FAQs

It is important that you contact the local medical authorities first. (as well as the police, if appropriate), and then make sure to give us a call as soon as possible. We will work with you to make the necessary arrangements to get you and your loved one back home as quickly and easily as possible.

A Funeral Director is a licensed professional who specializes in all aspects of funerals and related services. They provide support to the family, guide the arrangement of visitations and funeral ceremonies, prepare the deceased according to the family’s wishes, and ensure that everything goes according to plan. They also arrange for the removal and transportation of the deceased,and assist families with all legal or insurance-related paperwork that might need to be filed . They are experienced at recognizing when an individual is having an extremely difficult time coping with a loss and can provide extra support and recommendations for professional help if needed.

You can absolutely personalize your service! Whether pre-planning or planning a celebration of your loved one, our staff has years of experience getting to know families and incorporating their loved one’s hobbies, activities, interests, and unique requests into meaningful and memorable services. We are honored to work with you to create a service that can help transform grief into celebration.

Definitely! In fact, we encourage you to do so. Choosing cremation only indicates how you would like to take care of your loved one after the service. It does not exclude you from celebrating and honoring your loved one in any way. Whether you would like to arrange a funeral service before cremation, or wait and hold the service after the cremation, we are happy to help you design a meaningful service.

A viewing – also known as a visitation, wake, or calling hours – can involve an open or closed casket, and is seen as a vital part of the grieving process. A viewing can help family and friends to accept the reality of their loss, especially for those who may not have seen the deceased in awhile.

Yes. Autopsies and organ donation do not affect your ability to have an open-casket viewing.

You should use your best judgment to determine whether your child is old enough to comprehend death, and whether attending the funeral will be a meaningful experience for them. It is important for your children to be allowed to express their grief and share in this ritual. If you bring young children, explain beforehand what they will see and experience, and make sure that they know the importance of being on their best behavior. If your child becomes cranky or noisy, remove them promptly to avoid disturbing the celebration of life.

In many cases, if you choose to have a viewing before cremation, embalming may be required. Embalming is a process used to sanitize and temporarily preserve the body of a person who has passed away. It also can enhance the appearance of a person that has suffered damage from an accident or illness. By preserving the body through embalming, we can give you and your family time to make personalized and meaningful arrangements.

No. Except in rare circumstances, embalming is not required by law. However, most funeral homes do not permit public viewing without embalming. If you decide not to not use embalming, we can usually offer a private viewing prior to cremation. This type of viewing would include minimal preparation and exclude embalming.

The cremation process generally takes about 3-5 hours to complete. This time frame can vary depending on the individual and the casket or container used.

Cremation of multiple people at the same time is illegal in the U.S. and many other countries, due to this, the cremation chamber is not designed to hold more than one person at a time.

Cremation is a regulated process with strict policies and procedures. When an individual is cremated, before the actual cremation takes place, there are documents that must be filed with local authorities and a checklist that must be completed by the crematory. In addition, your loved one has a unique ID on a metal disk that accompanies them from the moment they enter our care. After cremation occurs, this disk is attached to the bag containing the ashes. 

Since we operate our own crematory, your loved one never leaves our care and we personally ensure your loved one is treated  dignity and respect throughout the cremation process.

In general, the government does not regulate the scattering of ashes. Most public parks, including national parks, ask that you submit a formal request and may have restrictions on where you can scatter. If you wish to scatter on private land, consult the landowner first.

A columbarium is a place for the interment of urns containing cremated remains. They’re often located in mausoleums, chapels, or memorial gardens, and contain numerous small compartments, or niches, designed to hold urns.

The grieving process doesn’t end with the celebration of life, and it will take time for the bereaved to heal. The family will need your support for months to come, so make sure to check in on a regular basis. Drop a note, make a phone call, and continue to invite them when you make social plans; they’ll let you know if and when they are ready to participate. Reach out to the family on special occasions, like birthdays or anniversaries, especially during the first year following their loss.

What you’ll say depends upon whether or not you’ve already had contact with the bereaved. IF you’ve already offered your condolences, or attended the vitiation or service, simply greet the bereaved warmly and express an interest in their wellbeing. If this is your first meeting since the death and you’re in a public setting, it’s best not to bring up the death directly. Instead, say something like, “I understand these must be difficult days for you,” and perhaps ask about when might be a good time to visit, or suggest that you meet for lunch.