• Who will perform the cremation?
• Should you purchase an urn?
• What kind of remembrance ceremony would you like to have?
• What will you do with the cremated remains?

You may wish to keep the remains at your home for a time until you feel ready to let go of them, or when all family members can be present for a scattering ceremony.

Our professional Funeral Directors can advise you on unique ways to memorialize a loved one using the cremated remains, including the creation of art glass objects. We also offer a wide selection of cremation keepsake jewelry.

We can also recommend firms in the area that specialize in scattering the cremated remains at sea, or in the air.

Call us today to explore cremation options, and the many creative ways you can memorialize a loved one either before, or after, the cremation has occurred.

It really depends on how and where the death occurred. Where a death has been anticipated, call your attending physician.

If the death is unexpected, call emergency services first. If there are no emergency services or doctors available in your area, or you are concerned or uncertain about the circumstances surrounding a death, contact your local coroner’s office or the Office of the Chief Coroner.

The other first calls you should make include:

1. The funeral home
2. Immediate family members
3. Employers
4. Your Pastor
5. Your close friends

When you think about it, these calls are being made for two distinct reasons:

• To notify the authorities and obtain assistance in dealing with the body
• To notify the social circle, and gather family and friends together for support

Naturally the first of those reasons takes priority because it is your responsibility to care for your loved one. In fact, we think of this as one of the final acts of love that you can take. Placing their body in the care of professionals can be a relief, and will give you the space to make those calls involved in the second category of outreach: the purely social notifications that will surround you with support.

If you need additional advice about who to call, and when, reach out to us. We’ll be pleased to be your ally during this difficult time.

Are you as organized as you should be? Chances are the answer is “no.” In today’s busy life, most of us are just doing our best to hold things together day-to-day.

Then, the unthinkable happens. Someone you love dies, leaving you with more questions than you could ever answer. Like, “Where is our marriage certificate?” Or, “What did we do with the pink slip to the car?”

Now’s the time to do your best to locate as many of the following documents as possible:

• Wills
• Birth Certificates
• Marriage Certificates
• Deeds
• Bank Books
• Stock Certificates
• Military Discharge Papers
• Social Security Card
• Tax Forms
• Vehicle and Boat Titles
• Insurance Policies

While you’re going through the desk drawers and filing cabinets, you’ll run across documents that you think may be useful. Add them to the pile. In the coming weeks, you may need them.

If you have questions about anything related to the search for the important papers, call us. We’re here to help.

That’s great. Having a select place to store important documents, like bills and personal records, can come in handy in helping settle an estate after death without having to search and sift through mounds of paperwork.

Why not create a “When I’m Dead” file? You could name it anything you want, but that title fits nicely. This is where you’ll organize your family’s documents, so those you leave behind can easily find what they need when the time comes.

So what important documents should you keep in your “When I’m Dead” file? Here are a few suggestions:

• Final documents, which include wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives. Copies of these documents should also be given to a trusted individual for safekeeping.
• Income information, including social security and child support and alimony documents.
• Investment accounts, including retirement accounts, mutual funds, and college saving plans.
• Credit cards account information
• Bills and banking information, which involves clearly explaining how bills are paid and includes any necessary information and instructions for bills paid online.
• Insurance policies, including life, health, auto, and disability or long-term care insurance papers.
• Other important paperwork, including military records, old tax returns, and birth, marriage, and death certificates.
• Digital asset account information, which includes email and social media accounts, online services, and financial accounts. You want to organize and store essential passwords, access keys, PINs, and other sensitive information in a safe place that can later be accessed by your family or another trusted individual upon your death.