March 2, 2018

HERE IS CHARLIE and our wonderful Office Manager Angela. 

Since 1941………75 Years!

July 2016

Wow, 75 years, 4 generations and a lot of changes!  For the last 33 years I have felt so blessed to serve others and be the third generation owner and operator of Baker-Hazel & Snider Funeral Home & Crematory.  More than a job, I have felt honored to be chosen by those in need, to help guide and direct them down the path of transition, by honoring and commemorating their loved ones life with dignity and respect.   For me personally, it is truly gratifying to minister to others through one of the hardest experiences we all will go through in life, the death of a family member.  

Thirty five years ago, when I was nineteen, my best friend died tragically.  A month later my grandmother died unexpectedly.  As a result of these two significant deaths,  I decided that I could help others by being available and assisting them during this difficult time.  Mr. Eugene Baker, my wife’s grandfather, started our business and was truly devoted to growing his business by providing ambulance service to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office and expectant mothers that needed transportation to the hospital.  He and his wife, Helen Baker, were passionate about doing for others and being available whenever someone needed them.  Mr. and Mrs. Baker moved their business from N. Main St. at Parkwood to Philadelphia Dr. at N. Main St. in 1954.  His work ethic was then carried on by my father-in-law, Neil Hazel (2^nd generation owner and operator), who grew the business by also being available and compassionate and supporting the community by volunteering with local service clubs and fraternities.  Mr. Hazel began his career in 1959 and retired in 2003. My daughter, Abby Snider-Robinson (4^th generation), began with our firm in 2011 as a Funeral Director.  She is the great-granddaughter of our founder, Gene Baker.   Her devotion and compassion for those we serve has truly been a blessing to our firm.  She is very instrumental in our development of social media, marketing and progressive insight of our future.  She is currently training a therapy dog which will provide comfort to our families.   

     

In 2001, we enhanced our commitment to the community and our client families by adding a crematory which still sits on our campus.  By then cremation was almost 25% of our business and we felt it necessary to embrace this option by operating our own crematory and not relying on others to complete this important task.  All of our families have felt better about knowing that their loved one’s care is completed by us here at our crematory.  We then realized that there was another need our customer was requesting and that was to care for their entire family.  So in 2007, we opened Snider Pet Crematory, which is operated by Abby’s husband and my son-in-law, Brett Robinson, who is are crematory specialist.  Pets can sometimes be just as important as their family members and we filled that void by extending our services and level of care by opening our 2^nd crematory which is devoted only to pets.   

We have come a long way, from rotary phones and pagers to fax machines and cell phones and computers.  From earth burials to cremation to natural “green” burials.  We have always been about serving others the way we would want to be served. And for 75 years we have been doing it.   We have embraced change and the desires of our customers and are excited about the next 75 years.  Thanks to all of you that have entrusted your loved ones to us.      

-Rick Snider

photo taken in 1955, shortly after we moved to N. Main St. 

WE NEED A NAME, not just any name, a good, concrete, name !

June, 2016

BAKER-HAZEL & SNIDER IS GETTING A PUPPY!

We have decided to slightly transform our blog into a puppy-blog! Yes we will still be adding blog posts about funeral related topics, but maybe more about our new addition.

We lost a very special person/friend/employee a few weeks ago. She decided to change jobs + change states. Yes, we might hire a new director/embalmer later on.... but for now........ this little thing will do. She is a mini golden doodle, F1B. 

We have been thinking for awhile about adding a therapy dog to our staff. As you all know, we strive to be unique and proactive. We also care for the whole family. That being said , our pets are our family.

We need help coming up with a name for this little one. She is going to be so special for our grieving families. The importance of love and touch is crucial in our lives + that is exactly what she will help provide. 

We will bring her home on July 7 and she will be with us every day here at the funeral home. We encourage you to stop by and meet and greet her. You will fall in love. 

We will start her training at around 5 months, at our favorite dog trainer. Then around the 12 month mark, she will be involved with Miami Valley Pet Therapy Association !! 

We know this will be a lot of work, but we also know that this will really help our families start this process. 

If you have a name, email it to me: abby@bakerhazelsnider.com 

Selected Independent Funeral Homes Educational Trust Names Recipient of Leadership Academy Scholarship

DEERFIELD, ILL. — February 24, 2016 — Selected Independent Funeral Homes Educational Trust has chosen Abby Snider-Robinson as its third recipient of the Selected Leadership Academy Scholarship. Snider-Robinson, funeral director at Baker-Hazel & Snider Funeral Home & Crematory in Dayton, Ohio was selected from a notable field of candidates to participate in the Selected Leadership Academy, a two-year structured program offered exclusively to members of Selected Independent Funeral Homes.

Snider-Robinson comes from a family with a history in funeral service. She is a fourth generation funeral director, and the first female in her family.  The firm was started 75 years ago by her great-grandfather Eugene Baker in 1941. 

“Since age twelve, I knew this is what I wanted to do,” said Snider-Robinson.  “I wanted to be just like my dad.”

She graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Leadership Communications and Art Studio and worked at the firm on summers and weekends. She officially began working full time in 2010 and earned her funeral director’s license in May of 2013. 

“I grew up in the funeral business and I could not image myself in any other profession,” said Snider-Robinson. “I am blessed to have the role models and co-workers that I have around me.

The scholarship will cover Snider-Robinson’s registration fee for the two-year enrollment of the 2016 Leadership Academy class. She will also receive a reimbursement payment each year to waive the cost of books. The total estimated value of this scholarship is $4,890.

Any individual currently employed full-time (and not a majority owner) at a firm maintaining full membership in Selected Independent Funeral Homes is eligible to apply.

 Information about the program, including application deadlines as well as the application can be accessed on the official website at http://www.selectedtrust.org/leadership-academy-scholarship.

The Leadership Academy Scholarship is one of several programs of the Selected Educational Trust which was founded by Selected Independent Funeral Homes, a worldwide professional association of independent, locally-owned funeral homes founded in 1917. By creating the program, the Trust hopes to encourage involvement in the Leadership Academy, fostering more leaders within the funeral service profession.

About the Trust:  Established in 1982, the Selected Independent Funeral Homes’ Educational Trust strives to enrich the professionalism of the independent funeral practitioner through lifelong learning and is dedicated to funding the development and administration of research initiatives, assistance grants, award programs and the presentation of educational programs dealing with business management, counseling, personnel management and other topics of importance and interest to the members of Selected and independently owned and operated funeral home professionals. More information on the Selected Educational Trust and its activities can be found at www.selectedtrust.org.

Organ Donor

"Organ donation is not a tragedy but it can be a beautiful light in the midst of one.” - Anonymous

My son and I live in Brookville, which is a small community.  The second week of school on Friday, August 28th four teenagers were involved in a car accident.  One young lady died at the scene the other three were sent to hospitals.  Two of the three in critical condition.  On Sunday, August 30th another one of the young ladies died from her injuries. She was a classmate of my son.  On Monday the school held a prayer vigil in the evening for the community.  More than 500 people attended.  The parents of the young lady that died on Sunday were there.  They shared with all in attendance the pain of losing of their daughter.  They begged all the teenagers there to not speed.  To stop and think when they are driving. They also shared that they had donated Emily's organs to save other lives.  It was the only moment in the evening when everyone clapped and cheered. Not only will she live on in the hearts and minds of her family and friends, she has now brought hope to others.  Because of their selfless act of organ donation several lives were touched. 

When someone is an organ donor the funeral home and the family will receive a letter from the Tissue Bank.  It will list the information about where the organs went.  Not specific names but it will say something like her lungs went to a 28 year old female in Michigan who has two children.  It will list all of the people who have been helped and even saved by this gift.  I have to believe that the families of the donor will read this letter over and over.  I hope that they can gain some kind of peace in their time of loss. 

Organ donation saves lives.  1 Organ donor can save up to 8 lives and heal up to 50.  22 people will die each day waiting for an organ. How can you help?  You can register to be a donor.   If you would like further information on organ donation or how to register visit www.organdonor.gov.  In the state of Ohio you can go to http://www.donatelifeohio.org/. 

Organ donation is a personal decision that everyone has to make for themselves.  If you’re a donor make sure that your family and friends know your wishes.  I hope through the gift of her donation that Emily's family can begin to heal.  Just like the healing that her gift brought to all who received her organs. 

"Without the organ donor, there is no story, no hope, and no transplant.  But when there is an organ donor, life springs from death, sorrow turns to hope and a terrible loss becomes a gift."  - UNOS

 By Angela Garrett

SOCIAL MEDIA IN A FUNERAL HOME?

SOCIAL MEDIA IN A FUNERAL HOME?

”Tag, you’re it!”

“Tag me!”

“Let’s take a selfie”

“Friend me”

Are you on social media?

WE ARE! Technology is moving faster than me typing these words.

Did you know that people are getting a college degree in Social Media Marketing?

We at Baker/Hazel & Snider are on board. We tweet, we pin, we tag, we share, we swipe…

We think it is so important to be relevant to what is going on in the clouds. Yes, we serve an older generation, but more importantly we care for the whole family. We want all of our families to be relevant in their loved one’s end of life planning. Families are split up and live all over the world. So here at our funeral home, we want people to know that even though you can’t be right here physically, you are here and we are connected to you.

We have a google account, facebook page, a pinterest account, a twitter. We take photos and share them.

How many of you google the company’s name before you try their food, or buy their clothes, or use their services? MOST EVERYONE! How many of you moms read reviews on Amazon before buying that new double stroller for your two young ones? I DO.

“Seventy-two percent of Millennials research and shop their options online before going to a store or the mall.” –www.cmo.com

How many of you give your email address out more than my cell phone number. – I DO

My point?
I wouldn’t use a company if they didn’t have an up-to-date website, or a Facebook account.

We need transparency.
www.bakerhazelsnider.com 

 By: Abby Snider-Robinson, Funeral Director 

By Rick Snider

“Just Cremate Me”

Currently, less than 30% of the population goes to a house of worship on a regular basis.  Some 30 years ago most families attended a church or house of worship, and religion was an important part of their life.  The church also provided a place for dealing with a death.  Grieving provides comfort for those who fear the unknown and questions, “What happens when a person dies? “.   The increase in technology has encouraged people to become detached from the human experience, including the experience of losing someone through death. 

Cremation is not a funeral; it’s a disposition of the human remains.  When a person dies, there is still an emotional connection and relationship that was nurtured over time.  Funeral directing is not about burial or cremation, it’s about helping people grieve and separate from their loved one by creating a meaningful service. 

To experience the reality of death and begin this grief process, it is very important for mourners to view the body in a setting that is peaceful and provides a time to say good-bye.  30% of the families we serve choose to accomplish this by asking us to prepare the remains for viewing and placing the body in a rental casket, prior to the cremation, so that family and friends may share in this together. 

Our value statement at Baker-Hazel & Snider Funeral Home & Crematory is to serve by providing a time and place for Recognizing, Honoring & Commemorating a Life.  For 73 years and 4 generations we have been privileged and honored to serve those in need. You get one chance when it comes to a funeral; make sure it’s discussed and planned for everyone to benefit and participate.    

Be Aware!

"October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same. We have made a lot of progress but still have a long way to go and need your help!"-www.nationalbreastcancer.org

This month we celebrate The Women.

The women who have suffered and battled Breast Cancer. It can occur in Men also-so we think of those men that have it as well.

Here are some Facts about Breast Cancer:

1.        1:8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer

2.        It is the most common cancer in women

3.        It is the second leading cause of death among women

4.        Each year it is est. that over 220,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die.

5.        Although, breast cancer in men is rare, an est. 2,150 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and approx. 410 will die each year.

http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-facts

Risk Factors: Watch this Video

 http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-risk-factors

Genetic Factors:

Here are some factors that cannot be changed

1. Gender: Breast Cancer occurs nearly 100 times more often in women than in men

2. Age: 2:3 women with invasive cancer are diagnosed after age 55

3. Race:  Breast Cancer is diagnosed more often in Caucasian women than women of other races.

4. Family History: if your mother, sister, father or child has been diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer, you have a higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer in the future. Your risk increases if your relative was diagnosed before the age of 50.

5. Menstrual & Reproductive History: Early menstruation (before age 12), late menopause (after 55), having your first child at an older age, or never having given birth can also increase your risk for breast cancer.

6. Certain Genome Changes: Mutations in certain genes, this is determined through a genetic test.

7. Dense Breast Tissue: this can increase your risk as well. It can make the lumps harder to detect. It is a law in most states for the Doctor to disclose this dense tissue information to their patients.

If you would like to make a donation please visit:

https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-donations

Other Ways to help:

1.  Donate a Mammogram- $100, provides a mammogram for a woman in need

2.  Start a Fundraiser-Try and bring your community together

3.  Become a Sponsor- You can partner with a nationally-recognized charity.

4.  Shop at www.nbcfshop.com

                               We want to help people be aware! Wear Pink! 

Resources:

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-risk-factors

http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-risk-factors

https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-donations

http://www.shopkomen.com

Healthy Lifestyle

Following are some helpful guidelines to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Always, consult with your physician prior to beginning any diet or exercise program.

Eating Healthy

Adjusting your diet to make healthy eating choices is probably one of the most difficult changes. Learn to consciously notice what you are eating and make healthy choices. Keeping a food diary to record the food you are eating, the amount, the time of day and the nutritional value of the food is a very helpful way to realize exactly what you are eating. There several free apps for Android and Apple phones, such as My Fitness Pal, to help keep you on track.

Exercise & Fitness

Maintain or improve your fitness by increasing your activity level. This may be achieved by choosing to take the stairs instead of the elevator or by choosing a parking spot that requires a longer walk to reach your destination. Jumping rope is an inexpensive and effective way to increase your cardio activity.  

Family and Friends Support

A successful healthy lifestyle begins with continued support from family and friends.  Remember, getting off track does not equate failure. Having a partner on your journey to healthy living will only improve your chances of success.   

Health Coaching

Health coaching is an approach to guiding people through behavior change utilizing goal setting, accountability and support. Health coaching can help you to achieve greater physical and mental well-being while providing you with tools to make lasting improvements.

Sleep

Getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night is easier said than done. Understanding your Circadian Rhythm is vital in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Learning relaxation techniques and ways to improve your sleep schedule will help in your goal of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Education/Pages/Factsheet_CircadianRhythms.aspx

Community Wellness Programs:

Good Samaritan Hospital, http://www.goodsamdayton.org/gshdefault.aspx?id=9998

City of Dayton, http://www.daytonrecreationandyou.com/AllProgramGrid.cfm

Miami Valley Hospital, http://www.miamivalleyhospital.org/mvhdefault.aspx?id=10922

Kettering Health Network, http://www.ketteringhealth.org/communityoutreach/

Saying Good-Bye

Saying Good-Bye

By: Angela Garrett

Saying good-bye is something that we all do everyday.  Most of the time we don't even give it much thought.  It's just a simple good-bye on the telephone or when we are walking out the door.  The definition of good-bye in the dictionary is a farewell at parting.  This past week good-bye has taken on a whole new meaning for my family.  My mom was diagnosed with lung cancer in January. For the past seven months, she has been doing chemo to try to put the cancer in remission.  Last week, we were told the chemo did not work.  There a few options to give us more time but nothing that will put the cancer in remission.  So now, for my family, we are starting our good-bye.  I feel blessed to have the time to say good-bye to my mom.  I remind myself that not everyone gets that opportunity.  I've seen it with families that we serve here at our funeral home.  

The fact that I've worked at Baker-Hazel & Snider Funeral Home for the past 20 years gives me a chance to know what goes on after death: the planning and details of a funeral service; the importance of celebrating life not death. I feel blessed to know at that time I will have my family here at the funeral home to help me.  I know they will care for my mom with love and respect.  I have watched Neil Hazel  and Rick Snider and all of our staff help families in anyway possible.  Working here will not change my pain or grief.  I will have to work through it.  This experience will help me to better serve our families.

Because of my faith and my mom's faith in God, I have peace.  Yes, I am sad!  Yes, I am mad at cancer!  Everyday it's a roller coaster ride of emotions.  Some are good and some are bad.  I can't change any of them.  I just have to roll with them and trust my Creator to bring me through.  When the time comes and I lay my mom's earthly shell to rest, I have hope that my final good-bye will not be forever. I will see her again!  I believe in Heaven  as much as I believe in gravity.  I can't see gravity but I feel it's pull.  When my mom is gone, I will feel the pull of Heaven even more.  

Right now, time feels like a friend and an enemy.  I have time to say the things that I need to say to my mom. I have the time to be with my mom while she is still feeling well.  Still, in the back of my mind I know that time is slipping away.  Time that we can't get back.  I don't want to waste my time with tears now, but I'm human so of course I've shed many tears this past week.  Sometimes I feel bad when I laugh, but then I remember that life has to go on.  My mom doesn't want us to be sad all the time.  She loves to hear me laugh! We've all been sitting and recalling fun and happy memories.  We are making plans to take a trip as a family.  We are having family pictures taken.  I told the doctor last week that I didn't want my mom to live dying.  I want her to die living.  So we are LIVING!

“Have the Talk of a Lifetime”

By: Rick Snider

The consumer-education program, Have the Talk of a Lifetime, launched by the Funeral and Memorial Information Council (FAMIC), is gaining significant exposure.   We at Baker-Hazel & Snider Funeral Home, feel that it’s very important to encourage and help families take the time, prior to one’s death, to discuss and record the memories and stories of one’s life, which will be significant in beginning the memorialization process. 

Our experiences in life are all unique and different and our legacy will be remembered and shared as we talk about everything.  We share all the stories about events, trials and victories.  But the important discussion you probably haven’t had is how we want to be remembered.   I am a third generation funeral director and I know through 30+ years of experience, that the conversations we share about our life with our loved ones, will help us make decisions regarding how we want to be remembered.

Memorialization is so much more than it used to be and one’s life story through memorialization will begin the process and transition of comforting and healing.

For four generations and 73 years, we at Baker-Hazel & Snider have promoted the importance of pre-arranged funeral arrangements. We have hired a Pre-arrangement Specialist, Josh Koehler who is a licensed Funeral Director, who has trained to guide families through this story telling process and memorialization by planning this significant event that will affect and involve family and friends.

Now is the time to talk with your family, and generate your story, and make these important plans, which will help your family during this transition from life to death.

 Josh Koehler, Pre-Need Specialist 

                                                                                           Need Assistance call 937-274-1151

Losing A Child

June 2014                                                                                                                          

I wanted to share this topic for the month of June because it has been on my mind a lot recently. I, myself love to read blogs along with posting on my personal blog. A month ago or so one of my favorite bloggers lost her little 3 years old boy. He was hit by a truck and died. As a parent, reading other parents thoughts and words about death is terrifying.  This accident is just horrifying and every parent’s worst nightmare.  I have never even met this family. However, I feel like family since she has been so expressive through her blogging career. I have turned to her for recipe advice, Mothering advice and DYI ideas.  The thing that she is afraid of the most now, is how to “Not be a Mommy”. She is struggling with the thought of- “Am I a Mom still… or Not?” The answer is Yes, once a Mom always a Mom.  Every day is a challenge for her to live without her son, he was her life. Some moments are better than others. She recently is starting blogging again about how she and her husband are getting through the hours.

Being a funeral director we have unfortunate deaths like this. Working here since 2010 I have only experienced a hand full of young, unexpected deaths. Every single one of them is a challenge on the professional’s part as well as a tragedy and unexplainable hardship on the families’ part. There are no words that can fix this. I just have to be a good listener and a guide for the family.

Recently, we had a service for a young man and his Mom explained that she knows God has given everyone a gift. One of those gifts is the 2 arms on our body, so every time you see her, she asked that you wrap those arms around her. She made it clear that the only way she will get through this is the support of her family, friends and God.

I have a few resources that might be able to help you, if you have experienced a loss of a child or young person. I hope these books or websites can help you.

Resources:

Books-

The Death of a Child, Reflections for Grieving Parents by Elaine E. Stillwell

Why, by Ann Graham Lotz

How to Go on Living When Someone You Love Dies, by Theresa Rando

Healing Grief, by James Van Praagh’s

The Shack, by William P. Young

Chicken Soup for the Grieving Soul

Healing After Loss, by Martha Whitmore Hickman

Living Still, Loving Always, by Nita Aasen

When Your Child Dies by Theresa Huntley

The Bereaved Parents, by Harriet Sarnoff Schiff

Websites-

http://www.openbible.info/topis/loss_of_a_child

More books and helpful tips-

http://www.sympathysolutions.com

Green or Natural Funerals

Green or Natural Funerals 

resources: Green Burial Council

“Green” or “Natural” funerals is an emerging alternative to traditional funeral practices.

The definition of “Green” or “Natural”, as related to funeral service, is the concept of caring for the dead with minimal environmental impact that furthers legitimate ecological aims such as the conservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, protection of worker health and the restoration and/or preservation of habitat.

There are many different shades of “green” in reference to the type of end of life services that are available.

Green or Natural funerals may include viewing, burial and cremation.

A casket, urn or shroud may be suitable for a green or natural burial if it is made from materials or substances that are non-toxic and readily biodegradable. These materials should be made from materials that are harvested in a manner that does not unnecessarily destroy the habitat.

Families may opt to have a viewing prior to the burial or cremation. There are alternatives to formaldehyde available to preserve a body for viewing purposes.

Natural, Green or Ecoembalming is defined by use of non-toxic, non-hazardous, safe, practical, ultra-low environmental-impact acceptable for natural or green burial and cremation. These fluids are readily biodegradable capable of fulfilling the Modern Tenets of Embalming as follows, public safety, temporary sanitation, cosmetic restoration and temporary preservation.

Ecoembalming uses non-toxic, non-hazardous, eco-safe fluids for temporary preservation and sanitation of the deceased for viewing purposes.  

Active chemical components of the ecoembalming fluid include essential oil ingredients.

Cremation may be considered green or natural because it reduces land use since the remains 

do not need to be interred.   

The funeral directors at Baker-Hazel & Snider Funeral Home & Crematory will work with you and your family to customize a green or natural funeral, burial or cremation. 

The Green Burial Council has a Planning Guide available on their website, www.greenburialcouncil.org, to help in the planning and facilitation of green or natural funeral services. 

Prearrangement Information

Source: Aftercare Resource Guide from Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company 2013

As you know, when a loved one dies, the family is faced with making many decisions at a difficult time. But you can spare loved ones from the burden of having to make these difficult decisions with a little advance planning. By planning ahead, you can give your family peace of mind knowing that the difficult decisions are already taken care of, ahead of time. There is no cost when planning ahead--it is a free service that we offer to the families we serve. You may come in anytime or have one of our representatives meet you to put your plans in place. You have experienced the pain of loss, but your loved ones can be spared the additional pain of worry, confusion, and doubt at a time of grief. Planning ahead is a tremendous gift of love and benefits your family in many ways. 

The Benefits to Prearranging

1. Your Family: The most important reason for prearranging your funeral is to spare your family the worry of having to make important decisions at an emotionally difficult time. During this stressful time, even the most sincere desire to create a fitting tribute can result in emotional overspending and other regretful decisions. 

2. Peace of Mind: You may have special wishes concerning your funeral arrangements. Our Thoughtful Decisions Guide will provide you with a document showing your wishes in writing. You can go over each section with your family, making decisions such as favorite hymns and Bible verses together. With this guide, you know everything will be taken care of according to your wishes. 

3. Saving Money: If you choose to pay for your prearranged services now, you may also ease the financial burden on your surviving loved ones. Remember, estate planning is incomplete until you have taken care of funeral prearrangement. Throughout your life, you have given thoughtful consideration to the important decisions you have made. You have prepared for those things that might happen by taking out fire or health insurance. Doesn't it make sense to prepare for those things that will happen?

Please don't be misled into thinking that the military, the veteran's organization, Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid will take care of final expenses. These organizations will be helpful, but they will not completely erase all the expenses involved in an untimely death.

Important decisions about your funeral service should not be made at the last minute. Your family will be under the most intense and difficult emotional stress of their lives when they face the reality of your death. The way to reduce this is to make your wishes known, in  advance, with our Thoughtful Decisions Guide. With this guide, you can go over your wishes with your family and make sound decisions in the privacy of your own home. The guide can then be securely filed with our funeral home. 

When you decide to prearrange, you may wish to speak to one of our funeral arrangement specialist. They will be available any time to answer any questions you have about prearranging, such as:

             1. What if I move after I have prearranged my funeral?

             2. What if I prearrange in my community and then die away from home?

             3. What if I change my mind about my arrangements?

Knowing your wishes were made in advance can bring peace of mind to you and your loved ones. Prearranging your funeral or cremation service is a decision you make, but it's a decision that will affect all of the people you love and who love you most. We invite you to come by or call us for more information about your prearrangement options. 

Source: Aftercare Resource Guide from Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company 2013