Where to Begin
Planning a funeral can be overwhelming, but you are not alone in this. We’re here to support you throughout this journey and make this process one of love, healing, and life celebration. Below is some information to help you get started, but you can contact us at any time if you need help.
Within Hours
You may contact us at any time a death occurs, and one of our funeral directors will be prepared to respond.
When a loved one dies at home or in a place that isn’t a healthcare facility, you’ll need to contact emergency personnel before they can be taken into our care. If you are not sure who to contact in your community, call our funeral home and we will guide you.
If your loved one dies in a healthcare facility, the facility will typically notify the proper authorities, including the funeral home you have chosen to care for your loved one if they know that information.
We are here to support you by providing timely service in responding your needs, whether that means immediately responding to a death, providing advice on how to proceed, or answering any questions about our services.
Within the First Few Days
You’ll want to notify close friends and relatives, both through personal phone calls as well as your loved one’s death notice. If this process is too painful for you, it’s absolutely okay to ask a trusted family member or friend to help you.
This also is the time to review any of your loved one’s preplanned funeral wishes and meet with a funeral director to begin planning the service. If your loved one did not preplan their funeral, you might want to start thinking about a few choices you will need to make, such as:
- Burial or cremation
- Will there be a viewing?
- Preferred location and date of services
- Place of burial
- Participants in the service such as clergy, musicians, pallbearers, and others
- What details would make the service special?
These questions are just a starting point, and you don't need to know the answers right away. Don’t hesitate to contact us to gain a better understanding of your options. We're here to make this process easier for you.
What to Expect When We Meet
When you meet with a funeral director to discuss arrangements, we'll ask you about your loved one to gain an understanding of the person the services will honor. Use this time to communicate your ideas and preferences, share your loved one's life story, revisit memories, and highlight their accomplishments. Our professionals will use this information to guide you in the creation of a personalized, meaningful celebration of your loved one's life.
This process may include:
- Gathering information for the official death certificate
- Scheduling the services and events (including the location, date, and time)
- Discussing any applicable details for viewing such as hair styling, clothing, and jewelry
- Drafting an obituary
- Selecting a casket, urn, or other products you may need
- Selecting pallbearers, music, flowers, readings for service
- Signing authorization forms
We'd like lighten your burden by guiding you through the process. We will ask you questions and give you options to help plan a meaningful service. Some of the information we will gather includes:
- Full legal name and home address
- Social security number
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Father's name
- Mother's maiden name
- Veteran's discharge papers (DD-214), if applicable
- Educational Background
- Occupation
- Information about the burial location if applicable
- Church affiliation and name of clergy
- Names and relationships of survivors
- Insurance policy information if using to pay for funeral expenses
- Photo for newspaper and website obituary
- Organization membership and volunteer/civic positions
Please also bring a recent photograph and any clothing you'd like us to use when dressing them for the service.