Make sure a lawyer is not the executor.

Write the obituary yourself and send it to the newspapers that need to have it. The funeral home can do this for you, but it will be a lot more accurate and meaningful if someone closed to the deceased writes it. There are free, online guides.

Your sister shouldn't make any major life decisions until the shock has worn off and life has gotten somewhat back to "normal." Be there for her, to help with all the paperwork for insurance, preparing for the funeral, etc. etc., but give her time when she needs it for private grieving. And remember, everyone deals with grief in their own way and on their own time schedule.

Linn