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.

Funeral director's at your local Funeral Home can assist you with your funeral arrangements. They will collect information from you in order to facilitate the transfer of your loved one’s remains to their 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 a funeral home, arrangements can be discussed 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 for recommendations on a Funeral Home near you.

As funeral care professionals we are here to listen to you, help you, and guide you during this difficult and trying time.

On your first meeting with your Funeral Director, you will discuss the arrangements for your loved one’s burial. You will be shown a list of available 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.

Some Funeral Homes will inquire about your loved one to have a better understanding of the person the services will honor. It will be extremely helpful if you can provide some memorabilia — photos, videos, treasured items, letters — that would give them a clearer picture on how you envision paying tribute to your loved one.

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.

After meeting with your preferred Funeral Home, your loved one will be left in their care while you visit your preferred Cemetery to select a final resting place. If selecting San Tan Memorial Gardens at Schnepf Farms as your loved one's final resting place you will first be greeted by one of our caring family counselor's. 

Following introductions, you will be given a tour of the Cemetery on a golf cart so as to allow you to see all available options for a place of burial. During this tour, you will be encouraged to ask any and all questions that come to mind. 

After selecting a final place of rest, your family counselor will collect necessary vitals including your loved one's birth and death dates, your relationship to them, the funeral home you have selected, and your scheduled time and date for the funeral services. Once you've selected your loved one's final place of rest and finalized your paperwork, you can rest at ease and focus on your family as you prepare for the upcoming services for your loved one.