Funeral Services

When a Death Occurs
When a death occurs, the order in which things need to be done often depends on where the death occurred. But, one thing should always be remembered: your heightened emotional state upon the death of a loved one. That's why we suggest that you ask a friend for help - someone who is more able to think clearly, and give you the support you need.

At Home or at Work
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 the home.

If in any case you are not sure of who to notify or what to do, you may call Lauderdale Memorial Park, and we'll assist you in notifying the proper agencies.

While Under Supervised Care
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 the 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 the hospice.

Widening the Circle
Our staff members are experienced professionals who can provide much of the information you need, emotional support and compassionate guidance.
While you may ask the director any questions at this time, you will be able to discuss the arrangements in detail later when you meet in person. During this initial call, the funeral director will gather information to be able to transport your loved one to the funeral home.

The funeral director may ask you several questions, including whether your loved one made any pre-arrangements. The director will also schedule a date and time for you to meet at the funeral home and will let you know what you should bring with you.

Others you will need to call are:
• Family members and friends
• Clergy or other spiritual advisors
• There are several other questions that you may have in regards to the death of your loved one:
• Do I have to have embalming?
• Do I need to purchase a casket?
• What about cemetery arrangements?
• Does the family have to engage the services of a minister?
• What type of service should we have?

By contacting our staff, we'll be able to help answer your questions and assist in making the appropriate plans. You can reach us at (954) 745-2140.

However, one of the best ways to make sure that all of your questions and desires are taken care of is to make pre-arrangements. This is as simple as outlining your wishes to having all of the details written down and the financial arrangements prepaid. Please contact one of our staff at (954) 745-2140 to learn more about pre-arrangement, or click here to fill out our online pre-arrangement form.

What to Expect When You Arrive
When you visit us, the funeral arranger will provide you with price lists and guide you through the entire arrangement process, explaining how you can create a memorable personal celebration of your loved one's life.

The arrangement process may include:
Preparing and filing the official death certificate
Scheduling the location, date and time of services or events
Selecting a casket, urn or other items
Preparing an obituary notice
Scheduling vehicles
Selecting pallbearers
You may also sign necessary authorizations or make arrangements to have them signed by the appropriate family members.

Feel free to bring any photos, a favorite song, or memorabilia so that you and your funeral arranger can discuss how you would like your loved one to be remembered. More and more people today choose to personalize the funeral services they plan for their loved ones. A favorite song, a favorite gathering place, even a favorite activity can all become part of the service. Our funeral arrangers will listen and assist you in planning a loving tribute that captures the spirit of the person whose life you wish to honor. To learn more about personalizing the service, please read the Honoring Life section of this Web site. The funeral arranger will discuss personalization with you during your arrangement conference.

The following checklist will help you remember what information about the decedent and items will be needed when meeting with a funeral arranger.

• Full legal name • Home address • Social Security number • Date of birth • Place of birth • Father's name • Mother's maiden name • Veteran's discharge papers • (DD-214)

• Recent Photograph • Highest education • Occupation • Place of burial (if applicable) • Clothing • Clergy name and phone number • Survivors (name & relationship) • Insurance policies (if applicable)

Call us at (954) 745-2140, and a staff member of Lauderdale Memorial Park will be honored to explain all of the options available to you. Or if you prefer, you can contact us using our contact form.

Burial
The most common type of burial is still the traditional earth burial, ground burial or lawn crypt burial. This offers most families a place to return to visit and pay respect to their loved ones, offering a peaceful resting place where their memorials and final tributes can be shared with generations to come. Burial costs will be determined by your choices and or preferences of how you would like your loved one memorialized or by the wishes they left in a pre-planning guide.

Carriage Services and the City of Fort Lauderdale Cemeteries offer family estate lots, multiple space lots and single grave spaces. There are many options of areas and types of memorialization that our trained and professional consultant s can guide you through. Graves can be marked with bronze and granite memorials set flush with the ground, as well as upright monuments.

A traditional or lawn crypt burial is a high-density "dry" ground burial. A large area is excavated where special vaults are placed with venting that allows moisture to escape giving a dry dignified form of burial. Lawn crypt burials provide the warm tradition of ground burial and the cleanliness and dignity of mausoleum burial at a price less than either. Lawn crypt burial is an excellent choice if you want to reduce burial costs as you plan your funeral.
 
Cremation and Memorialization

Cremation may be chosen as an alternative to an intact body casket interment. Cremation is the process of reducing the body to basic chemical compounds in the form of gases and bone fragments through high temperatures and vaporization. The choice of cremation may be preferred over traditional burial for a number of reasons:
• Religious beliefs
• Ethnic customs
• Simplification of the funeral process
• Personal preference
• Cost

Generally, cremated remains are placed in a receptacle known as an urn. Urns come in many different sizes and styles:
• Single Urn encases the cremated remains of one person
• Companion Urn encases the cremated remains of two people
• Keepsake Urn encases only a portion of the cremated remains so that they may be taken home

Personal wishes of the deceased, or the next of kin, will determine the final disposition of the urn. If you choose to commit the urn to a final resting place, you may:
• Inter the urn in a cemetery plot
• Inter the urn in a specially designated area of the cemetery (urn garden)
• Store the urn in a special memorial building (columbarium)

If you prefer, you may:
• Place the urn in a place of personal significance, such as home
• Scatter the remains in a favorite, meaningful place (may be subject to some restrictions).

Cremation can provide more options in celebrating the life of your loved one and in choosing a permanent memorial.