A busy day...
We telephoned the Ayr News to submit an obit in the next edition; we then emailed them the copy & photo. The funeral home here is handling the obits for the Temiskaming Speaker, and the Northern News; they have been submitted and should be in the next editions.
Dad's ashes have been collected from the funeral home, along with twelve embossed copies of the Funeral Director's Proof of Death. They have submitted the paperwork to the federal government for the CPP death benefit, as well as updates to CPP and OAS.
We discussed monuments while at the funeral home. Mark showed us some photos of existing ones so we could get an idea of options; naturally, we knew the people mentioned on those headstones, so it was funny/awkward. Mom prefers solid black stone with high contrast lettering, polished front & back, no fancy photos or images chemically etched into the surface although there may be some standard scrollwork along the edges. She needs to think about the general text (full names of course, but month, day & year or just year for birth & death? Any extra titles "Beloved father & grandfather"?).
There are models which have a primary headstone and then a smaller second stone below for secondary names (like me), the stack resting on a foundation. Because this is a single plot, the stone would be 24-30" wide and therefore pricing would likely run $3800-5000 CDN, depending on sourcing and style.
Turnaround time for a monument is about a month, not that they need that much time to create one since we're using mostly locally-sourced rock, but because the firm only delivers up this way once every 3-4 weeks.
At the credit union, the accounts were updated to remove Dad's name, retaining Mom and my sister Angela ("6 of 6") on the bank accounts. The credit union now has one of the certified death certificates for their files. They also volunteered to photocopy the extra documents for me: I wanted copies of Dad's will and Mom's will & powers-of-attorney papers for my own files, should they be required some day.
The credit union also told us that their Visa is in Dad's name with Mom as the secondary. When we notify Visa about Dad's death, they will likely nuke the account and ask Mom to re-apply in her own right. They have no current balance, but it is likely Mom will have a lower credit limit as a single cardholder than both of them combined.
We then dashed to New Liskeard to Service Ontario where we returned Dad's driver's license and health card, as well as another copy of the death certificate. They say that the truck vehicle transfer can be done in Englehart when convenient; Mom will need the ownership papers, the current odometer reading, $32 fee, a copy of the death certificate, a copy of Dad's will to show her as trustee, and her own ID. Mom isn't planning to do this any time soon as the vehicle isn't needed and is currently snowed in near the barn. She'll worry about it in spring.
Mom isn't planning to update the CIBC bank accounts as those are being closed in another month anyway.
The beer cans were dropped off for recycling.
We stopped by Bill Ramsay's law office in Englehart in the late afternoon. His recommendation on amending the title to the farm is to do nothing. Since Mom was on the title already, there is no advantage to an update unless Mom sells immediately. If she does it now, it would cost $750. If she waits until selling, it gets bundled into the legal sale papers and would cost only $250. The home insurance company may pressure that update to happen, but Bill recommended pleading impoverished & grieving widow to delay it. Bill also gave us five official copies of Dad's will in case we should need that elsewhere. Beyond that, he has nothing else to offer us as we have the essentials already under way. And he didn't charge us for the consultation, bless him. (I went to high school with Bill... we were lab partners in Grade 13 computer electronics.)
I've telephoned Bell Mobility to cancel Dad's phone, 705-544-3847. The account was in Mom's name and retains her mobile number and the home wifi service.
Other utilities such as NorthernTel and Ultramar are all in joint names. I don't see any compelling reason to update any of these. The 407ETR transponder account is in Dad's name but since it is a use-as-you-go service and the bills are sent to the farm & paid electronically, I don't see a need to change this either. If Mom gets her license back, she may use it; if she doesn't, the account should go dormant anyway.
I'm informed by my sister Donna ("5 of 6") that dropping Dad off the HydroOne account means that Mom would qualify for a single person dwelling discount on her electric bills. Alas, I learned this after business hours so I may try to make a phone call in the morning.
Dad's standard wheelchair is apparently a loaner from the Lions Club in Charlton. Had I known that a couple of days ago, I would have made arrangements to return it. Figures. Mom wants to keep his electric wheelchair however as she feels her Mom may required it sooner or later.
Still to do:
- The life insurance claim paperwork from Primerica should be arriving shortly. It needs to be completed and returned asap.
- The paperwork from the union will come in two sets: the death benefit and the pension/medical adjustments. These should be arriving in snail-mail very soon and need to be completed & returned. The paperwork for the modification/continuation of Mom's health benefits should arrive in about 4-5 months; her existing benefits are gratis until July 31.
- There will be an outstanding bill at the funeral home for $73.39 for the obit in the Northern News. Mom plans to pay that when she's next in Englehart.
- Notify the Canada Revenue Agency of Dad's death. I presume this is to cancel any expectations of quarterly tax submissions, and to pave the way for one final income tax submission.
- Visa needs to be contacted concerning Dad's death. They will almost certainly close the account (Mom was only a secondary, not joint). Mom will then have to apply for her own Visa if she still wants a credit card.
- We returned Dad's health card, but we don't know if that nullifies his Ministry of Health & Long Term Care - Ostomy Grant, claim 1000364615. I didn't know it existed until Mom brought it up after we were home. It may be outstanding still.
- Mom may choose to return Dad's passport, but she insists that she wants the government to cancel it, marking it appropriately and returning it to her. If they can't/won't, she won't turn it over and will simply hold it until it expires in five years.
- The farm & house insurance should be updated. They may demand the farm title be updated as well, but that's not obligatory.
- The title of the truck may be updated when convenient, or when it is to be sold. The old title, an odometer reading, Dad's death certificate, Dad's will, Mom's ID and $32 will be enough. It can be done in Englehart.
- Select/design a monument for installation in spring or summer.
No action Planned:
- The farm title doesn't need to be updated unless/until the farm is sold and it can be done at the time of sale.
- The utilities (Northern Telephone, Ultramar, 407ETR) are all in joint names, or are harmless.
- Updating the CIBC. Mom is closing those accounts in February anyway.
I'm still planning to fly home tomorrow from Timmins and should be driving out no later than 11am, weather & road conditions permitting. We had blowing & drifting snow all day and getting home at 5pm was an adventure: I hope the roads are clear before I head north tomorrow.
I depart Timmins around 4pm to Toronto's island airport (1hr flight time), then catch a plane to Dulles (1hr20min flight time); I should be on the ground by 7:30pm. With the government shutdown, however, I have no idea how many TSA and ICE people are actually working: I've heard many are calling in sick or effectively working other jobs since they need the paycheck, and there's no functioning HR to which one can send a resignation letter. What a mess.