Family-run funeral home Sample business
Funeral arrangements by the Wendlecombe family
We arrange burials, cremations and memorial services from our funeral home on Elm Row. We explain each choice and what it costs, and you decide at your own pace.
What to do when someone dies
Who to call first depends on where the death happened. After that first call, very little needs deciding the same day.
At home, expected
If the person was under hospice care, call the hospice nurse first. They confirm the death and tell you when to call us. You don't need to hurry. Many families take an hour or two to sit together before anyone is called.
At home, unexpected
Call 911. The police or the medical examiner may need to come before anyone is moved. Call us afterwards and we'll speak with them about when we can bring the person into our care.
In a hospital, care home or hospice
The staff make the first calls. Tell them you'd like Wendlecombe to take care of the person, give them our number, and we'll arrange the rest with them directly.
When you call us, we'll ask for
- The name of the person who died
- Where they are now
- Your name and the best number to reach you
- Whether a hospice or doctor was involved
Then we agree a time to meet, usually the next day. Our number is (555) 019-2604.
What can wait until we meet
- Burial or cremation
- The date and place of a service
- The obituary and photos
- Flowers, music and readings
General guidance for this concept site. The exact steps differ from state to state, and we'll tell you what applies when you call.
Arranging a service
Most families choose one of these. Each can be as simple or as full as you want.
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Burial
A funeral in our chapel, at a place of worship or at the graveside, followed by burial. A viewing beforehand is up to you. We work with the cemetery on the date, the grave and the paperwork.
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Cremation
Cremation with a service before or after it, or a direct cremation with no service. You can see the person beforehand if you wish. The ashes come back to you in an urn or a simple container, usually within two weeks.
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Memorial service
A service without the body present, held when it suits the family: a week later or a season later, in our chapel, a hall, a park or at home. Often chosen after a cremation.
We arrange services of any faith or none. Bring your own minister, celebrant or speaker, or we can suggest someone.
How the arrangement meeting works
We meet
At the funeral home or at your house, usually the day after you call. It takes about two hours. Bring anyone you'd like to help decide.
You choose
We go through the choices one at a time: burial or cremation, a service or not, where and when. You can take a day to think about any of it.
You get the costs in writing
Before anything is agreed, you get a written statement listing each item and its price. Nothing is added later without your say.
We handle the paperwork
Death certificates, permits, the cemetery or crematory, and the obituary notice. We tell you what we've sent and when.
Planning a funeral ahead of time
Writing your wishes down spares your family from guessing later. You can change them at any time.
Write your wishes down
Burial or cremation, music, readings, who to call. Fill in our planning booklet at home or with us. It costs nothing.
Talk it through with your family
Give a copy to the person who will make the arrangements, and keep one with your will. We keep a copy on file if you like.
Decide whether to pay ahead
This part is optional. If you choose to, we explain in writing where the money is held and what happens if you move away or change your mind.
Our general price list
Funeral homes give a printed price list to anyone who asks. Ours is here too, item by item. Sample prices
Professional services
| Basic services of the funeral director and staffPlanning, paperwork, permits and coordinating with the cemetery or crematory. Part of every arrangement. | $2,150 | |
|---|---|---|
| Bringing the person into our careWithin 25 miles, any time of day. | $395 | |
| EmbalmingUsually only needed for a public viewing. We'll tell you if it applies. | $750 | |
| Other preparationWashing, dressing, hair and cosmetics. | $275 |
Facilities and vehicles
| Viewing or visitationUse of a family room for up to three hours. | $450 | |
|---|---|---|
| Funeral or memorial service in our chapelSeats about 120. Includes sound, a slideshow screen and staff on the day. | $550 | |
| Graveside serviceStaff, chairs and a canopy at the cemetery. | $395 | |
| HearseWithin 25 miles. | $375 | |
| Family carSeats six, within 25 miles. | $250 |
Cremation and printed items
| Crematory feeOur own crematory, with family witnessing available. | $425 | |
|---|---|---|
| Printed service folders, 100 copiesDesigned with you, with photos. | $160 | |
| Guest bookKept for the family after the service. | $45 |
Direct cremation
Bringing the person into our care, basic services, the crematory fee and a simple container. No service.
From $1,895Immediate burial
Bringing the person into our care, basic services and the hearse to the cemetery. No viewing or service.
From $2,495Caskets
Shown in person, with the casket price list. You can also supply your own.
$1,095 to $5,800Urns
Ceramic, wood and metal, or a container for scattering.
$95 to $650
Every price here is a sample written for this concept site. A published general price list also carries the notices that federal and state rules require; this sample leaves them out.
Obituaries
FictionalThese obituaries are about made-up people, written for this concept site to show how notices and service details would appear.
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Ruth Ellen Sample
1931 – 2026
Ruth taught piano from her front room for forty years, and most of her students could still play the first piece she gave them. She kept a garden of roses grown from cuttings and gave them away by the armful. She is survived by her son, two granddaughters and a neighbour she called her second daughter.
Memorial service in the Wendlecombe chapel, Saturday at 11:00. Tea afterwards in the garden room.
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Thomas Example
1948 – 2026
Tom drove a school bus for thirty-one years and knew every child on his route by name. In retirement he fixed bicycles for anyone who asked and never took money for it. He leaves his wife of fifty years, three children and seven grandchildren.
Graveside service at the town cemetery, Friday at 10:00. The family asks that any gifts go to the public library.
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Henry A. Sample
1962 – 2026
Henry repaired clocks in a workshop behind his house and could tell you the maker of most of them by the sound of the tick. He loved lake fishing and bad puns in equal measure. He is survived by his partner, his sister and a very loyal dog.
Private cremation. A gathering for friends will be held at the lake in the spring.
Support after the funeral
Grief doesn't keep to a schedule. These are places families often find help.
Support groups
Many hospices run bereavement groups, and some are open to anyone in the community. We keep a printed list of local groups and can give you one at any time.
Children and grief
Children grieve in bursts and often ask the same questions many times. Books written for their age help, and so does telling their school what has happened.
Looking after yourself
Grief can affect sleep, appetite and memory for months. If it doesn't ease, tell your doctor. If you're worried about your safety, call 911 or your local crisis line.
Practical tasks
Banks, pension and benefits offices, utilities and insurers each need to be told. We give every family a checklist of who to notify, with the documents each one usually asks for.
Questions families ask
Anything else, ask us on the phone or at the arrangement meeting.
Do we have to have a viewing?
No. Some families want to see the person one last time and some don't. Both are fine, and you can decide after we meet.
Can the service be somewhere other than your chapel?
Yes. We arrange services at places of worship, community halls, parks, cemeteries and homes.
Do you arrange services for every faith?
We arrange services of any faith or none. Bring your own minister, celebrant or speaker, or we can suggest someone.
What if the person died in another state?
We arrange to bring them home and work with a funeral home where they died. Call us first and we'll explain what happens next.
How and when do we pay?
We agree a payment plan at the arrangement meeting. Payments to others, such as cemetery fees and death certificates, are passed on at cost. These are sample terms.
Directions and contact
We're on Elm Row, two streets south of the town green. Parking is beside the building, and the side entrance from the car park has no steps.
- Address
- 301 Elm Row Sample address
- Office
- Mon – Fri, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm; weekends by appointment
- Phone, day and night
- (555) 019-2604
If someone has just died, please call us at (555) 019-2604 rather than writing. Someone answers at any hour.
This is a demo form on a concept site, so it sends nothing.