Deep down, most of us want to know that we, in some way, made a difference in this world. Having the Talk of a Lifetime can make the difference of a lifetime. It can help reacquaint us with our loved ones and help us get to know them in a new and different way. Sitting down with your loved ones to talk about their lives can be rich and satisfying. Learning about memorable events and people, places and favorite activities, values and lessons they have learned can help bring us closer to those we care about most. The talk helps us reaffirm to our loved ones how much they have impacted our life.

You can have the talk of a lifetime with anyone you hold dear – your parents, children, grandparents, aunts and uncles, a spouse or a friend. It can happen anywhere you and your loved one are most comfortable – over a meal, at home, on a walk, at a family gathering or while playing a game. Your conversation can take place at any time, not just at the end of your life.

Sometimes, using a visual prompt, such as a photo album, souvenir, or memento, can be a great way to start a conversation. Memorable places, such as the church where your loved one was married or a favorite park, can also help someone begin to open up and share their story.

You could share a memory about a vacation you took together and will always remember, a piece of advice that you cherish, a song that reminds you of them, or the reasons you will never forget them. You may wish to take notes during or after your conversation or make an audio recording. You should choose whatever method seems most appropriate and comfortable, given the setting of your conversation.

Some questions you could ask to start the talk are:

• What is your proudest achievement?
• What was the one piece of advice you received from your parents or grandparents that you never forgot?
• Tell me about the most memorable summer you had growing up.
• Tell me about your favorite teacher; what did you learn from him or her?
• If you could spend a day doing anything you like, what would it be?
• Who has been your greatest inspiration?

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No matter if a death is sudden, or if it is something that was a long time coming, the loss of a loved one makes us feel emotional and overwhelmed. No amount of preparation can fully prepare you for the loss of a loved one. When you are in a heightened emotional state, even the most basic decisions can seem staggering. The following is a rough guideline of what needs to be done within the first 24 hours after death.

 

When death occurs at home or a place of business

If the person was not under hospice care, the police will have to be notified immediately. The police will be dispatched to the home and place the call to the coroner/medical examiner. From there the coroner/medical examiner will take the body and determine whether further action is necessary. The coroner/medical examiner must release the body before a funeral home can do anything. If the person is under hospice care, contact the hospice representative if they were not present and they will notify family members what the proper procedures are to follow.

When a death occurs at a hospital/nursing home/hospice facility

The staff of a care facility such as a hospital or a nursing home will notify you and the necessary authorities immediately after a death has occurred. If a funeral home has been provided to the hospital or nursing home, they will be notified at the time of death. If you are present at the hospital when the funeral director arrives, they will ask a few questions about the deceased wishes and set up a time to come into the funeral home to make arrangements, however, if you are not present a funeral director will contact you by telephone to discuss these arrangements.

Meeting the Funeral Director

Once everything has been cleared with the proper authorities, the next call you place should be to a licensed funeral director. Funeral directors are here to help you obtain a death certificate, transport the body, select a casket and arrange the funeral service. The funeral director will also help you notify the employer and insurance company of the deceased to assist with those arrangements. Funeral directors are here to help and advise you and will work very hard to relieve the stress and logistics involved in funeral planning.

You should meet with a funeral director within 24 hours of a death to begin to make final arrangements for your loved one. Deciding on these final arrangements may seem like a very daunting task, especially when you are in a heightened emotional state, but funeral home staff have years of experience dealing with these issues and strive to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Making Arrangements

Whether the death occurs locally, anywhere in the United States, or worldwide, our staff is trained to handle all of the arrangements. We have licensed funeral directors available, ready to assist you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Making arrangements for a funeral service usually occurs at our funeral home, where an individual or family members work with one of our licensed funeral directors to decide which options and services best fit the family's needs. However we can also meet you at your home if that is your desire

As part of the arrangement process, we will need to collect information about the deceased in order to complete the death certificate and other required documents. This process can be quite time-consuming.

By completing the form below and forwarding it to us by e-mail, our funeral director will be able to expedite the final arrangement conference at the funeral home. The funeral director will also have a better understanding of your wishes prior to your arrival, making the arrangement process less stressful and increasing the level of service to you and your family.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us.

ITEMS TO BRING TO THE ARRANGEMENT CONFERENCE:

• Photo for Newspaper, Website, Prayer Cards, etc...
• Clothing (long sleeves with collar) and undergarments
• Life Insurance Policies • Rosary (optional)
• 20 unframed photographs (no larger than 8 x 10) for video tribute
• Military Discharge papers (DD214)
• Names of pallbearers, gift bearers, readers

WE WILL ASSIST YOU WITH THE FOLLOWING:

• Obtaining Certified Death Certificates
• Contacting Clergy and/ or Church
• Preparing and sending obituary to the newspapers
• Securing Flag for Veterans
• Arranging for Military Honors
• Processing Life Insurance Claims
• Notifying the Social Security Administration of death

ITEMS NOT INCLUDED WITH A FUNERAL SERVICE

• Newspaper Obituary Fees
• Musicians
• Cemetery work - Once arrangements have been completed, the family must contact the cemetery office in order to obtain a permit. There is normally a fee for this permit.
• Flowers
• Clothing
• Clergy Honorarium

Have a question? Contact us.

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

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
• Father's name
• Mother's 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 if used to pay for funeral expenses

Please also bring a recent photograph and any clothing you'd like us to use when dressing them for the service.