Making Arrangements
Making Arrangements
The death of a loved one often leaves family with confusion on what to do next. Once our funeral home has been notified, we will reach out to schedule a date and time to make the arrangements. Things you will want to bring with you for the meeting include the vital information (see below) for important documents, clothing if the deceased is to be viewed (including undergarments), picture for the funeral home to use for an obituary or memorial stationary, information for an obituary (see below), and important documents such as military discharge papers (DD214), cemetery deeds and life insurance documents.

Upon your arrival to the funeral home, you will be greeted by a member of our team and taken our office. We have refreshments available and encourage folks to bring as many people as necessary for support. During the meeting, a funeral director will review information for important documents, go over service details, help the family select any necessary products, go over obituary details, and go over legal items. At the end of the conference, a statement of goods and services will be provided as well as payment options. If you are unable to travel, please reach out to us and we would be happy to schedule a time to come to your home or make virtual arrangements.
Vital Information
When planning any type of service, there is basic information that our funeral home will need which is often referred to as “vital information”. This information is used to complete the death certificate, help complete death notices, and is used for memorial products such as memorial folders and such. It is important that this information be given to the funeral home in a timely manner and that it is as accurate as possible. This information includes the following:
- Full Name of the Deceased
- Legal Address
- Date and Place of Birth
- Gender
- Marital Status
- Parents Full Names (Including Mothers Maiden Name)
- Usual Occupation During Lifetime
- Highest Level of Education
- Ancestry (English, German, etc.)
- Social Security Number
- Military Status
- Full Name of Informant
- Legal Address of Informant
- Phone Number of Informant
- Any Wishes the Deceased May Have Expressed.
Obituary Information
Most families today are opting to write their own draft of the obituary as it gives them an opportunity to reflect on the life lived. If your family chooses to do this, the obituary can be sent to wmfh@wilsonmillerfh.com and we will proof read and add any necessary information. However, if the family doesn’t feel that writing the obituary is something they wish to do, our staff would be happy to write it and then submit it to the family for approval. Most families choose to include the following in the obituary.
- List of surviving children and their spouses.
- First names of grandchildren and their spouses.
- List of surviving siblings and their spouses.
- List of other family members if close (aunts, uncles, cousins, friends).
- List of deceased family members to be included.
- Clubs, church, and organizations the deceased may have attended.
- Hobbies and interests that were important to the deceased.
- Work history if important to the family and deceased.
- Information about where memorial contributions may be offered to.
Upon approval of the obituary, our funeral home will submit it to the publications chosen by the family. Currently rates in the Midland Daily News run from $60.00 to over $500.00 depending on the length. WNEM Tv-5 charges $140.00 to run the obituary which also includes on online version. Our firm has the ability to connect with any publication office, just let our staff know the name of the paper you would like the obituary submitted to.
Other Considerations
When making final arrangements, the amount of things a family has to prepare may be intimidating. Our funeral home strives in alleviating stress and handles many aspects such as obtaining death certificates, sending obituary to publications, coordinating with the cemetery and clergy, design and production of memorial products, and many others. However, there are still some things that the family must accomplish in order for services to proceed smoothly. We always recommend these details be taken care of early so as to avoid stress as services approach.
Order Flowers – We recommend the family call a local florist and order flowers through them as they know what is in stock. We will talk with you to organize where flowers are to go after services have concluded.
Organize the Luncheon – Most choose to have a luncheon following the service. These can be done at a church hall, township hall, restaurant, a private residence, or even at the funeral home. While most choose to provide their own food, some families prefer the ease of using a licensed caterer.
Select Pallbearers – Only needed if there is going to be a casket involved with the service. Our staff will instruct pallbearers before the service begins. Usually the family will provide 6-8 pallbearers.
Select Service Content – When a service is scheduled, the family will want to discuss what is to be said during the service and any musical selections with the officiant. The officiant has the final say about if musical selections are appropriate for the service. Our funeral home has the ability to play music from Spotify and YouTube.
Organize Photos – Many families choose to have a slide show or picture boards present during services. Our funeral home would be happy to assist in preparing the slideshow and pictures should be given to us at least 24 hours in advance of services. For those wanting picture boards, we recommend going to an office supply store and purchasing picture boards. This allows families to keep them after the service is complete.
Organize Memorabilia – We encourage families to bring in items that were of great importance to the deceased to the funeral home for services. Having these items create conversation and help bring back memories. Setting these items up is usually done during the family hour before services begin.
Staying Strong – Going through the loss of a loved one is very difficult both emotionally and physically. Sometimes it is easy to forget our own needs when dealing with such a loss. We encourage families to always have food on hand and to take time for themselves. Our funeral home has a lounge where food can be brought in and is away from the service area for some privacy.
