephone: (907) 888-2901            Marital Status:             Widow        

Address:             211 Alaska Way, Cicely, Alaska  99999                    

Social Security:  889-32-7654             Birth Date:            2/11/15        

Schools and Colleges Attended:             Lathrop High School, Fairbanks.  University of Alaska, Fairbanks.                                     

Honors Awarded: Who Among American Students – 1934:  Honorary Doctorate of Humanities – University of Alaska Fairbanks – 1967 

Employers and Positions Held: Sprague Electric 1935-45:  Gough Memorial Hospital 1950-1969:  Cicely Health Clinic 1970-1980.

        Immediate Family Members:          

Name            Address            Relationship            Date & Place of Birth

Ralph B. Doe   Cicely, AK          brother            4/17/20 – Vermont     

Marie Anne Doe    Northfield, VT   sister         11/10/17 – Vermont     

Steven C. Doe      Rome, NH          son            12/31/45 – Alaska         

A copy of the individual’s prewritten obituary may be included.  If more space is needed, additional pages may be added.