Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving

The time draws near
And the calendar says
Thanksgiving is really here.
Time to reflect and time to gather
Thoughts of what to be thankful of.
Thankful? I think not.
My life is not full these days
And to be thankful is beyond my grasp.
But to give thanks? This, I believe, can be done.
Searching my soul deep within
Reasons to give thanks surface to the edge
Yes, I give thanks
For the memories of yesterdays,
The love, the laughter, the joy of each day when James was with us
The trials & tribulations of being an active parent,
The rewards & the challenges of raising a child,
The days of blissful ignorance when I thought tragedy would never visit our home,
The days when life was normal, even though I took it all for granted.
Thanksgiving
For the treasures of todays,
The sunrise, sunset, the changing of the seasons,
The new found friends along this journey I reluctantly travel
The tried & true friends who stand by me still,
The strong and everlasting love of my husband
The warmth of wet kisses from my canine companion & feline friend,
The encouragement & support, compassion & caring I give & receive as
I survive and help others survive.
For the hopes and possibilites of a peaceful tomorrow,
With faith, love, & perseverance as I struggle to move on
With James in my heart forevermore, spiritually guiding me with his new presence,
With sorrow and reluctance, each new day,
To yet, somehow, be open and loving,
Not to forsake what I’ve learned Because of what I’ve lost.
You see, it’s not about keeping up with the Jones’ having an SUV or two in the garage, having the largest beanie baby collection having so many CD’s, video games, or the newest, most improved, latest and greatest new gadgets, not even being up to date with state of the art technology -
It’s about love - it’s about the gifts of yesterday, blended with the blessings of today to make meaning for tomorrow.
 
- Meg Avery (James’ mom)
TCF Lawrenceville, Ga

All of us at Sonoran Skies Mortuary would like to wish you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving! 

 

What are you most thankful for this year?

What to expect from the arrangement process

If you have never made funeral arrangements before, even thinking about the process can be emotional and intimidating. You may be worried about how much it is all going to cost, or not know how you are possibly going to get through it...

Our staff is here for you. They are experienced professionals; experts in helping grieving families navigate through this difficult time. We will handle all the details; allowing you to spend time with family and friends.

When you call us after your loved one has died, we will ask for some basic information and then come take your loved one into our care. Then, typically within a day or two, you and your family members will come to the funeral home to make arrangements. It will be helpful for you to bring several things with you to the conference. Here is a checklist of everything you may need for your first arrangement meeting with us:

• Full legal name & Social Security # of the decedent
• Copies of insurance policies (either funeral/burial/preneed or life insurance) 
• Cemetery paperwork, if applicable 
• If you are not the spouse or next of kin, any directives establishing your authority to make decisions  
• Any questions you may have 
• Military discharge papers (DD-214) if applicable

(If the deceased was a veteran, we will need a copy of the discharge papers, also known as a DD-214 form in order to schedule military honors, obtain a flag, and to acquire veterans benefits)

If there is to be a public viewing or dressing is desired, please bring the following: 

• Clothing
• Jewelry & other personal items (rosaries, medals, photos, etc.) to be placed with the decedent in the casket.  These items can either be brought to the arrangement meeting, or on the day of the viewing.
• Recent photograph (to assist the funeral home staff with preparations for the service)

The first step is to gather vital statistic information.  This information is needed in order to prepare the death certificate, to obtain burial/cremation permits, to notify Social Security of the death, and to file claim forms for veterans.  We will coordinate with the deceased's doctor for a signature, and inform you of when you can expect it to be completed and certified through the Maricopa Office of Vital Records.  Complete accuracy is very important.  Any changes or modifications to the death certificate, once filed, will require an affidavit and additional charges.  We will not be held responsible for errors on the death certificate if incorrect or inadequate information is given during the arrangement conference.

Please be prepared to provide the following vital statistic information about your loved one:

• Full legal name
• Birth date
• Birth place
• Father's name
• Mother's maiden name
• Social security number (bring card if available)
• Marital status (single, married, divorced, never married, separated)
• Name of spouse (including maiden name)
• Highest level of education completed
• Race
• Legal residence: city, county, state and zip code
• State of residence prior to moving to Arizona
• Length of time in Arizona
• Military Status
• Occupation (prior to retirement)
• Place of burial (if applicable)

If you're unable to provide us with certain items in this list, you can always call us later to share whatever is missing.  (We will have a few days from the date of death to have this completed and turned into vitals).  If an item is left blank, it will show as “UNKNOWN” on the final death certificate.

After we gather vital statistic information, we will discuss final disposition options.  We will discuss and have you choose the needed funeral merchandise like caskets, burial containers, cremation urns and other personalization options that fit your needs and your budget.   

The cost of services will be explained completely to you before you make your choices. There are burial packages and cremation packages available that will assist in saving money and adding a level of convenience to the decision making process.

After the arrangement meeting, we will coordinate with your church or other desired service venue, cemetery or crematory and the appropriate government agencies to make all of the arrangements. During this time, we will also care for your loved one and prepare them for the services you selected. Then, on the day of the visitation or service we will be there to support you and handle all the details.