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
When a loved one dies at home or in a place that isn’t a healthcare facility you or a member of the family need to contact emergency personnel. In this case, before they can be taken into the car of our funeral home the coroner will be contacted to investigate your loved ones passing.
If your loved one was under medical care at home, normally you can bypass the step above and place a call their hospice provider if they are not present. Once a hospice nurse arrives they will ask for your preferred funeral home and contact us. If your loved one dies in a hospice or nursing facility, their staff will first notify N.O.K; and then the funeral home you have chosen to care for your loved one if they know that information.
Should your loved one pass away in a Hospital, they typically will not notify the funeral home of your loved ones passing. In this case it would be up to a member of the family to notify the funeral home.
Emergency personnel may require some personal information about you and your loved one, but keep in mind all necessary paperwork such as the death certificate will come from your funeral home. 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, please call us any time.
Within the First Few Days
You’ll want to notify close friends and relatives, through personal phone call. Be mindful of where those you are calling may be. (i.e. Driving, Home, Store). Be sure someone else is with the person being notified. 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 clothing
- If burial, the location of their final resting place in a grave or mausoleum
- If cremation, will cremation be following a viewing
- If cremation, the location of their final resting place through burial, scattering, or taking them home.
- Any religious services you will need, such as clergy or spiritual leaders
- The types of services you want, such as a public or private viewing, memorial, or unique combination of services 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
When you meet with a member of our staff to discuss your arrangements, we'll first provide you with a general price list to give you a basic idea of what our services cost.


We'll then 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:
- Preparing and filing the official death certificate
- Scheduling the services and events (including the location, date, and time)
- Selecting a casket, urn, or other products you may need
- Drafting an obituary
- Arranging necessary transportation
- Selecting pallbearers, florist, bereavement meal, ect.
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:
- Full legal name and home address
- Social security number
- Date of birth
- Place of birth: City & State
- Father's name
- Mother's Full name including her maiden name
- Veteran's discharge papers (DD-214), if applicable
- Highest education
- Occupation
- Information about the burial location if applicable
- Clergy name and phone number if applicable
- Names and relationships of survivors
- Insurance policy information
Please also bring a recent photograph and any clothing you'd like us to use when dressing them for the service..