2125 Twelve Mile Road, Berkley, Michigan 48072 | Main: (248) 398-6500 | Fax: (248) 398-0733 | Email: info_sawyerfuller.com
A funeral provides an opportunity to celebrate the life of a loved one. It is an occasion to reflect on the life of someone close to us. It gives us a time to grieve and bring closure.
Beginning with the initial call to us, our staff will be there to give all the care and grace your loved one deserves. We at Sawyer-Fuller Funeral Home understand that every person and their families are unique. We can arrange for any services you desire. We will also help set up private and/or public visitations for your friends and family. From planning a complete funeral service to a simple burial or cremation and all things in between, our staff will be able to walk you through all the choices you have to make.
With any service you select, we offer to arrange for death notices and obituaries to be placed in newspapers, assist in insurance claims, and place obituaries on our website. These and many other services are offered as part of our dedication to our families at no additional cost.
Please take a look at the many service options we offer and if you have any questions, feel free to email us or call (248) 398-6500
Complete Funeral Service
This is the most comprehensive of our services. Visitation, private or public, is most often held at the funeral home for one or two days prior to the actual funeral service. During the visitation, religious and fraternal services can be held – rosary and vigil services, Masonic services, etc. A funeral service takes place the following day—at the funeral home or the family’s church. Interment into a cemetery of the family’s choosing would follow. A procession to the cemetery or a private burial can be arranged at the family’s convenience.
Controlled Limited Service
A number of families prefer to eliminate some options of a complete funeral. Often, we plan services where the visitation will be for a few of hours rather than for a full day or more. If there is a funeral service, it would then conclude at the funeral home. Such services take place that same morning, afternoon, or evening and may be held at the funeral home or at another place of the family’s choice. The family would have the option of a private burial at the cemetery.
Immediate Burial
Families who would like to have little to no services at the funeral home may choose this service. We can set up a private viewing for the family up to a half hour. We will arrange for all the authorizations and permits in a timely manner. We will also assist in arranging Graveside Services at the cemetery and Memorial Services at our funeral home or a place of your choice.
Graveside Service
A graveside service is simply a service that takes place at the graveside rather than in the funeral home, church, or other facility. Sawyer-Fuller Funeral Home works with all cemeteries in organizing and scheduling graveside services for burial of human remains or cremated remains. They can be private or public services with or without committal prayer preceding them. Bagpipers and dove releases can also be scheduled for those who would like them. Often times a funeral service precedes the services at the cemetery, either meeting the family there or arriving in procession.
Some people prefer to have their body cremated rather than buried. This requires the body to be placed into a cremation chamber (retort) that are reduced to ashes which are further processed into cremated remains.
As with burial, those that desire cremation can have a full service. One option is to have a viewing and then after the service is completed, the cremation takes place. You would select one of our specialty Cremation Caskets for your loved one's viewing.
And finally, a cremation does not have to be accompanied by a service at all. A choice some people seeking to spare their families the possible anguish and expense associated with a service.
When the process of cremation is completed, the cremated remains are returned to the next of kin. Many people like to keep the cremated remains in a beautiful, decortive urn near a photo of their passed loved one as a reminder. In some cases, the ashes are split up amongst different family members. In other cases, as with a body, ashes are buried or put in a mausoleum or a columbarium. Yet one other option is to spread the ashes. This is sometimes done at a favorite location, the woods and sometimes even, out at sea. Sawyer-Fuller Funeral home can assist you with any of these options.
Complete Cremation Service
This service is identical to our Complete Funeral Service with the exclusion of the cemetery portion. It would include all basic services of the funeral home, the private or public visitation at the funeral home, and the funeral service the following day at our facilities or elsewhere.
Direct Cremation
Cremation can be simple and dignified. This service is directed to those families who wish to have direct cremation only. We will provide for you everything required by law and everything you need for a direct cremation at one low cost. A memorial service can be scheduled in conjunction with this service at the familys convenience.
Memorial Service
Memorial services can be simple, intimate events involving immediate family only, or they can be larger affairs, depending on the wishes of the deceased and the family. A memorial service is different from a funeral because the body of the deceased is not present, and the service can take place several weeks or months after the person has passed away. The cremated remains may or may not be present during the service. Services may be held at the funeral home or a location that the family chooses.
Memorial Gathering
This is a type of visitation where there is no body present. Cremated remains may or may not be present. Memorial gatherings are an opportunity for family to share memories and stories with family friends at the funeral home. Some families opt to have a memorial gathering the night before a memorial service.
Funeral Planning...before the need arises.
If you are going to make an informed choice when you prearrange your funeral, you need to know the answers to a number of important questions.
What types of services you would like?
How much you can afford to pay?
If guarantees are provided on goods and services?
What happens if you move and want to change funeral homes?
What are the tax consequence of the funding arrangement?
Are you protected against inflation?
When you prearrange a funeral, you want to arrange one that fits your needs today and into the future.
What are the benefits of prearranging a funeral?
Personal satisfaction that your needs and wishes are made known and details taken care of.
Comfort and relief for your survivors when they are initially grieving.
Assurance that informed, thoughtful decisions have been made about the funeral provider, choice of services, and total costs.
Prepaid Funeral Agreements
The funeral home is required by law to give you a general price list which contains the current cost of each individual item and service offered. It must also contain information on embalming, cash advance sales, containers for cremation and any required purchases. Cash advance items are goods and services that are paid for by the funeral provider on your behalf, such as cemetery plot, flowers, obituary notices, pallbearers, and clergy honorarium. Some funeral providers charge you their cost for these items while others add a service fee to their cost. If a service fee is added, or if the funeral provider receives a discount, refund or rebate for these purchases, he or she must disclose this fact to you. You may, of course, choose any or all of those items you prefer. A funeral planning professional will be able and willing to help you with each of these steps.
Generally, funeral preplanning involves a two-step process: Making the prepaid funeral arrangement (the funeral contract) and funding the cost of the prearranged funeral.
1. Making the prepaid funeral arrangement (the funeral contract)
2. Funding the cost of the prearranged funeral through insurance or a trust agreement
Click the links to read more about each.
Other things to consider
Cemetery arrangements should also be discussed in advance. Some questions to ask:
Has the opening and closing of the grave been paid?
Does the cemetery meet the requirements of your religion?
What restrictions, if any, are placed on the types of markers, burial vaults, etc.?
Does the cost include endowment care and maintenance?
Are there burial spaces available for other members of your family?
If you have any questions about preplanning your funeral, please call us (248) 398-6500 or email us.
The pre-need funeral contract should identify the person selling the contract, the person purchasing the contract, and the person for whom the contract is purchased, if the arrangement is for someone else. In several states, only funeral directors may prearrange your funeral. You should check your state law and the credentials of the person selling the pre-need funeral contract. If the person selling the contract is not with a funeral home, you should ask to see a copy of the agreement between the seller and the funeral home that you want to conduct your funeral. The contract should contain a complete description of the merchandise and services purchased, and disclose the current price of the merchandise and services. If a unique service is requested, you should discuss this in detail with the funeral service professional to determine if the service can be provided.
Funeral service selections fall into two general categories; professional funeral services and funeral merchandise. Funeral service selections usually include: professional services of a funeral director and staff, transportation services, embalming and other preparation, facilities for visitation, and funeral vehicles. Funeral merchandise selections include: casket, urn or both; an outer burial container; and printing items.
The contract should clearly state whether the provision of the supplies and services is guaranteed or not guaranteed. A guaranteed funeral means that regardless of the retail price of the funeral at the time of death, there would be no obligation to pay additional money to the funeral provider. The guarantee may be limited if installment payments are selected as a method of payment.
The agreement should also state that goods and services of equal value will be substituted if the exact ones are not available at the time of need, at no extra cost.
It should also clearly identify any items or services which are required and explain why. An example would be embalming, which may be required if there is a viewing planned or for other reasons. Furthermore, a casket may not be required for direct cremations, and a vault may not be required in all instances. If you are considering the purchase and storage of a casket or other merchandise, you should consider factors such as the risk of loss, impact upon manufacturer warranties, and whether the funeral home selected will agree to accept the merchandise for use. The contract should disclose any penalty or restrictions on the funeral home's ability to perform. (Such as geographical restrictions)
TRUSTS
Funeral trusts may be used to prefund funerals in most states in accordance with specific state laws. Depending on the type of trust, it may be managed by the funeral home, cemetery, a bank, a state association or the state. Funeral trusts may or may not be guaranteed to keep up with inflation for a specified period of time. With a guaranteed, fully funded trust, there generally is no balance due at the time of death. If a trust contract is not guaranteed or fully funded, there may be a balance due to the funeral provider. Trust proceeds are usually taxable.
INSURANCE
Customized life insurance products may be used to prefund funerals in most states in accordance with specific state laws. Basically, the consumer purchases an insurance policy with an increasing death benefit that over time will cover the funeral costs at the time of death. Policy growth and the payout amount are not taxable. Pre-need insurance may be paid by a one-time cash premium or by specific installment plans that are either standard issue or guaranteed issue. There are advantages and disadvantages to most types of insurance options.
It is possible to select funeral goods and services without prefunding the funeral or to prefund a funeral without selecting specific goods and services. If you do either of these, you should be aware that the price of the funeral usually will not be guaranteed.
Sawyer-Fuller Funeral Home is proud of our veterans and works with all Armed Forces branches (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy) in scheduling benefits due to them. Most veterans are eligible for a government headstone or marker, burial flag, military honors, and Taps.
Also, veterans are given the opportunity to be buried (casket or urn) in one of 131 National Cemeteries. For those using a national cemetery, a grave liner and the opening and closing of the grave are provided by the U.S. Government.
To be eligible for these benefits a veteran must fulfill certain requirements. To see all those requirements please click here .
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a Government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world, regardless of their date of death. The VA may also furnish a headstone or marker for graves that are marked with a private headstone or marker, for veterans that died on or after November 1, 1990.
A marked grave is defined as a grave with a privately purchased headstone that displays the name of the veteran and dates of birth and death. When the grave is already marked, applicants will have the option to submit a claim for either a traditional headstone or marker, or the new medallion.
When burial or memorialization is in a national cemetery, state veterans' cemetery, or military post/base cemetery, a headstone or marker will be ordered by the cemetery officials based on inscription information provided by the next of kin or authorized representative.
Spouses and dependents are not eligible for a Government-furnished headstone or marker unless they are buried in a national cemetery, state veterans' cemetery, or military post/base cemetery.
To download view and download the application, click here .
To find out if you are eligible for a VA headstone, click here .
Frequently Asked Questions
We have heard thousands of questions, and chosen to provide you with the answers to some of the more common questions relating to a funeral, a funeral service and funeral homes. If you have further questions related to funerals, please contact us and we will do our best to give you the most reliable information possible.
• What is a funeral?
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. This is a personal tribute from the family of the deceased to their loved one.
• What is proper funeral etiquette?
For more funeral etiquette, please click here.
• Can I personalize my funeral service?
Absolutely. The staff at Sawyer-Fuller Funeral Home can help plan the perfect personalized service for you or a loved one.
• What should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend?
Call us! We are here to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Click here for more details.
• What should I do if a death occurs while away from home?
Call us! The staff is here to help if something happens anywhere, anytime.
• What is the purpose of embalming?
Embalming is the art and science of temporarily preserving human remains to forestall decomposition and to make them suitable for public display at a funeral. It makes it possible to lengthen 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.
• Is embalming mandatory by law?
This a slightly complicated answer. Embalming is not required by law, but it may be neccessary, however if you select certain funeral arrangements, such as a funeral with viewing or visitation. Most common carriers also require embalming. If you do not want embalming, you usually have the right to choose an arrangement that does not require you to pay for it, such as a direct cremation or immediate burial. Michigan law requires embalming when death was caused by certain infectious diseases, or, with very limited exceptions, when the body is not takedn to its final destination with 48 hours of the time of death.
• Can I have a visitation period and a funeral service if cremation is chosen?
Most assuredly. It would be exactly the same as a traditional funeral service, with the final disposition being the difference.
• Is it possible to have a traditional funeral if someone dies of AIDS?
Yes, a person who dies of an AIDS-related illness is entitled to the same service options afforded to anyone else.
• Can the vault be personalized?
Most definately. Our vault company allows us the choices of thousands of emblems for you to decide on. And if they don't have it, they'll make it.
• Are there vaults for cremated remains?
Yes, we do have urn vaults. We also sell urns that can be used for burial of cremated remains. There are make of rmarble or hardened polystyrene.
• Can two cremations be performed at once?
No, it is against the law to perform two cremations in the same retort at the same time.
• Can the family witness the cremation?
With the facilities we use, families cannot actually view the cremation. However, they may assist in placing their loved one inside the retort and press the button to begin the process. They may wait until the process is completed (rough two to three hours) and may witness the processing of the remains if they wish.
• Does a body have to be embalmed before it is buried?
No, if an immediate burial is selected (in which the body would be buried with 48 hours of death).
• Must I purchase a burial vault?
Most times, you will be required to purchase a burial vault if you having an interment within a cemetery. Some older cemeteries may not require a vault. Call (248) 398-6500 if you have questions about vaults in your cemetery.
We are looking for more questions to answer for you!
So please email us your questions, and we'll answered them and might post them on here. Thanks!
When a death occurs, the order in which things need to be done often depends on where the death occurred.
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, if possible, the person's physician if he or she was under a doctor's care. 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 police will be notified by hospice. Following their release, the hospice nurse will contact the funeral home. It is always a good idea for the family to contact us prior, so that we will be aware of the pending call from hospice.
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 the Sawyer-Fuller Funeral Home, and we will 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 have the reassurance everything is taken care of properly.)
What to Expect When You Arrive at the Funeral Home
One of the first things the funeral arranger will do is to provide you with our general price list. They will then guide you through the entire arrangement process, explaining how you can create a personal celebration of your loved one's life. This is not a one-way conversation; we want to hear your ideas and thoughts, and incorporate them into the arrangement process.
This process may include:
Preparing 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
You may also sign necessary authorizations or make arrangements to have them signed by the appropriate family members.
We would like you to bring any photos, a favorite song, or memorabilia so that you and your funeral arranger can better discuss how you would like your loved one to be remembered. Having these things, and knowing their favorite song or favorite gathering place even their favorite activity will help us create a truly fitting memorial service.
The following checklist will help you remember what information about the decedent and also items needed when meeting with a funeral arranger. Please click the link below to download the list.
A staff member of Sawyer-Fuller Funeral Home will be honored to explain all of the options available to you.
ITEMS FOR THE FAMILY TO BRING.pdf
The customs of dress and behavior in a funeral have changed over time, but courtesy never goes out of style.
Its important to know what religious, ethnic or personal considerations you need to take into account. And its also important to be respectful of the emotions of close family members. Below is some information about funeral etiquette.
What you can do...
•Offer an expression of sympathy.
Sometimes we are at a loss for words when encountering something as final as death. Simply saying "I'm sorry for your loss" is usually enough. Be respectful and listen attentively when spoken to, and offer your own words of condolence.
•Find out the dress code.
These days almost anything goes, but only when you know it's what the family wants. Occasisionally, the deceased has specified the dress code; no black or no suits are common requests. If you can't learn the wishes of the family, then dress conservatively (business casual). For more information please click here.
•Give a gift.
It doesn't matter if it is flowers, a donation to a charity or a commitment of service to the family at a later date; as always, "it's the thought that counts." If you give a gift, remember to sign your name, so, the family will know what gift was given and by whom.
•Sign the register book.
Include your name, address, and your relationship to the deceased: co-worker, golf buddy, or casual acquaintance. This helps the family place who you are.
•Keep in touch.
When it's all over, always remember to continue to offer support and love to the bereaved. The next few months are a time when grieving friends and relatives could need you most. Let them know that your support did not end with the funeral.
But, What Shouldn't You Do?
•Feel that you have to stay.
If you visit during calling hours there's no reason your stay has to be a lengthy one.
•Be afraid to laugh.
Remembering their loved one fondly can mean sharing a funny story or two. Just be mindful of the time and place; if others are sharing, then you may do so too. There is simply no good reason you should not talk about the deceased in a happy, positive tone.
•Feel you have to view the deceased if there is an open casket.
Act according to what is comfortable to you.
•Allow your children to be a disturbance.
If you feel they might be, then leave them with a sitter. But, if the deceased meant something to them, it's a good idea to invite them to share in the experience.
•Leave your cell phone on.
Turn it off before entering the funeral home, or better yet, leave it in the car. Nothing is worse than having it go off during the service.
•Be too hard on yourself if you make a mistake.
Everyone does, and you can be sure that an apology may be all that's needed to mend and soothe.
We're here to help! Perhaps you've got special concerns about an upcoming funeral or memorial service? We're here to provide the answers you're looking for. Call us at (248) 398-6500.
Funeral attire used to mean wearing all black, but as society has become less rigid, so has the dress code for many life events. Unless there is religious or cultural attire to be worn, some general rules of thumb will help. Black is always a suitable color, yet any subdued color is appropriate. For both men and women of any age, it is suggested to stay away from tee shirts, tank tops, strapless or backless dresses or tops, shorts, short skirts, etc.
For Men
Your main objective is to show respect. For visitation, if you are a family member you may wear a sport coat with or without a tie. Those in attendance as a friend or acquaintance during visitation may wear a nice pair of pants or dress jeans with a jacket, button shirt or collar shirt, sweater, and/or vest. Suits always are appropriate for the day of the funeral or memorial service. If you do not own a suit a sport coat is fine or you can wear a shirt and tie, and dress pants. If this is not possible, wear a shirt or sweater with a nice pair of pants. Flip flops or tennis shoes should be avoided.
For Women
For the day of the funeral, you may wear a dress, skirt and blouse, pant suit or suit. Make sure your colors are subdued, with nothing overly bright or loud in pattern. Do not draw attention to yourself. Thus, avoid wearing shorts, tank tops, strapless tops, low-cut or backless tops or dresses, or short skirts. This is an emotional occasion and not a party or an evening of clubbing. Flip flops or tennis shoes should be avoided.
Sawyer Fuller Funeral Home | Main: (248) 398-6500 | Fax:(248) 398-0733 | Email: info_sawyerfuller.com
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