Where to Start
When you begin funeral planning, the amount of decisions can seem overwhelming. We are here to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We are available to assist whether the passing occurs, home or abroad.
At the Time of Passing
When a death occurs, the order in which things need to be done often depends on where the death occurred.
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.
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.)
When You Meet With Us
As you talk with a member of our staff to discuss your loved one’s arrangements, we will provide you with a general price list. By law, we must present this to you. It is yours to take and it will outline the costs for all our different services.
Our directors will also discuss with you the death certificate. The funeral home will fill out, sign, and file the death certificate for you. However, we will need the information from you. If you need to purchase death certificates, the funeral home can help obtain them for you.
We would like to make this process as stress-free for you as we can. If possible, please bring along the following information about your loved one to the arrangements:
- Full legal name and home address
- Social security number
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Occupation
- Highest education completed
- Parents' name (including Mother's maiden name)
- Names and relationships of survivors
- Veteran's discharge papers (DD-214), if applicable
- Chosen place of burial, if applicable
- Clergy name and phone number, if applicable
- Insurance policy information, if applicable
- Recent photograph for hair and cosmetics
- Clothing to be worn for the services
Creating the Service
A service can take place in any setting — at your home, outdoors, or at our facilities, for example — and can incorporate music, poetry, or art in the celebration of your loved one’s life. There are endless possibilities, and we are honored to personalize the service for you.
To help express your loved one's personality and life story, feel free to bring along any personal items — like photos, videos, music, crafts, or treasured items — that might give us a better understanding of how you envision paying tribute to your loved one.
Our staff is experienced in understanding and graciously accommodating the needs of all beliefs, faiths, lifestyles, and relationships. We are here to answer your questions and guide you through the decisions you'll need to make.