Plan Ahead

Plan Ahead

Pre-planning allows your loved ones to reflect upon the memories of your life rather than the details of your death.
The emotional stress of arranging a funeral within days of losing a loved one can be overwhelming. Perhaps the greatest gift each of us can give our family is to relieve them of this burden by pre-planning our own funeral.

The benefits of prearranging your own services include:

  • Decisions are made at a stress-free time allowing you to make detailed, practical choices that reflect your ideals.
  • Financial considerations are decided in advance by you.
  • Your personal choices are known so they can be carried out as you planned.

You choose the option best for you:

  • Courtesy arrangements without payment – information provided by you is kept on file at the mortuary for use by your family upon your death. Payment is made by your survivors.
  • Pre-paid arrangements guarantees the services and merchandise will be delivered as arranged in your preneed at no additional cost once paid in full. Payment options include single payment in full, monthly payment options or other options are available. Please ask your Preneed Consultant for more information.

Option 1

When it comes to your final arrangements, shouldn’t you make the decisions? The arrangements you make will reflect your exact wishes and desires. Pre-arranging your own service will help to ease the burden of your loved ones. It will also alleviate any questions, problems or differences, which can occur among family members.

Pre-payment will protect you from the rising cost of prices, and it will not be a financial burden on your loved ones. When you plan ahead you know that your wishes will be fulfilled.

Option 2

Pre-planning allows your loved ones to reflect upon the memories of your life rather than the details of your death.
The emotional stress of arranging a funeral within days of losing a loved one can be overwhelming. Perhaps the greatest gift each of us can give our family is to relieve them of this burden by pre-planning our own funeral.
The benefits of prearranging your own services include:

  • Decisions are made at a stress-free time allowing you to make detailed, practical choices that reflect your ideals.
  • Financial considerations are decided in advance by you.
  • Your personal choices are known so they can be carried out as you planned.

You choose the option best for you:

  • Courtesy arrangements without payment – information provided by you is kept on file at the mortuary for use by your family upon your death. Payment is made by your survivors.
  • Pre-paid arrangementsguarantees the services and merchandise will be delivered as arranged in your preneed at no additional cost once paid in full. Payment options include single payment in full, monthly payment options or other options are available. Please ask your Preneed Consultant for more information.
Download Fillable Guide
Download Plan Ahead Brochure
Burial Insurance

Frequently asked questions

The funeral is a ceremony of proven worth and value for those who mourn. It provides an opportunity for the survivors and others who share in the loss to express their love, respect and grief. It permits facing openly and realistically the crisis that death may present. Through the funeral, the bereaved take that first step towards emotional adjustment to their loss.
It is the customary way to recognize death and its finality. Funerals are recognized rituals for the living to show respect for the dead and to help survivors begin the grief process.
Only you can answer that question. The type of service conducted for the deceased, if not noted in a pre-plan, is decided by the family. The service is usually held at a place of worship, the funeral home or at the gravesite. The service may vary in ritual according to religious denomination or the wishes of the family. The presence of friends at this time is an acknowledgment of friendship and support. A private service is by invitation only where selected relatives and a few close friends attend the funeral service. A memorial service is usually a service without the body present and can vary in ceremony and procedures according to the family’s community and religious affiliations.
Absolutely, in fact, we recommend it. After all, the funeral is a celebration of life. Funeral directors are happy to discuss all options and ensure your funeral is tailored to your wishes. It may be personalized in many unique ways.
It is helpful to friends and the community to have an obituary notice published announcing the death and type of service to be held. A notice can be placed in a local newspaper, or on the Internet.
Funeral directors are caregivers and administrators. They make the arrangements for transportation of the body, complete all necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the body. Funeral directors are listeners, advisors and supporters. They have experience assisting the bereaved in coping with death. Funeral directors are trained to answer questions about grief, recognize when a person is having difficulty coping, and recommend sources of professional help. Funeral directors also link survivors with support groups at the funeral home or in the community.
Viewing is part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Many grief specialists believe that viewing aids the grief process by helping the bereaved recognize the reality of death. Viewing is encouraged for children, as long as the process is explained and the activity voluntary.

While it is true some metropolitan areas have limited available cemetery space, in most areas of the country there is enough space set aside for the next 50 years without creating new cemeteries. In addition, land available for new cemeteries is more than adequate, especially with the increase in entombment and multi-level grave burial.

Embalming Questions

Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body, retards the decomposition process, and enhances the appearance of a body disfigured by traumatic death or illness. Embalming makes it possible in the time between death and the final disposition, thus allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them.

No. But, certain factors of time, health and possible legal requirements might make embalming either appropriate or necessary. Please note that embalming may be required if the deceased is being transported by air or land to another state or country where state and local need be observed.
No, embalming is not required for burial. It is always your choice. Your decision may depend on such factors as whether the family selected a service with a public viewing of the body with an open casket; or to enhance the deceased’s appearance for a private family viewing; or if the body is going to be transported by air or rail, or because of the length of time prior to the burial.

Cremation Options

No, cremation is an alternative to earth burial or entombment for the body’s final disposition and often follows a traditional funeral service. We can assist you with the necessary information for a funeral with a cremation following or a memorial service.

According to the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), cremation was the disposition of choice in about 27% of all deaths in the United States in the year 2001.  It is projected that the percentage will rise to about 39% in 2010 and 47% in 2025. These figures represent the United States as a whole; individual states may have lower or higher rates of cremation. (Source: Cremation Association of North America)

Yes. Cremation does not preclude having a visitation period and a funeral service. Cremation is simply one option for final disposition of the body.
Never, not only is it illegal to do so, most modern cremation chambers are not of sufficient size to accommodate more than one adult. Thus it would be a practical impossibility to conduct multiple cremations simultaneously.

Funeral Cost Questions

When compared to other major life cycle events, like births and weddings, funerals are not very expensive. A wedding costs at least three times as much; but because it is a happy event, wedding costs are rarely criticized. A funeral home is a 24-hour, labor-intensive business, with extensive facilities (arrangement offices, viewing rooms, chapels, hearses, etc.), these expenses must be factored into the cost of a funeral. Moreover, the cost of a funeral includes not only merchandise, like caskets, but the services of a funeral director in making arrangements; filing appropriate forms; dealing with doctors, ministers, florists, newspapers and others; and seeing to all the necessary details. Contrary to popular belief, funeral homes are largely family-owned with a modest profit margin.

Funeral directors are caring individuals who help people deal with a very stressful time. They serve the same families 80% of the time, and many have spent most of their lives in the same community. If they took advantage of bereaved families, they could not stay in business. The fact that the average funeral home has been in business over 59 years shows that most funeral directors respect the wishes of the bereaved families.
Funeral directors look upon their profession as a service, but it is also a business. Like any business, funeral homes must make a profit to exist. As long as the profit is reasonable and the services rendered are necessary, complete, and satisfactory to the family, profit is legitimate.
No. Talking about the mark up on caskets is really not the point. Most items–clothing, furniture, jewelry–are marked up as much or more than caskets. The real question is whether the funeral director is making an excessive profit, and that answer is “No.” Profits run around 12.5% before taxes — not excessive by any standard.
Other than the family, there are veteran, union, and other organizational benefits to pay for funerals, including, in certain instances, a lump sum death payment from Social Security. In most states, some forms of public aid allowances are available from either the state, county, or city or a combination. Most funeral directors are aware of the various benefits and know how to obtain them for the indigent. However, funeral directors often absorb costs above and beyond what is provided by agencies to insure the deceased a respectable burial.
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 in any case you are not sure of who to notify or what to do, you may call us, and we’ll assist you in notifying the proper agencies.

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 got the reassurance you need that all is taken care of properly.) 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 the 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.

We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All you need to do is place a call to us at (805) 642-1055. If you request immediate assistance, one of our professionals will be there within the hour. If the family wishes to spend a short time with the deceased to say good bye, it’s acceptable. Then they will come when your time is right.

If you request immediate assistance, yes. If the family wishes to spend a short time with the deceased to say good bye, it’s acceptable. We will come when your time is right.
We can assist you if a death occurs anywhere on the globe. Contact us immediately and we will assume responsibility and coordinate the arrangements for the return of the deceased person to our funeral home. We may engage the services of a funeral director in the place of death who will act as their agent.

NOTIFY PROPER AUTHORITIES

This new, modern facility reflects our continuous commitment to our families by honoring a life lived.

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.

All of these tasks may feel overwhelming if undertaken alone. It is important to enlist a trusted friend or a family member to help you cope with the responsibility and emotional pain of this process. Remember that we are here to guide you through this difficult time and to ensure that your loved one receives the honor and tribute he or she deserves.

Our caring staff is here to guide you through all the steps to create a unique service for your loved one. We encourage you to get in touch us at Tel: (805) 642-1111 or email us at [email protected] so that we may assist you better.

Niches are a great choice for urn placement! Ask for choices and prices!

When you choose Ivy Lawn Memorial Park for burial you get a discount price on your cremation.

Download Fillable Guide
Download Plan Ahead Brochure
Burial Insurance