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Funeral services
There are traditionally three types of funeral services (sometimes referred to as a “Celebration of Life.”) The most common is a service in our funeral home chapel. Many families want the services for their loved ones conducted in a church, while others prefer a graveside service at the cemetery. Any three can serve specific family needs in the best way and can be most meaningful in either setting.
When Death Occurs
The overwhelming feelings of despair, disbelief, shock, and numbness caused by the passing of a loved one cannot be conveyed by mere words. Even when the death is expected, the pain that loss brings can still be devastating. In truth, no one is completely prepared for the death of someone close to their heart.
During this difficult time, there are decisions to be made immediately, arrangements to be coordinated, and a lot of things to be considered for your loved one’s final farewell. We understand how this may feel overwhelming, especially with the grief you’re feeling over the loss. Please know that we are here to help and support you.
On this page, we’ve put together helpful information to guide you through this process.
NOTIFY PROPER AUTHORITIES
If your loved one passes away while under the care of a facility — such as a nursing home or a hospital — staff from the facility will contact you and notify appropriate authorities themselves.
If the death occurred in the workplace or at home, you will need to get in touch with his/her physician or emergency medical personnel, as the cause of death must be identified and indicated in legal documents.
In the event that no one was present at the time of death, you will need to contact the police before moving the deceased to another location.
CALL THE FUNERAL HOME
Our caring funeral director can assist you with your funeral arrangements. We will collect information from you in order to facilitate the transfer of your loved one’s remains to our facility. You would also be asked if the deceased has made pre-arrangements and whether or not you’d like for him/her to be embalmed. While of course you can ask any questions you have in your mind during this call, note that once you visit the funeral home, we can discuss the arrangements in greater detail.
During this call, you’ll also be informed about the things that you need to bring with you like the clothes your deceased loved one will use for the burial. Feel free to call us whenever you feel the need to. Remember that we are here to listen to you, help you, and guide you during this difficult and trying time.
MEET THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR/STAFF
On your first meeting with us, we will discuss the arrangements for your loved one’s burial. You will be shown a list of our packages/services so you can decide what suits your family’s preferences and budget. You will be asked whether you’d prefer burial or cremation arrangements and optionally you would select a casket, schedule a time and date for the services, decide on the location of the burial, draft an obituary notice, arrange for vehicle services, and select pallbearers.
We would also use this opportunity to inquire about your loved one for us to have a better understanding of the person the services will honor. It will be extremely helpful if you can bring some memorabilia — photos, videos, treasured items, letters — that would give us a clearer picture on how you envision paying tribute to your loved one.
FILE FOR A DEATH CERTIFICATE
A death certificate is a legal document indicating the cause of death, including other vital statistics pertaining to the deceased, signed by the attending physician. In case your loved one died due to an accident, a coroner or the county medical examiner may prepare the form. If you feel that you need assistance in filing for this legal document with the state, we can help you. Certified copies of the death certificate can also be purchased at the same time. These certified copies are important when gaining access to bank accounts and safety deposit boxes, claiming for benefits due to the family (like the Veteran’s benefits or insurance claims), and transferring or selling ownership of properties.
Chapel of Light
Our new Chapel of Light that graces the J. Herman Humphrey Dignity Cremation Center offers individuals & families a quiet, peaceful and reflective place to see their loved ones prior to their cremation. Here, family members gather for a private time to share memories, honor the life of their loved one, and hold a private committal service.
Families have consistently expressed to us how special & meaningful this time & place is, and how much they appreciate having had this unique opportunity prior to cremation. They also express their comfort in knowing that their loved one never leaves our cremation center from the moment we received him or her into care until we return their cremains to the family.
No other facility in our region offers families this kind of unique environment and opportunity.
Cremation Container
Our Dignity Cremation approach is unique from the funeral industry in general which unfortunately is more characteristic of a body disposal business than the care & respect of a deceased loved one.
Once our care team receives your loved one into care, we carefully & respectfully bath and sanitize the body, and shampoo hair and set basic cosmetic features. When your family comes to the funeral home to finalize arrangements, we ask you to bring your loved one a full set of clothing including undergarments (shoes are optional). We completely dress your loved one and place them in a special container designed to be cremated with them.
Family members find special meaning in taking colored markers and writing on the unfinished wooden surface a memory, a commemoration message, or just a simple farewell as they see their loved one a final time prior to cremation.
Family Room
Immediately adjoining our Chapel of Light and Dignity Cremation Center is our newly expanded and remodeled family room, where members may lounge and visit. Beverages and light refreshments are always on hand to enjoy.
The family room also adjoins our larger chapel when families choose to hold a public memorial service for their cremated loved one. Our main chapel is fully-equipped for live-stream podcasting in high definition so that no one in your family need ever miss the services.
Dining Room
Some families choose to share a meal together either before or after committal and memorial services. Our new Kate Humphrey Dining Room is equipped to host your family group of 25-30 in having a catered or pot-luck style meal gathering. It is just right down a corridor from our family room and the Dignity Cremation Center and Chapel of Light.
Families have expressed their appreciation for having a place to gather without having to leave and find a restaurant, home or other facility to share their fellowship & meal time together.
