Funeral Planning and Process

What Happens After Someone You Love Passes Away

When a family member dies, it can be difficult to know what to do first or which decisions need immediate attention. You do not have to understand the entire funeral process before asking for help. Call Shawgo Memorial Home at (309) 329-2125, and our family will guide yours through each step.

For four generations, the Shawgo family has helped Central Illinois families navigate the practical arrangements and personal decisions that follow a death. We will explain what happens next, answer your questions and give you time to make thoughtful choices. Every funeral, memorial and cremation arrangement can be adapted to reflect your loved one’s wishes, beliefs and life.

Step 1: Contact Shawgo Memorial Home

Your first step is to call us. We are available whenever a death occurs, including outside regular business hours. During the initial call, we will ask a few questions so we can understand the circumstances and determine what needs to happen next.

We may ask for your loved one’s name, where the death occurred, whether a physician, hospice nurse, coroner or medical examiner has been notified, and who is making the arrangements. We will also arrange a time to meet with your family.

You do not need to choose a casket, decide between burial and cremation or plan the service during this first call. Our immediate priority is to bring your loved one into our care appropriately and help your family understand the next step.

Where the Death Occurred

• At a hospital nursing facility or hospice residence – The care team will generally complete its required notifications and coordinate with the funeral home. Let the facility know that you have selected Shawgo Memorial Home, then call us so we can begin making arrangements.
• At home while receiving hospice care – Call the hospice provider first. A hospice nurse will confirm the death and explain when the funeral home may be contacted. After that notification, call us and we will coordinate the transfer into our care.
• Unexpectedly or at home without hospice care – Call 911 or the appropriate emergency authority. A coroner or medical examiner may need to investigate and authorize release before the funeral home can take your loved one into its care. Once the appropriate authority has been notified, contact us. We will coordinate with that office and keep your family informed.

Step 2: Transfer into Our Care

Once the necessary release has been provided, trained funeral-home personnel will respectfully transfer your loved one to Shawgo Memorial Home. Illinois rules generally allow a funeral director to move a body that is not subject to a coroner or medical-examiner investigation from the place of death to an Illinois mortuary during the first 24 hours after notification without first obtaining the final disposition permit.

If the death is being investigated, the timing of the transfer will depend on the coroner or medical examiner. We will communicate with the appropriate office and let you know when your loved one can be released into our care.

From the time we take custody, identification and chain-of-custody procedures help ensure continuous, careful control of your loved one’s remains.

Step 3: Care and Preparation

The care your loved one receives will depend on the arrangements selected, the timing of the service and whether burial or cremation is planned. We will explain the options before asking your family to make a decision.

Embalming and preparation

Embalming is a process used to sanitize and temporarily preserve the body and prepare it for viewing. Illinois law does not require embalming in every situation. However, Shawgo Memorial Home requires embalming when the deceased will remain in our funeral home for eight hours or longer because we do not use refrigeration to slow natural changes.

A public viewing is not required. Families may choose a public visitation, a private family viewing, a closed casket or no viewing. We will discuss what is possible and respect your family’s comfort level.

Cremation

If cremation is chosen, we will obtain the required authorization and coordinate the necessary permits. Under Illinois law, cremation ordinarily cannot occur until at least 24 hours after death. The crematory must also receive a cremation permit from the coroner or medical examiner and an authorization signed by the legally authorized person.

Embalming is not required simply because cremation has been selected. Your family may choose direct cremation, a private farewell, a traditional funeral before cremation or a memorial service afterward. We will explain how each option affects timing and preparation.

Step 4: Meet with the Shawgo Family

At the arrangement meeting, we will listen to what your family needs, review any wishes your loved one shared and explain the available services. You may bring relatives or another trusted person. You do not need to arrive with every decision made.

The person who has legal authority to direct the disposition will need to participate in or authorize the arrangements. Illinois law recognizes written directions and designated agents and otherwise establishes an order of priority for who may make disposition decisions. If there is uncertainty or disagreement, tell us early so we can explain what documentation may be needed.

Information for the death certificate

The funeral director helps gather the personal information used to prepare and register the death certificate. Illinois generally requires a death to be registered within seven days and before cremation or removal of the body from the state, except when the death is under investigation.

We may ask for information such as:

• Full legal name and Social Security number
• Date and place of birth
• Parents’ names including the mother’s maiden name
• Marital status and spouse’s name
• Address education occupation and industry
• Military-service information
• Planned place and method of disposition

The physician, coroner or medical examiner is responsible for certifying the cause of death. We coordinate the funeral-home portion of the record and help your family order certified copies. Banks, insurance companies, government agencies and other organizations may request them when settling personal affairs.

Obituary information

We can help prepare an obituary that communicates service information and preserves important parts of your loved one’s story. Your family may provide a photograph, family relationships, work and military history, memberships, interests, accomplishments and memorial-contribution preferences.

You do not need to write the obituary alone or bring a finished version to the meeting. We can organize the information, review the wording with your family and place the obituary on the Shawgo Memorial Home website. We can also discuss submission to other publications when requested.

Service planning

We will help you decide what type of gathering feels right. Options may include a traditional funeral, visitation, memorial service, private family gathering, graveside service, direct cremation or a funeral followed by cremation.

The conversation may include:

• Date time and location
• Public or private visitation
• Burial or cremation
• Clergy celebrant or service leader
• Music readings prayers and eulogies
• Family members or friends who will participate
• Photographs videos and personal displays
• Cemetery and procession arrangements
• Military or organizational honors
• Casket urn vault monument or other selections
• Flowers or memorial contributions
• Reception or gathering plans

Step 5: Personalize the Tribute

Every service can be customized. Personalization does not have to be elaborate or expensive. A favorite song, familiar photograph, meaningful reading or well-told story can help people recognize the person they loved within the service.

Your family might display a collection, uniform, artwork, tools, awards or items connected with a hobby. You may invite people to share memories, include religious or cultural traditions, select a meaningful procession route or suggest contributions to an important cause. We will help you determine what is practical and bring the details together naturally.

Step 6: We Coordinate the Details

After the arrangement meeting, the Shawgo family will coordinate the service and the many details surrounding it. Depending on your selections, this may include preparing your loved one, filing records and permits, placing the obituary, contacting clergy and cemeteries, arranging transportation, organizing merchandise and preparing the funeral home for visitors.

We will remain available as questions arise. If your family changes a reading, adds a photograph or needs clarification about the schedule, call us. Our role is to provide steady guidance from the first contact through the service and final disposition.

Step 7: The Service and Final Disposition

On the day of the service, our staff will help participants understand their roles, guide guests and keep the schedule moving respectfully. Following the ceremony, we will coordinate burial, cremation, transfer or another authorized form of final disposition.

Burial and cremation require the appropriate records and permits. For cremation, Illinois also requires the authorization of the legally authorized person and a permit from the coroner or medical examiner. We will handle the funeral-home coordination and explain any factors that affect timing.