Oftentimes families can become confused when it comes to funeral and cemetery expenses. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Our staff is here to help you understand all of your options. Expenses can be divided into several

Funeral Home Professional Services: These services are funeral or cremation services performed by our professional staff. Items such as embalming, use of vehicles or facilities, and staff hours are covered in this area.

Funeral Home Merchandise: Merchandise items are available for select services. Items such as caskets, urns, flowers, printed programs, memorial keepsakes, and many more options are available to enhance a life celebration. Note: all merchandise is subject to local sales tax.

Incidental Expenses: These are additional expenses that we do not have any control over. These include the costs of obituaries in newspapers, copies of legal documents like the death certificate, honorariums for clergy, musicians, etc.

Cemetery Professional Services: These services include our staff preparing and closing the final resting place of your loved one at one of our cemeteries or mausloeums.

Cemetery Merchandise: Most cemeteries will require the use of an outer burial container for burial to contain a casket or urn. Memorials are also available leaving a permanent tribute to a loved one.

A snapshot view of our Family Advisor program utilitilized in making arrangements with families

As a convenience to our families, we utilize a Family Advisor system that allows families to make selections of services and merchandise while keeping a running total. We have found that this helps a family avoid any surprises at the end of our time with them. A complete description of services and merchandise is provided at the conclusion of any arrangement with our staff.

I am Brandon W. Burningham CFSP, CPC and I thought you might like to know.

Today was the long awaited day of gathering the valentines and sending them to our soldiers.  As we sorted through the valentines it became clear that this small yet important project would serve as something much greater than what we anticipated.  I personally could not help but shed a tear as I read the appreciation expressed by these children. I had chills as I sorted and packaged the valentines. To some this operation may seem a small project and perhaps a waste of time. I disagree.

I know that the sentiments expressed in these valentines will not only provide an invaluable inspiration for our soldiers serving overseas, but they will help hundreds of children remember that the freedoms they enjoy are being protected by some very heroic men and women. In closing, I will share some photos with you of some of the valentines. I guarantee that you will shed a tear in appreciation for our soldiers abroad. God Bless the American Soldier and Happy Valentines Day!

I am Brandon W. Burningham CFSP, CPC and I thought you might like to know.

Mom loved to give my kids a present on Christmas Eve. This present usually was a pair of pajamas to wear that night and on Christmas morning. My kids looked forward to it every year. I recently asked my wife if she had purchased the pajamas. I was surprised to hear that she had not. That is when I decided that this year I would go out and shop for pajamas and that they would be from my mother. Essentially, my children will be receiving “Pajamas from Heaven” this Christmas Eve. I sat down and wrote the following, which I feel came directly from her:

Pajamas from Heaven

My dear grandchildren I miss you so dear,

I wish I could be with you for Christmas this year.

I will miss your excitement full of joy,

As you get to open gifts and play with your toys.

Grandma is with family she has not seen for a while,

Despite that I long to see you smile.

On Christmas Eve I have sent you a gift,

I hope it provides you a spiritual lift.

Pajamas from Heaven sent with love

Open one at a time, don’t push and shove.

Put them on before you go to bed,

As you lay down at night, I will kiss your forehead.

When you put on your new pair of pajamas they will feel really snug,

That is the warmth of your grandma giving you a big hug.

Remember that even though I cannot be there,

I have sent you Pajamas from Heaven for you to wear.

Grandma loves you and will be near by

Merry Christmas to my grandkids, my girls and my guy.

Continuing this tradition is my simple way of remembering my mother and making her a part of this holiday season. To those of you who struggle with the holidays due the loss of a loved one, please know that you are not alone, you are in my thoughts and prayers. Cling on to the good memories and carry on traditions that have meaning and you will find peace and comfort during this holiday season.

I am Brandon W. Burningham CFSP, CPC and I thought you might like to know.

Yes, funerals are for the living.  While we come together as families and friends to celebrate the life of a deceased loved one, the true goal of a caring funeral professional is to help the living transition from a life-with-a-loved-one to a life-without-a-loved-one.  And number crunching and sterile facts from a research article cannot accurately express the emotional release a proper funeral can give to a family.  Why?  Because a funeral is a timeworn ritual not to be tossed to the side because it’s an inconvenience or a financial burden.  It is a needed passage for the living to say good-bye, celebrate the life of the deceased, and move forward and adjust to a new life.  It is this process that a professional funeral advisor can provide to families.  We care about the comfort of the family and are willing to work with the family to fill any special requests because it is important for the family to have an official place and time to grieve and allow others to do so.  This is what people need to do in order to move on.

My family recently had to say good bye to our mother. It may sound crazy, but we held two services for her. Yes, two services. Why you might ask? There were those whom could not attend the first that we felt needed a chance to say good-bye. As a family we wanted a more informal way to celebrate her life and say thanks to all her family and friends who meant so much to our family.  Both services provided a means for family and friends to come together to celebrate her life, mourn for the loss of a special person,  and to support our family.  While some might think that a pine-box burial in the backyard is the right fit for them, a more important question should be considered: is this the best way for that person’s family and friends to grieve, celebrate, and move forward.  I guess it is food for thought.

Having helped a number of families over the years, I have tried to do my best to make this experience as comfortable as possible. Recently our company made a change in the way we help families make arrangements. With the help of our new partnership with Aurora Casket Company, we have combined technology with innovative arrangement/family room design to make things more comfortable and more efficient for the families that we serve. When a family comes to one of our funeral homes to make arrangements, they are seated in one of our family rooms.   Each room was designed with the family in mind: soft couches with pillows and comfortable chairs facing the room’s focal point—a 52” monitor.  What’s missing is the large intimidating desk which separates the funeral director from the family.  We are here to help you and share with you our knowledge and expertise and passing papers back and forth across a desk isn’t fostering a caring relationship.  Our funeral director sits with the family as they view the arrangement process on the monitor.  Caskets can be selected by viewing a virtual showroom and can then be viewed in the actual showroom if the family chooses.  Something that is much appreciated is during entire process is the running summary the family is able to view at anytime to see what has been selected and what the cost is. This allows a family to keep within their budget more easily.

Recently I helped a family make arrangements for their mother using our new arrangement process.  At the conclusion of the arrangement, they overwhelmingly expressed how much more comfortable it was and how they felt they were on the same page as I was throughout the entire process. Instead of always doing things how they have always been done, we at Memorial are changing how we do things for the betterment of the families that we serve. When you come to Memorial, we are committed to providing the best possible experience in the planning and celebration of the life of your loved one.

I am Brandon W. Burningham CFSP, CPC and I thought you might like to know.

 I remember going online the day after mom passed away to view her obituary in the local newspaper. The reality of seeing her there with the small description of her life, which her husband put into the paper, actually was very disturbing to me. Why you might ask? Well, this obituary just did not truly depict who my mother was, and it was limited in what it could do in the telling of her story.

 With this dilemma at hand I am grateful for Memorial Mortuaries and Cemeteries’ new relationship with Tributes.com. Tributes.com provides obituaries for our new Web site, but they do much more than that. Through Tributes.com, I was able to create an online eternal tribute of my mother. I was able to place an unlimited number of photos on the site, add music to the background, and uploading videos. I was able to put an obituary together that truly told her life and the guest book provided a means for family and friends to leave condolences and to share memories. Having this as an option for my family and I was a comforting solution to the cold, costly and temporary newspaper obituary. Frankly, I felt Mom deserved more.  I was able to share her tribute on Facebook and email it to several family members and friends. We even held a life-celebration after the service, and the tribute provided the means to help get the information out to family and friends. What does something like this cost? It was a fraction of what was paid to put it into the newspaper. Memorial offers this wonderful long-lasting tribute for only $175. Compared to the $400 to $500 dollars that is spent to place the short-term obituary in the newspaper, this is a great alternative.

 I have returned to her tribute many times since her passing and each time I come away comforted and renewed knowing that my life was touched by the hands of such a wonderful mother. You may visit her tribute at http://tributes.com/bettybrown. 

 I am Brandon W. Burningham CFSP, CPC and I thought you might like to know.

 My daughter is grieving just as much as I am and if her grieving is not handled properly, it could have a harmful effect on her. Rabbi Grollman shares in his book the following information:

  “Grief is an expression of love. Mourning is an appropriate emotion for people of all ages….Youngsters should not be deprived of the right to grieve. They should no more be excluded from sharing grief and sorrow than they should be prevented from demonstrating joy and happiness.” (page 49)

 “Children who are able to participate with their families after the death of someone they love will be better equipped to understand and manage the emotions of their grief.” (page 40)

 As a family, we have pulled out the old boxes of family photos and photo albums. My daughter has been there as we have talked about the memories behind each photo. I have asked her what photos she thinks we should put in a memorial slide show about grandma, and she has excitedly voiced her opinion. I have found comfort with her as I share my memories of mom, thus creating a therapeutic means of dealing with our emotions surrounding my mother’s pending death. Look for ways to involve children. It could be as simple as looking at photos or having them write a note to be placed in the casket of their loved one. No matter what we do we cannot avoid the fact that our children are grieving as well. Do not forget our little ones when it comes to death.

 I am Brandon W. Burningham, CFSP, CPC, and I thought you might like to know.

When people think of planning, they usually think of purchasing a funeral plan and cemetery plots.  This is important.  But, I feel there is more planning that needs to be considered.

My mom has spent countless hours with family members going through things–her cedar chest, her photo albums, her closets.  She has chosen family mementos that will be passed down to her children and grandchildren.  In the comfort of her home, with loved ones, she has developed a program for her service: the speakers, the songs, the pallbearers.  She and her husband have met with attorneys and have their wills and trusts in place.  They have secured their cemetery plots, purchased and placed a grave marker, and have been paying for a funeral plan as well.  As her health began to decline, her husband purchased life insurance a few years ago to help pay for the final expenses.

When the time arrives for my mother to slip away from her sickened body, I know it will be an emotional time.  I love her, and while I’m still here, I will dearly miss her.  My family and I I will be grieving, but thanks to my mother, grieving is all we will have to do.  Because she cared about her family’s well-being, she made these important decisions ahead of time and has removed the stress and burden from her family.  I am so grateful for this last act of kindness, and it will be something I will do for my children.

Families who care, prepare.  Thanks for caring mom!

I am Brandon W. Burningham CFSP, CPC and I thought you would like to know.

I am Brandon W. Burningham CFSP, CPC and I thought you might like to know.

Memorial Mortuaries, Cemeteries & Cremation Services Mission Statement

We strive to create a meaningful, lasting experience that reflects the dignity of life, and allows each family we serve to establish a personal and unique experience that will help them begin the healing process by celebrating the life of their loved one.

Furthermore we commit, as  Staff for Memorial Mortuaries, Cemeteries & Cremation Services, to serve and strengthen the communities in which we are privileged to reside and conduct business.

Memorial Mortuaries, Cemeteries, & Cremation Services Code of Conduct

As Funeral Professionals we hold ourselves to the highest industry standards
and adhere to the Code of Ethics as outlined by the National Funeral
Directors Association, which reads as follows:
To the public, we pledge:

• As funeral professionals, we herewith fully acknowledge our
individual and collective obligations to the public, especially to those
we serve, and our mutual responsibilities for the benefit of the funeral
service profession.
• Vigilant support of public health laws; proper legal regulations for the
members of our profession; devotion to high moral and service
standards; conduct befitting good citizens; and honesty in all offerings
of funeral service and in all business transactions.

To those we serve, we pledge:
Confidential business and professional relationships; cooperation with
the customs of all religions and creeds; observance of all respect due to
the deceased; high standards of competence and dignity in the conduct of
all service; and truthful representation of all funeral service offerings.

To our profession, we pledge:
• Support of high educational standards and licensing laws;
encouragement of scientific research; adherence to sound business
practices; adoption of improved techniques; observance of legal
standards of competition; and maintenance of favorable personal
relations.
• To subscribe to the principles set forth in the Code of Ethics of the
National Funeral Directors Association and pledge our best efforts
to make them effective.

To the Government, we pledge:
• To maintain strict compliance with the letter and the spirit of all
governmental laws and regulations that impact the funeral consumer,
the funeral profession, and the public health.

I am Brandon W. Burningham, CFSP, CPC, and I thought you might like to know.