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Our staff members are experienced professionals who can provide much of the information you need, emotional support and compassionate guidance.
During the initial call, the funeral director will gather information to be able to transport your loved one to the funeral home. He may ask you several questions, including whether your loved one made any pre-arrangements. The director will schedule a date and time for you to meet at the funeral home and begin making the arrangements. He'll also let you know what you should bring to the arrangement conference.
If death occurs at home or in the workplace
When a death occurs at home or in the workplace, a family member or co-worker should contact emergency personnel and the person's physician if he or she was under a doctor's care. If the death occurs at home with family or friends present, and the person is under a physician's care, the family will want to call us directly.
However, if the death occurs in a residence and no one is there at the time of death, the police will need to be notified and respond to the residence before the deceased is removed from their home.
If death occurs at the hospital, nursing home or a care facility
When a death occurs in a care facility, such as a hospital or nursing home, the professional staff will notify you and the necessary authorities. If the name of the funeral home has been left with them, the institution will notify the funeral home at the time of the death. The funeral director will contact you immediately following their notification to help you proceed. (However, we suggest you contact the funeral home immediately, so you've have the reassurance you need that all will be taken care of properly.)
If a loved one was in hospice care
If a loved one was in the care of a hospice program, a hospice representative will give family members instructions and procedures to follow. The coroner/medical examiner will be notified by hospice. Following their release, hospice will contact the funeral home. It is always a good idea for the family to contact us immediately so that we will be aware of the pending call from hospice.
Those Important Questions
If there is no pre-plan in place, there are several other questions that you may need to have answered in regards to the death of your loved one:
- What type of service is preferred- burial or cremation?
- Will there be a viewing - public or private?
- Where will the funeral/memorial service be held?
- What about cemetery arrangements?
- Was the deceased a veteran?
By contacting our staff, we'll be able to help answer your questions and assist in making the appropriate plans. You can reach us at (719) 583-1313.
However, as we’ve said before, one of the best ways to make sure that all of your questions and desires are taken care of is to make pre-arrangements. This is as simple as outlining your wishes to having all of the details written down and the financial arrangements prepaid. Please contact one of our preneed counselors at (719) 821-5086 to learn more about pre-planning.
What to Expect When You Arrive at the Funeral Home
One of the first things the funeral director will do is to provide you with our General Price List. He'll guide you through the entire arrangement process, explaining how you can create a memorable personal celebration of your loved one's life.
This process may include:
- Preparing and filing the official death certificate
- Scheduling the location, date and time of services or events
- Selecting a casket, urn or other items
- Preparing an obituary notice
- Scheduling vehicles
- Selecting pallbearers
- It may also be necessary for you or your family members to sign
permits and authorizations relative to the funeral arrangements.
We’d like you to bring any photos, a favorite song, or memorabilia so that you and your funeral director can better discuss how you would like your loved one to be remembered. Having these things, and knowing their favorite song or favorite gathering place – even their favorite activity – will help us create a truly fitting funeral service.
Our funeral directors will assist you in planning a loving tribute that captures the spirit of the person whose life you wish to honor. To learn more about personalizing the service, please read the Honoring Life section of this website.
The following checklist will help you remember what information about the decedent and items will be needed when meeting with a funeral director.
- Full legal name- Home address
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Father's name
- Mother's maiden name
- Veteran's discharge papers (DD-214
- Recent Photograph
- Highest level of education
- Occupation
- Place of burial (if applicable)
- Clothing
- Clergy name and phone number
- Survivors (names and relationships)
- Insurance policies (if applicable)