Local Resources - Dayton & Anahuac, TX

Sterling Funeral Home helps many families who were the victims of a crime through a program offered by The Office of the Attorney General call Crime Victims’ Compensation (011). For more details please contact one of our office at 936-258-2678. In addition, we work closely with local and outside authorities to assist in the process.

After collecting the information you will need for an obituary, use a pen and paper, or your computer—whichever is easiest for you—to list and organize the important facts and information you want to include.

Follow these steps:

Start with the full name of the deceased, his or her date and place of birth, the date, and place of death, and his or her age at the time of death. Also, note where the deceased lived at the time of his or her death. If you wish, you can include the cause of death.
Provide a brief summary of the deceased's life, starting from birth and working forward. You don't need to include every detail; just the key facts/information that helps the obituary reader learn more about the deceased and/or helps the reader determine if he or she has a personal connection to the person who died. Don't worry right now about listing too much information because you can always edit it later.
List relatives, both living and deceased. Don't forget to include grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and step-family members. Decide which ones you will include by name and those whom you will include by relation only. In general, obituaries usually include the full names of the deceased's parents, siblings, and children, as well as his or her spouse/partner, but only the total number of grandchildren or great-grandchildren. In addition, the spouses/partners of children usually include only their first name in parenthesis after the child's name, e.g., "Survived by daughter Jane (John) Doe."

List the details of the funeral or memorial service and reception, if applicable. Include the name and address (and the website address and/or phone number, if available) of the funeral provider handling the details and where the burial/interment will take place, if applicable.
List the charities or memorial fund to which you want donations sent in honor or memory of the deceased in lieu of flowers.

Of course you want to respect those grieving when you attend a funeral service. But, we understand that it’s sometimes confusing to figure out what this actually means. What do you say? What do you wear? Do you give the mourner a gift? How can you help them?

We want you to feel comfortable and relaxed when you’re at a cemetery. Here’s how you can feel at ease and help us respect these sacred grounds.

Visiting the Cemetery
Here are some of the Dos and Don’ts for visiting cemeteries anywhere around the world.

DO:
Watch over children to ensure their safety.
Follow our cemetery guidelines.
Respect cemetery visiting hours.
Follow the marked roadways.
Be respectful by keeping quiet around visitors who wish to reflect.

DONT’S:
Take photos of other visitors or funerals.
Litter.
Walk over graves.
Disturb flowers or plants on the grounds.

Showing Support
There are no right or wrong ways to show support. You are being a source of support by simply coming to the funeral service. However, another great way to show support to the family is through sharing memories and stories of their loved one. You can also offer gestures of support by purchasing flowers or small gifts, such as a card, food, books, or personalized gifts that reflect memories of the deceased.