Making Funeral Arrangements

Making arrangements for funerals at funeral homes in Roanoke, VA may seem like one of the more daunting tasks you will face in the first few days after your loved one has died. But the funeral director will professionally and empathetically guide you through the process and make it as easy as is possible on you and your family. 

Here are some things you can expect and that you’ll need to bring with you to the meeting with the funeral home director. 

Be aware that you’ll be asked for a lot of personal information about your loved one and you will also have some difficult topics that you’ll need to discuss during this meeting, which is known as an arrangement conference. If you’re prepared in advance, it will make the arrangement conference much easier to get through. 

It's recommended that you go to the arrangement conference with an immediate family member or a trusted friend, so that you have the support you need and you also have someone who can help provide information and make decisions about final arrangements. 

You will need to bring a lot of information that the funeral director will need to register the death to get a death certificate. This includes the deceased’s full name, date of birth, social security number, date of death, veteran status (and a copy of their military separation orders – DD-214 – if you want military honors or burial in a national cemetery), place of birth, place of death, marital status, and occupation. 

It's a good idea for you and your loved one to gather this information together before your loved one dies, so that you already have everything you need in a folder in a place where you can easily find it after your loved one dies. 

One of the things that will be discussed next is what kind of services you want for your loved one. You may choose to have a viewing and/or visitation, followed by a funeral service, a graveside service, or a memorial service.   

The funeral director will guide you through the components of the service, which are typically readings, eulogies, spiritual encouragement, and music. They will ask what you want for each of these and, for parts that require other people to participate, who will be doing them. You will also be asked if you want the service recorded or livestreamed for friends and family who may be too far away to attend the actual service. 

Next, you’ll be asked whether your loved one will be buried or cremated. Regardless of which option you choose, if your loved one is a military veteran, they can be interred in a national cemetery. If you choose burial, you’ll need to let the funeral director know what cemetery your loved one should be buried in and whether you have a plot already or not. 

The funeral home director will know what the requirements are for the cemeteries in your area – for example, almost all cemeteries now require that caskets be buried in vaults because it preserves the integrity of the cemetery grounds – and will go through vault and casket selections with you. 

Finally, if your loved one is being buried, the funeral director will walk through funeral procession options for you. 

For more information on making funeral arrangements at funeral homes in Roanoke, VA, our compassionate and experienced staff at Conner-Bowman Funeral Home & Crematory is here to help. You can come by our funeral home at 62 Virginia Market Place Dr., Rocky Mount, VA, 24151 or you can contact us today at (540) 334-5151.