Funeral Services

When death is imminent, our pastors, chaplains or member of the Care Team would be honored to come and pray with you. If there is time, please call the Care Team at 515-282-4481. We will make every effort to have someone come to you. If this happens after hours, please call our 24/7 emergency number: 515-875-5300. A member of the Pastoral Care Team will return your call as soon as possible.

While at the hospital or home, you will need to contact a funeral home to provide the necessary care of your loved one. There are many excellent funeral home providers in the Des Moines metro area, and Hope does not endorse any one in particular. This is a very personal service, and we suggest you interview and consult to make the best decision for your family. Once you have spoken with your selected funeral home, please call the church at 515-282-4481 (or after hours 515-875-5300) to make us aware. From there, we will be able to start the planning of the service.

Below please find a few things you should rely on the funeral home to provide you, or give guidance on:

• Securing necessary permits and death certificates
• Care of the body (casket or urn)
• Cemetery choice (plot or niche space)
• Obituary in the local newspaper
• Flowers or other memorial funding
• Processional to cemetery (transportation)
• Visitation (if held at the funeral home)
• Guest book and other essentials for service

There are several types of services to consider: A Celebration of Life or Memorial Service, a service with or without a burial. Also offered is a Graveside Service with a Hope pastor presiding. A visitation can be scheduled immediately prior to the funeral service at Hope (based on church calendar availability), or the evening before. This can be done at Hope or off-site at the funeral home. Following the confirmation of a funeral date, time, place and type of service, the presider, along with a member from our Care Team, will arrange to gather the family and hear stories of your loved one. This meeting will take place at Hope. This will also be a time to select favorite scripture(s) and discuss musical choices.

We view it as our honor to be able to walk alongside you in your time of grief. There is no charge for any part of the funeral service, or the optional luncheon (to be served as a gift from your Hope+Elim family) typically following funeral services.

We want you to know you are not alone following the loss of your loved one. We are here to help provide peace, comfort and hope in the midst of life’s pain. There are several ways we can help you as you journey toward spiritual and emotional healing. Care ministers, weekly healing prayer services and a number of support groups are available as well. For information regarding grief support groups, please contact the Care Team at [email protected] or by calling 515-282-4481.