Dear Friends,

We at the UUFD extend our deepest sympathy to you in the loss of your loved one. You are considering handling funeral and burial arrangements without the help of a funeral home. In order to have a meaningful funeral or memorial service, there are some services that are provided by a licensed funeral director that our church is unable to provide. Please go over this list so that you can be more prepared for this task.

1. Meet with the lay leader or pastor who will be officiating at the service. This first contact is to establish that the pastor/lay leader and church are available when you would like to hold the service. You can contact the UUFD at uufdmain@gmail.com.

2. An obituary stating time and place of death, surviving family, time and place of funeral or memorial service, what minister will officiate, and time and place of burial. This article needs to be taken to the newspapers and radio stations as soon as possible after the service time is established. A notice of death and pending services can be put in the paper prior to the services being scheduled. This information should also be provided to the local radio stations. There may be charges for these services.

3. Our church can provide memorial folders and thank you cards, but they will have a charge associated with them.

4. Are you planning on having piano or other music or a soloist? You can ask us about that. If you have someone to play let us know. You will need to pay that person.

5. If you are planning a service in our sanctuary, we need to review your sound system needs.

6. If more than immediate family will be at the service, ushers for seating people and for handing out bulletins need to be secured.

7. If your loved one will be buried in a casket, you will need at least six reasonably healthy pall-bearers to carry the casket to and from the church, and to the graveside. Also, the church does not have a stand or cart for the casket. Caskets may be purchased through any of the funeral homes listed below. In addition, you can contact Trappist Caskets at (563) 585-0792.

8. The cemetery needs to be notified. If your loved one has been cremated, you will need to measure the urn. Urns require different size excavations. Please have the measurements of your urn ready when you call the cemetery. There will be a fee at the cemetery.

9. Arrangements need to be made directly with florists for ordering and delivery of floral tributes. Please instruct florists to deliver to the Sanctuary, and keep in mind we have a limited number of plant stands.

10. We will coordinate with you the placement of the casket or urn, along with floral tributes and any other memorials in the church.

11. You will probably want to purchase a signature book so that friends and relatives can sign in.

12. You will need a basket for memorials and cards.

13. The Veteran’s Affairs office will help with military graveside service if you wish. They are located at 799 Main St, Suite 350, Dubuque, IA 52001, and their telephone number is (563) 589-7840.

14. You will need to work with the court house and/or an attorney concerning death certificates and other documents, and if the person participated in Social Security, you will need to contact that office as well.

15. Minimum fees/honorariums for different persons providing services are:
minister ($150~suggested), pianist ($50), and cleaning. ($50).

16. It is your responsibility to look into any Social Security payments, insurance or pensions, and to order all death certificates (Recorder’s Office of County of death) as needed.

17. If you feel that this is too much for you to handle at this difficult time, there are several very fine funeral homes in the area that can assist you:

Egelhof, Siegert, & Casper…………………………………. (563) 556-0776

Behr’s ………………………………………………………… (563) 582-3297

Haudenshield ………………….……………………………. (815) 747-2623

Haudenshield Funeral Home & Cremation Services……. (608) 744-2400

Hoffmann Schneider………………………………………… (563) 552-0655

Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory……………………… (563) 556-6788

Miller………………………………………………………….. (815) 747-3194

James L Schneider, Funeral Director…………………….. (563) 552-0655