Services

In order to provide a family with a ceremony marking the conclusion of a life lived with dignity and meaning, we firmly believe in facilitating a ceremony that means the most to you. Because serving your family is the most important aspect of our services, one call to Farber & Otteman is all you have to make. From that point on, we'll insure that all the details are addressed in a timely and professional manner.

At Farber & Otteman we believe the funeral ceremony is about how your loved one lived their life and the relationships that meant the most to them. We strongly encourage families to bring in photos, mementos and remembrances to be displayed. Personalizing the casket exterior and interior by color selection, type of fabric, individualized corner pieces or by engraving will help tell the story of your loved one.

Flowers, the music chosen, and prayer cards or personalized memorial folders all contribute to this final chapter. With so many individual choices to be made, our caring staff members are here to guide you through the process, making a difficult time more bearable.

Family Resource Center

The Farber & Otteman Family Resource Center was created to make the arrangement process simple and convenient. These decisions can seem overwhelming during a time of grief. That's why our Center creates a warm and comforting environment while giving families the information they need to make an informed purchasing decision.

The Center offers an assortment of products to help families and friends create a meaningful tribute to their loved one. Each display is tastefully designed so families are able to view and understand the full range of products available, including a carefully crafted assortment of closed quarter sections of caskets that allow families to easily see the progression of value.

Personalization Options

A funeral is a celebration of life - a commemoration of a unique person. Through our personalization options, you are able to create a service as unique as the life we are remembering. We have many custom goods and services to help enhance the memorial including candles, memorial folders and thank you notes. We are always available to help and offer suggestions on utilizing personalization options in order to create the most meaningful memorial for your loved one.

Service Options

Traditional Service

Many families prefer to choose a traditional worship-oriented funeral ceremony. A traditional ceremony typically includes:

• Viewing at the place of worship or funeral home, either prior to the ceremony or the evening before
• The funeral ceremony itself, conducted at the funeral home or place of worship
• Procession to the cemetery for a final committal service
  

Being traditional does not limit your choices. Each funeral at Farber & Otteman is tailored to your preferences. Some of the areas that can reflect your personal choices are:

• The flowers for the ceremony
• Music - can be contemporary, jazz, traditional hymns, etc.
• Merchandise - the casket selection, clothing (either purchased from us or brought in by family members)
• Prayer cards or memorial folders
• A collection of photographs, mementos or remembrances to be displayed

Steel Caskets (more options available)
Wood Caskets (more options available)

Memorial Service

A memorial service is when the deceased is not present. It may take place at the funeral home, the family's home, a church, or even outdoors. This is a time to remember your loved one through fellowship with friends and family.

The memorial service can also be an addition to a traditional funeral service. For example, having a traditional funeral service here and then a memorial service back in the deceased's hometown. A memorial service can also be done after a burial or cremation if the family chooses.

Committal Service

The committal service is a brief service at the gravesite after a traditional funeral service but prior to the burial. This is where family and friends say their goodbyes at the final resting place by placing flowers, or sometimes sand, on the casket.

If the committal service is the only service being held then it becomes what we call a graveside service and is accompanied by a visitation the night before. The graveside service is a more lengthy service consisting of scripture reading, eulogy, poetry, and music.

Cremation

Just because a family has chosen cremation does not mean that a funeral ceremony to honor the person who has died cannot take place. There are several options such as a visitation or gathering of family and friends at the funeral home or another location. A funeral or memorial service can take place either before or after cremation. This service can, again, take place either at the funeral home, place of worship, or any other location you may choose.

Hope and Healing Grief Support Group

We recognize the need for on-going healing and support in the loss of a loved one, long after the immediate loss occurs. The goal of the Hope and Healing Grief Support Group is to meet with others who are dealing with similar events in order to work through grief and let the healing process take place.

This group is facilitated by Brad Smith, a Licensed Funeral Director and Certified Bereavement Facilitator. Brad has 20 years experience in grief support and is there to help those who are grieving, through the seven week course which is offered in the spring and fall. For more information on the Hope and Healing Grief Support Group, contact us.

What To Do In the Event of a Death

• Death at Home. When someone dies at home and was not a hospice patient you must notify the local fire department and police department. The fire department and police departments have to be called in order to make out a report for the medical examiner or coroner.
• Death of a Person in Hospice. When a person dies at home and is a hospice patient, the family may call us and the hospice nurse, or wait for the hospice nurse to arrive and then call us. The hospice nurse needs to pronounce the person. The police and fire departments do not need to be notified.
• Death in a Hospital. When someone dies in the Emergency Room or as a patient in the hospital, it is wise to call us. Some healthcare facilities will call on behalf of the family but many times it is the responsibility of the family to notify us.
• Death in a Nursing Home. Call us and we will make arrangements with the nursing home to transport your loved one to the funeral home. If you are not at the nursing home at the time of death, leave instructions with the nursing home to call us in the event of death.
• Death Out-Of-State. When a person dies outside of Iowa, call us first and we will make arrangements to have your loved one transported back to Iowa for the funeral services. Only one call to us is needed. We will handle all the details for transportation.
  

You can reach us day or night at 712-662-7135.