Recent Loss | Immediate Funeral Arrangements

Our Promise

If you’ve found us because of a recent loss, please accept our deepest sympathies. We understand the gravity of loss, and we want you to know you aren’t alone.

With a mission to care for the departed, comfort the living, and help families plan for the future, Sunset Lawn Chapel of the Chimes is a full-service funeral, cremation and cemetery provider dedicated to making this journey as effortless as possible for you. After all, in times of mourning, you need a trusted partner to take you through the steps, especially these first ones.

We’ll guide you only after we’ve listened to your wishes and are able to explain what makes us the area’s experts in funeral and cremation arrangements. Our commitment is to be with you and your family and to serve you in a genuinely caring way — day or night, all year long.

Sunset Lawn Chapel of the Chimes truly is a place like no other.

Please don’t hesitate to call us at 916.256.2659.
You’ll be connected with one of our professionals and guided every step of the way.

Steps to Making Arrangements

Call us at 916.256.2659

We’re here to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We’ll start our conversation by asking you a few questions so that we can begin caring for your loved one. We’ll need to know:

The full legal name of the person who has passed away
Location of the death
Whether the loved one was under the care of a doctor or hospice (if so, please have that information available)
Name of next of kin
Relationship of next of kin
Whether the loved one is ready to be transferred into our care
Birthday of the person who has passed away
Social Security Number of the person who has passed away

If family members are still with their loved one, we’ll give you an approximate time of our arrival. We’ll also set up a time to meet and discuss the arrangements.

Expect a call back from one of our licensed experts

He or she will carefully walk you through every step of this difficult time. Immediately after our call, you’ll receive an email with valuable information and reminders of important steps to come.

Helpful Link – Immediate Arrangements

Preparing for the arrangement conference

This is a time to review all the options available to you. Our goal is to help you create a meaningful event that honors and celebrates the life of your loved one by capturing the essence of who they were. We commit to limiting our time with you so you can spend more time with family. Please view the following arrangement conference checklist that’ll help you prepare.

Helpful Link – Death Notification Checklist

How to Write a Eulogy

You don’t have to be a professional writer to deliver a heartfelt and meaningful eulogy, which is a speech given in memory of the deceased at a funeral or memorial service. Some of the best eulogies are brief while being specific, as well as thoughtful and often with soft touches of humor.

1. Decide on the tone

The first thing you’ll want to do is decide on the tone. It doesn’t have to be somber, but it must be appropriate. The tone is often determined by the way the loved one passed away. If the death was untimely, you may approach it more seriously than you would if the deceased was a grandparent who reached the age of 90.

2. Consider your audience

While working through your thoughts for the eulogy, consider your audience. Try to steer clear of anything that may shock, offend, or confuse family members. Make sure that if you include jokes or humor, they’re relevant and will be understood by those in attendance.

3. Always begin with an introduction

Many people will know who you are, but some may not. Briefly explain who you are and how you were close to the deceased.

4. Create a common theme

Create a common theme that unites your ideas. Try to include memories or things you shared. You can add stories about the deceased’s family life, favorite poems, book passages, scripture verses, quotes, expressions, or lines from songs. Whatever you choose, make sure it generally reflects the loved one’s lifestyle.

5. Rehearse

Rehearse before the funeral by reading the eulogy to a family member or friend to make sure you can control your emotions. You don’t have to memorize it, but it’s best not to read it word for word. Try to keep things in a conversational, heartfelt tone.

6. Have a family member or close friend on standby

It’s always good to have a family member or close friend on standby in the event you get choked up and can’t continue. This probably won’t be the case, but you’ll feel more relaxed just knowing there’s backup if you need it.

7. Take a deep breath and relax

Everyone is there to support you and they’ll appreciate the time and love you’ve put into writing the eulogy. This is a time to reflect and reminisce about the life of the deceased, so there’s no need to sound formal. Don’t be afraid of your emotions – they’re an important part of the process.

Eulogy Examples

How to Write an Obituary

An obituary notice can be as unique as the person whose life and legacy are being celebrated. The following tips may help you organize your thoughts:

1. Getting Started

We suggest starting with a blank page and writing down your memories along with the deceased’s highlights and accomplishments. Note things that remind you of your loved one, such as his or her favorite music, pet, or vacation spot. Sometimes it just takes writing down a few things to get you started on developing the content.

Many obituaries begin with a brief overview that describes your loved one’s life experiences. Start by listing the facts, including the names of family members, vocation, affiliations, military service, and community involvement. Here’s a list of information you may want to include:

Date and place (city) of birth
Date and place of death
Family survivors (spouse, parents, children)
Religious affiliation
Education, vocation, and retirement
Military affiliations and service
Volunteer, civic, or fraternal affiliations
Hobbies and favorite travel places
Date, time, and place of the funeral, memorial service, viewing, and/or cemetery service

2. Achievements

Highlight your loved one’s achievements, which may include participation in a foundation or community organization, volunteering at a school, community center or hospital, or military or career achievements.

3. Personal Interests

An obituary can also describe your loved one’s personal style, such as “enjoyed gardening and always greeted you with a smile” – attributes that celebrate the essence of a life. This is also where aspects of his or her passions may be covered. For example, your loved one may have been an equestrian, volunteer firefighter, tutor or painter, may have collected antique cars, or enjoyed traveling regularly. The obituary can be any length and may include a favorite photograph of the departed.

4. Review

It’s always helpful to have friends or family members review the obituary to ensure they have an opportunity to contribute to this legacy notice.

5. Getting the Word Out

When the obituary is ready to go, you’ll want to get the word out. Family and friends may visit our website at any time to view the obituary, share condolences and memories, and get up-to-date service information. This service integrates with social media to help you with sharing. Your funeral director can also help you place it in publications and newspapers.

Acting with
compassion,

listening with integrity.