What to Expect When You Plan a Funeral
Most people arrange a funeral only two or three times in a lifetime, and never with any practice. This page explains what happens at an arrangement conference, what to bring with you, and which decisions can wait until later.
If you have not called us yet, start there: (478) 733-6469, any hour of the day. For the services themselves, see Funeral Services.
The Decisions You Will Make
The arrangement conference can be held at our office at 132 South Houston Road, or wherever your family is most comfortable. You will be asked to decide:
- Burial or cremation
- Whether to hold a visitation, and whether it includes a viewing
- Where the service will be held — our chapel, your church, or the graveside — and who will officiate
- The date and time, which we confirm with the church, the cemetery, and the honor guard
- Casket or urn, and an outer burial container if the cemetery requires one
- What the obituary should say, and where it should run
- Who will serve as pallbearers, and what music and readings you want
Decisions about monuments, thank-you notes, and settling accounts can all wait. If you would rather come back to something, say so.
What to Bring With You
Bringing these along saves time and phone calls later:
- Vital statistics for the death certificate: full legal name, date and place of birth, Social Security number, parents' names including mother's maiden name, marital status and spouse's name, education, and occupation and industry
- Discharge papers (DD Form 214) if your loved one served in the military
- A recent photograph for the obituary and memorial printing, and others if you would like a tribute video
- Cemetery deed or plot information, if the family already owns property
- Any pre-arrangement paperwork, insurance policies, or written wishes
- Clothing, jewelry, or glasses, if there will be a viewing
If you cannot put your hands on something, come anyway. Missing details can be added before the death certificate is filed.
Writing the Obituary and Sharing the News
An obituary does two jobs: it announces the service so that people can come, and it stands as the short public account of a life. Most include the full name and any name people knew them by, the dates, where they lived, the family who survive and those who went before, work and military service, church and community involvement, and the details of the visitation, service, and interment.
Write it in your own words, or send us notes and we will draft it for your approval. We handle placement with the newspaper and post it to this website, where friends can leave condolences and family can share it directly. Readers can also sign up for obituary notifications so they hear about services in the community.
