Help
how the system works
How to write an obituary
If you are submitting it to us for editing and publication, we will need the following information:
- Biographical Information - Such as where the person worked, civic organizations they were involved in, hobbies, nicknames, where they grew up, etc.
- Family information - Who they were survived by, who they were preceded in death by and their relationships
- Service information - Including time, date, and location
- Special messages - Some families like to thank people or organizations, like hospice, in obituaries
- Memorial donations - Instead of flowers or gifts, some families appreciate memorial donations be made to an organization or charity in their loved one’s name.
- Photograph - If you wish for one to be added to our site with the obituary
helpful links
A leading provider of information and inspiration in the areas of illness and dying, loss and grief, healthy caregiving, life transition, and spirituality.
An international gateway to resources for life-threatening illness and end of life issues. Hypertext topic pages link to sites around the world. Links to hospice and home care, bereavement, death with dignity, AIDS, and related topics in life-threatening illness.
GriefNet is an Internet community of persons dealing with grief, death, and major loss. They have many email support groups. Their integrated approach to online grief support provides help to people working through loss and grief issues.
Committed to improving end of life care and expanding access to hospice care with the goal of profoundly enhancing quality of life for people dying in America and their loved ones.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How can you provide a complete package of service at such a low price?
We rely on you to do some of the work that a funeral director would normally do. Completion of the paper work specifically. The forms are computer generated saving a significant amount of time. By keeping the VCS Direct Cremation package standard it allows us to keep in stock only those items that will be needed to provide that service to you.
The package includes:
- Coming to the home or hospital to take the deceased into our care
- Completion of all paper work for the Commonwealth of Virginia
- Obtaining the Doctors signature on the death certificate and filing it
- Arranging and paying for the visit by the medical examiner to our facility ($100 Medical Examiner Fee included in package price)
- Completion of the cremation process
- Placing the cremated remains into a temporary container or urn if you purchase one
- Obituary placed on line on vacremationservice.com and shared to Facebook and Twitter
- Hold the cremated remains for pick up at our office in Fredericksburg or Culpeper.
- Returning the cremated remains to you via USPS ($150.00 charge not included, but available to add through the system)
- Total cost is $100.
Veterans Package
- Coming to the home or hospital to take the deceased into our care
- Completion of all paper work for the Commonwealth of Virginia
- Obtaining the Doctors signature on the death certificate and filing it
- Arranging and paying for the visit by the medical examiner to our facility ($100 Medical Examiner Fee included in package price)
- Completion of the cremation process
- Placing the cremated remains into a temporary container or urn if you purchase one
- Obituary placed on line on vacremationservice.com and shared to Facebook and Twitter
- Hold the cremated remains for pick up at our office in Fredericksburg or Culpeper.
- Returning the cremated remains to you via USPS ($150.00 charge not included, but available to add through the system)
- Total cost is $100.
- The Veterans package also includes no cost shipping to a Veterans Cemetery, an American Flag, and a VCS vinyl flag case.
What should I do if a death occurs at home?
When death occurs, Virginia Cremation Services personnel are available to assist you at any hour, seven days a week. Please call Fredericksburg (540) 891-6272 or Culpeper (540)317-1236 for assistance. If the death has occurred out of hospital care or hospice care the local authorities need to be notified. If you haven’t made pre arrangements we would ask you to go to our web site and complete the arrangement forms by clicking on “A Death has Occurred”
Will someone come right away?
If you request immediate assistance, yes. If your family wishes to spend a short time with the deceased to say goodbye, this is acceptable. Our staff will come when the time is right for you.
What should I do if a death occurs at a hospital or Nursing home?
Please call Fredericksburg (540) 891-6272 or Culpeper (540)317-1236 for assistance. Our staff will come to the nursing or hospital as soon as the facility has released your loved one to us.
How do I notify you that a death has occurred?
Please call us at Fredericksburg (540) 891-6272 or Culpeper (540)317-1236 to notify us of your loved one’s passing. We are available by phone 24 hours a day.
Can the family witness the cremation?
Yes, our facility is set up to host families that wish to witness the cremation process. Some religious and cultural customs require a ceremony at the crematory before the cremation is performed. If this is the case for your family, or if you just want to be there with your loved one, please let us know. We would be happy to oblige.