We are pleased to answer any and all questions that come our way. Most of those included below are the most common questions. However, if you require more information, don’t hesitate to email us. If yours is an urgent need, please call.
| What should I do if a death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend? |
| Call us. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you need immediate assistance, one of our funeral directors will be there. |
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| What should I do if a death occurs while away from home? |
| It’s comforting to know that our funeral directors can help you no matter where a death has occurred. We can take care of everything from bringing your loved one back home to helping you arrange a memorial. All you need to do is call us. We’ll take care of the rest. |
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| What is pre-arrangement? |
Pre-arrangement is a way for you to make sure that your wishes are detailed and your life is celebrated in a way that is meaningful to you. It also relieves your loved ones of the burden of making decisions at such an emotional time.
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| How do I make arrangements? |
| You can call a funeral director to make an appointment or plan it online. We offer this service free of charge and without obligation. |
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| Why do we need an obituary notice? |
| An obituary notice is helpful for friends and family of the deceased. It informs them that a death has occurred and gives them information about the memorial. Obituaries can be placed in newspapers and online. |
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| What is included in an obituary? |
A basic obituary includes the deceased’s full name, age, date of birth, city and state/province where they were living when they passed away. It should also include the name of the deceased’s significant other and the date, time and place of the memorial. If you don't have this information yet, you can always write something such as, "Arrangements will be announced at a later date."
You may wish to add additional details such as the names of any children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, parents, other close relatives or special friends. You may wish to write about the deceased’s life, accomplishments and legacy. You may suggest preferred charities for memorial contributions and let people know if you would rather not receive flowers.
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| What is involved in cremation? |
| The cremation container is placed in the cremation chamber where the temperature reaches 1,400-1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. After approximately 2.5 hours, all organic material is consumed by heat and evaporation leaving behind bone fragments. These are known as the cremated remains, which are then carefully removed from the chamber and processed into fine particles to be placed in a container or urn for the family. |
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| Is embalming necessary? |
| Unless there is a service prior to cremation, embalming is not necessary. |
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| Do I need a casket if I choose cremation? |
| You don't need to purchase a traditional casket but crematories usually require a combustible, leak-proof, covered container. Commonly, a relatively-inexpensive cardboard cremation container is all you need to purchase. Visit our online cremation container showroom to explore your options. |
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| What can be done with the cremated remains? |
The cremated remains can be interred in a cemetery plot or retained by the family, which can house them in an urn, or scatter on private property or at a place that was important to the deceased. The cremated remains can be scattered at sea or the skies above a special, well-loved place. You can also incorporate the remains into an artificial reef to be lowered to the sea floor where your loved one provides sanctuary for sea life for years to come.
There are also elegant ways to memorialize a loved one using small amounts of the cremated remains in art glass, oil paintings, and man-made diamonds. Or, you can take a small amount of the cremated remains to include in a piece of cremation jewelry.
Please view our online cremation keepsakes and jewelry selection for ideas and inspiration.
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| What type of memorial service should I have? |
The answer to that question is very personal – how would you like it to be? A memorial service can be open to the public or private. You can choose a large venue or a small one.
Perhaps you want something completely out-of-the-ordinary. Our funeral directors are trained to offer any guidance you want or need about a memorial that truly reflects your needs and desires.
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| Can I personalize my memorial? |
| Yes. We believe that each memorial should reflect the life of the deceased and no two people are the same. We encourage you to let us know exactly how you want you or your loved one to be remembered and we will do our best to create a ceremony that will truly celebrate the life lived. |
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| What happens if there was a problem with the arrangements? |
If we handled the arrangements, then call us. We’ll do everything we can to resolve the issue. We take pride in caring for the families who trust us during this difficult time but we’re well aware that sometimes, things can go wrong. If they do, you need to tell us.
If you’re not satisfied with how we resolve the issue, then you can reach out to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and/or our state / provincial licensing board.
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