Pre-planning helps alleviate the burden family members and close friends feel when they lose someone. Once you have purchased a pre-planned package, here’s what you should do next:
Inform loved ones
Let your family and close friends know that you have made final arrangements with Simple Cremation. Review the services you have purchased, note any fees that may be due when services occur, and designate someone for Simple Cremation to communicate with when the time comes. Be sure your loved ones know where your pre-planned documents are stored so they can be accessed easily when they are needed.
Annual review
Simple Cremation will contact you each year to review your pre-planned file. This annual check helps ensure your arrangements still reflect your wishes and that our contact information for you and your next-of-kin is up to date.
Notify medical care providers
During end-of-life care, medical providers typically will ask whether final arrangements have been made. This question might come from a hospice nurse, a hospital nurse, or emergency services. Having this information available beforehand helps ensure a smooth and timely transfer of remains into our care.
And what happens following passing? Here is what your loved ones can expect:
Transportation into the care of Simple Cremation
Following a death, a medical care provider will contact Simple Cremation to arrange transportation into our care. Our Care Center is located at 5450 Stephanie Street, and is staffed and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Our team will contact the next of kin
A representative from Simple Cremation will contact the legal next of kin within one business day. We will answer any immediate questions and schedule an arrangement meeting (in-person and virtual options are available).
The arrangement meeting
During the arrangement meeting, we will:
- Review pre-planned arrangements to ensure all authorization forms are complete and up to date
- Confirm information that will appear on the death certificate
- Discuss any applicable fees due at the time of passing
Cremation is scheduled, cremains are picked up
Ashes, or cremains, are typically ready for pickup within 10-15 business days. Your loved ones can keep the cremains in an urn (we have a wide selection available) or choose to scatter them in a natural setting special to you. You can learn about options and limitations on where cremains can be scattered here.