What to Expect

While every situation is different, we can share the basics of what you can expect during your first visit to our funeral home:

• A warm welcome. When you arrive, a staff member will greet you with care and respect. You’ll be introduced, hands may be shaken, and words of comfort will be offered.
• A private, comfortable setting. Once we understand the purpose of your visit, you’ll be guided to a funeral director’s office or arrangement room where you can talk privately and without interruption.
• Clear pricing information. Early in the conversation, you will be provided with our General Price List, Casket Price List, and any other relevant pricing documents. This ensures transparency and compliance with the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule.

From there, the funeral director will ask a series of questions. You can think of this conversation as serving two main purposes:

1. To gather accurate biographical information needed to complete required paperwork
2. To thoughtfully plan the funeral, memorial service, or celebration of life in a way that honors your loved one

When it comes to completing death paperwork and writing a detailed obituary, accuracy matters. For this reason, the first step—sharing your loved one’s biographical information—is important. Bringing as much of the following information as you can will help the process go more smoothly:

• Your loved one’s full legal name
• Social Security number
• Parents’ names
• Spouse’s name and children’s names
• Mother’s maiden name
• Marital status
• Educational background
• Military service history
• Employment and career history
• Hobbies and interests
• Church or faith affiliation
• Organizational or club memberships
• A recent photograph

If you’re unable to gather all of this information right away, that’s completely okay. You’re welcome to call us later with any details you weren’t able to bring—we’re here to help every step of the way.

The second step of the funeral arrangement conference—planning a meaningful ceremony that honors and celebrates your loved one’s life—is truly at the heart of the day. To help this part of the process go more smoothly, we encourage you to bring the following items, if they apply:

• Pre-arrangement documents
• Clothing for burial or cremation
• Cemetery property information
• A list of charities you’d like memorial donations directed to
• Names of pallbearers
• Preferred music selections and readings

There are two other important things to bring as well: your memories and your heart. The funeral, memorial service, or celebration of life will be shaped by the stories you share—your personal reflections, meaningful moments, and insights into who your loved one was and how they lived. Those details guide us in creating a tribute that feels genuine, personal, and deeply honoring.

Our time together will move at a pace that feels right for you. While your first visit may be emotionally intense and tiring, you’ll be surrounded by people who genuinely care about your well-being. We’ll walk with you through every part of the arrangement process, offering support in whatever way feels most helpful to you.

Many families find that, by the time they leave, much of the anxiety they carried in has eased. And if questions or concerns remain, please don’t hesitate to call us. We’re always here to help you better understand what to expect when you visit our funeral home.

Even at weddings and baptisms, people cry. Like funerals, these pivotal life moments carry deep emotional weight. So yes—you can expect to see tears at a funeral. Bringing a small pack of tissues can be helpful, though funeral home staff will also have tissues available if you—or someone nearby—needs them.

It’s also important to know this: people laugh at funerals, too. A funeral is often a bittersweet blend of sorrow and joy. Memories are shared, stories are told, and moments of warmth can surface alongside grief. This mix of emotions often brings to mind the familiar words of Dr. Seuss: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

You may witness tears, hear laughter, or even see moments of anger. Emotions can run high, and reactions vary widely. While most people strive to be on their best behavior, it’s helpful to remember that grief is unpredictable—and just about anything can happen. Being understanding and compassionate toward yourself and others goes a long way.

The funeral officiant will clearly indicate when the service has concluded. Immediate family members and close friends are typically invited to exit the building first. Unlike the end of a theater performance, guests don’t simply stand up and leave all at once. Instead, they remain seated and wait for the rows ahead of them to clear before stepping into the aisle.

Guests and family may gather outside the location for a few moments of quiet conversation. If you’re ready to leave, take a moment to offer a sincere goodbye to the bereaved family.

If you choose to follow the hearse and casket to the cemetery or crematory, members of the funeral home staff will provide clear directions.

If you decide to leave at this point, do so quietly and discreetly. In the days that follow, consider reaching out to the family by phone. Let them know you’re thinking of them and, if you’re comfortable, offer to help with everyday tasks or errands. Even if they don’t accept your offer, they’ll appreciate knowing you cared enough to call.

Whether this is your first funeral service or your hundredth, it can still feel unfamiliar. If you have questions about what to expect during a funeral service, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. We would be honored to assist you.

The funeral or memorial service has ended, and life has begun to quiet again. The phone may not ring as often, and fewer people may stop by to check in. As the days pass, the reality of your loved one’s death can feel heavier, and the thought of facing the weeks and months ahead may bring a deep sense of loneliness or uncertainty. When everything feels like too much, please know that it’s okay—right now—to take care of yourself first.

In the coming weeks and months, there are two important things to focus on. The first is caring for yourself as gently and thoughtfully as you can. The second is gradually working through the necessary paperwork to update your loved one’s status with banks and creditors, employers, insurance companies, and mortgage holders. This process can take time, so it’s helpful to move at a pace that feels manageable and to be patient with yourself along the way.

Let’s be honest—the way grief affects you, and the amount of paperwork you’re asked to handle, often depends on the relationship you shared with the person who died. If you are a surviving spouse, child, or have been named the executor, the responsibilities tied to death-related paperwork will likely be far more involved. If you are a niece, nephew, or close friend, those obligations are usually fewer, even though the loss may be just as deeply felt.

Below is a checklist of tasks you may encounter in the coming weeks. Taking some time to get organized can help make this process feel more manageable. Begin by locating and safeguarding as many of the following documents as possible. Place each item in a clearly labeled file folder and keep everything within easy reach.

• Birth certificate
• Driver’s license or state identification card
• Passport (if applicable)
• Marriage certificate
• Divorce papers (if applicable)
• Deeds and titles to real and personal property
• Veteran’s Administration claim number or service discharge papers
• Recent income tax forms
• W-2 forms (if employed)
• Recent hospitalization records
• Insurance documents, including life, health, and automobile policies (there may be more than one in each category)

1. Before you do anything else, get a notebook. Use it to record the date and time of every phone call, email, or piece of mail you send or receive. Write down the full name of the person you spoke with, their job title, and any identification or extension number they provide.
2. Request certified copies of the death certificate. Speak with one of our funeral professionals to determine how many copies you will need.
3. Determine whether the deceased left a will. This may involve contacting the family attorney, checking a safe deposit box or home safe, or searching the state will registry.
4. Redirect the mail, if applicable. Visit the United States Postal Service website to submit a Change of Address form, or stop by your local post office.
5. Stop health insurance coverage. You may be asked to provide additional documentation, so keep your paperwork close at hand.
6. Contact the employer or union. Ask about any death-related benefits, update contact information, and address any remaining employment-related matters.
7. Continue paying the bills. If bills are not set up for automatic payment, be sure they are handled before becoming delinquent. If needed, contact creditors to discuss temporary payment arrangements.
8. Initiate probate, if necessary. Even if you are not the executor, you may be able to begin probate proceedings if the named executor does not act in a timely manner. You may wish to consult an estate settlement attorney.
9. Notify utility companies. Accounts may need to be closed or updated with a new account holder and contact information.
10. Transfer titles for real and personal property. This may include automobiles, boats, motorcycles, RVs, or aircraft. Notify your state’s department of motor vehicles and any related insurance providers of the ownership change.
11. Close or modify credit card accounts. Most companies will require a certified copy of the death certificate, so keep your documents organized and accessible.
12. Contact life insurance companies. Some individuals have more than one policy. Each claim will typically require a certified copy of the death certificate.
13. Notify others of changes to beneficiary status. If your loved one was listed as a beneficiary on insurance policies, bank accounts, or investments belonging to others, those institutions will need to be informed.
14. Close or modify bank accounts. Depending on your relationship to the deceased, accounts may be closed or transferred into your name.
15. Transfer stocks and bonds, if applicable. This will depend on your relationship to the deceased and will require certified copies of the death certificate for each organization involved.
16. Report the death to appropriate agencies. This may include the Social Security Administration, the Veterans Administration, or other government agencies, depending on age or military service. You may also wish to notify membership organizations such as professional associations, service clubs, gyms, or golf clubs.
17. Attend to the digital estate. Notify social media platforms of the death, close email accounts, and secure or close online banking and investment accounts.