Funeral Planning Meeting

PLANNING YOUR PERSONALIZED SERVICE

The arrangement conference is a meeting between you and our caring staff where you determine what type of funeral plans you would like for the deceased. Every family’s funeral planning needs are different and we let you set the pace. We help you understand your options, show you what’s possible, and most importantly, make sure there are no surprises. We make this process as seamless as possible.

In the arrangement conference, we want to share the information needed in the funeral planning process, to handle essential paperwork such as the death certificate, obituary, and insurance matters. Also, to make personal decisions regarding how you want to remember the person who has died. Finally, in the funeral planning process, we help you decide on a funeral service, burial, or cremation option that is fitting for you and your family.

We encourage you to ask for help from family and friends. Participating in the funeral planning arrangements can help begin the healing process. “Grief shared is grief diminished,” is advice from Rabbi Grollman that is very helpful during this troubled time. Deciding whether to have an open or closed casket is a personal family choice. Seeing your loved one provides a focus that can help people begin to say their goodbyes. Most people ask family and friends to serve as pallbearers, but we can provide pallbearers for your service if you need help. If you would like a member of the clergy or a spiritual advisor to officiate at the services, we will coordinate and schedule the services with them. If you don’t know who to contact, we can make arrangements with local clergy on your behalf.

Let us assist you with all of your funeral planning needs.

Some of the questions that you might ask yourself to prepare for the meeting are:

• Where and when will services be held?
• Do you want to publish an obituary, and if so, who will write it? We offer a free-online obituary service to all of the families we serve.
• Do you want to publish a favorite charity for memorial gifts, or donations in lieu of flowers?
• Do you need to choose a cemetery or other final resting place?
• Do you need to purchase and make arrangements for a monument or marker?
• What kind of funeral service is the most appropriate: simple or elaborate, public or private, religious or secular?
• What’s the best way to memorialize the person who has died?
• Should there be a viewing, a visitation, a funeral service, or a committal service?
• Who will participate in the service? Will there be pallbearers, clergy, musicians, or speakers? Who will officiate?
• Do you want floral arrangements for the service or memorial, and if so, what flowers are appropriate?
• Will the remains be buried, cremated, or otherwise interred?
• Will the body be present at the funeral service?
• If there is a casket, will it be open or closed?

We listen, suggest, organize, and help you create a ceremony that is as unique as the person whose life you are celebrating. Personalizing a funeral doesn’t have to involve great expense. Here are a few ideas that you may find helpful:

• Gather photographs that represent the life of the person who has died and mount them on a memory board or display them in frames.
• Display items that reflect the hobbies, activities, career, and passions of the person who has died such as golf clubs, quilts, awards and honors, or favorite books.
• Make a CD of their favorite music to play during the service, or arrange for musicians to perform favorite songs.
• Choose flowers that have meaning to the person who died.
• Print favorite poems or create a personalized program that you can give to those who attend.
• Invite family and friends to share stories, memories, and don’t be afraid to encourage laughter.
• Create a photo gallery or an online tribute to play during the memorial. We provide a free memorial DVD with any funeral or memorial service held at any of our facilities (Up to 40 pictures).
• Invite family and friends to participate in special ceremonies such as candle lighting or dove release.
• Plan a reception following the service to allow friends and family to gather and remember the deceased in a less formal atmosphere, and serve your loved one’s favorite foods.
• Plan a special gathering in a meaningful location such as the seashore or woods, a garden, a golf course, or a favorite restaurant.

FUNERALS AT HOME

WE WILL COME TO YOUR HOME

To make the funeral planning process easy and more convenient, our personnel will be glad to come to your home and work closely with you to make all funeral arrangements – at no additional charge. We will review all the options for the ceremony, budget figures, and complete all paperwork, so you don’t have to leave the comfort of your home during this difficult period. Just call for our staff to make your in-home arrangements