Where to Begin

Within Hours

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 your loved one was under medical care, it’s a good idea to call their physician as well.

If your loved one dies in a healthcare facility, they will notify the proper authorities, including the funeral home you have chosen to care for your loved one if they know that information.

Emergency and medical personnel involved in this part of the process will help you with obtaining a medical certificate and any other necessary paperwork.

At this time we will schedule an appointment with the responsible family members to meet with one of our knowledgeable licensed funeral directors.

This part of the process is often the most emotional, and we are here to help and support you. If you’re not sure what to do, call us any time.

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 their service. If your loved one did not preplan their funeral, you might want to start thinking about a few of the big choices you will need to make, such as:

• Burial or cremation
• If burial, the type of casket
• If burial, the location of their final resting place in a grave or mausoleum
• If cremation, the type of urn
• If cremation, the location of their final resting place through burial or scattering
• Any religious services you will need, such as clergy or spiritual leaders
• The types of services you want, such as a viewing, service, graveside memorial, etc.

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

At this time we will arrange services and different options best to fit your family’s needs. As part of the arrangement process, we will need to collect information about the deceased in order to complete the death certificate, obituary, and other required documents. This may be one of the most troubling times for your family; we are here to guide you through this painful process with the utmost professional, trustworthy, and compassionate service to celebrate the life of your loved one.

We will assist you in many different areas, such as:

• Answer burial or cremation questions
• Notify churches and clergy to arrange funeral ceremonies.
• Prepare and send obituaries to newspapers you request.
• Consult with cemetery caretakers regarding burials.
• Contact beauticians and barbers if needed.
• Consult with local florist regarding flowers.
• Contact musicians if desired for funeral ceremonies.
• Select merchandise such as casket, urn, register books, and other items you may need.
• Notify Social Security Administration of the death.
• Process all life insurance claims.
• Process Veterans Administration benefits with copy of military discharge (DD-214)
• Complete Death Certificate to file with the states vital records department.
• If you have any requests other than these items, please let your funeral director know and we will try to assist you as best as we can.

We'd like to make this process as smooth and stress-free for you as we can, so remember to bring the following information about your loved one with you as well:

• Information about deceased on birth certificate (legal name, date of birth, place of birth, parent’s names and places of birth.)
• Social Security Number
• Veteran Administration Honorable Discharge (DD-214.)
• Life Insurance Policies.
• Clothing (long sleeves with high neck line) and undergarments.
• Photo for obituary, website and prayer cards.
• 20-50 unframed photographs for Video Tribute DVD (no larger than 8 x 10), put in order that you desire to have on video.

Please also bring a recent photograph and any clothing you'd like us to use when dressing them for the service.