We hope you'll find the following information useful. It is our firm belief that the more information you have available, the better you will be able to decide what arrangement will be best for you or your loved one. If we can help to answer your questions at any time, please don't hesitate to call or contact us.

We provide the following services for all the families we serve: Arrange for transfer of deceased from the place of death and prepare the deceased in accordance with the family wishes, obtain a signed death certificate from the attending doctor, gather vital statistics and personal information required to complete the death certificate and prepare death notices and obituaries, notify the social security administration, coordinate arrangements with churches, clergy, cemetery or crematory, florists, newspapers and livery company and file the death certificate with the local registrar. We also will assist with Veteran's Administration claims and will assist in processing of insurance claims. We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year to answer any questions and attend to every detail of each service we arrange.

The idea behind planning ahead is simple. One day, a great deal of vital information about you or a loved one will be needed by those entrusted to making final arrangements. Those who plan ahead can be assured that this information is available and thus avoid unnecessary difficulties.

By discussing your arrangements in advance, you can take the time to make the best decisions about the type of ceremony and give comfort to your family by sparing them having to make decisions at a very emotional time. In addition, it gives your family the peace of mind of knowing they've acted in accordance with your wishes.

As licensed funeral directors, the staff of Raynor & D'Andrea knows what steps to take and where. By preplanning your service, you have charged us with making sure those steps are taken and your family is cared for. We will assist you in planning the ceremony you desire and we take this charge very seriously. Every member of our family is here to assist your family.

Many people today are choosing to pay for the funeral they select in advance. This choice again eases the burden on your loved ones, protects your assets and guards against inflation. We can also assist in the establishment of an irrevocable trust for persons applying for Medicaid, which allows those persons to select and prepay for the funeral of their choice.

Should you choose to prepay, you should know that New York State has some of the nation's strongest protections to safeguard the money you have set aside for funeral expenses. Current law requires that all funds designated by a consumer to prepay funeral services and merchandise be placed in an interest-bearing trust account where the principal and any interest earned always remain the property of the consumer. The law also specifies that funeral directors be prohibited from accepting any monetary consideration from a financial institution or insurance company for assigning preneed agreements. This means that consumer can close the account and take out the money without penalty or move it to another state.

For a no cost, no obligation consultation on arranging your service with Raynor & D'Andrea call 631-472-0122 in Bayport or 631-589-2345 in West Sayville . We welcome you also, to visit our facilities at 683 Montauk Highway in Bayport or 245 Montauk Highway in West Sayville .

Contact us to request our informative booklet, "A Guide for Planning Ahead," which will be sent free of charge.

When death occurs in a place far away from where you'd like to have services conducted, the problems might seem insurmountable. Please be assured that with one phone call to Raynor & D'Andrea Funeral Homes, we will remove much of the burden from you. Through our affiliation with many funeral homes throughout the United States and abroad, we will arrange to have your loved one returned to this area so that funeral services may be arranged.

Raynor & D'Andrea has been the funeral home of choice in our communities for over 130 years. During this time, we've helped thousands of families through some of the most painful and difficult times in their lives. We believe that people find comfort in the professionalism and friendliness of our staff. Many families have proven this belief when they return, years down the road, at their time of need. This kind of reputation is not earned overnight and is something we are very proud of. Families we serve can be assured that the focus will always remain on them and their needs, desires and emotions. At a time when some funeral homes can take advantage of need, Raynor & D'Andrea slows things down and listens. At Raynor & D'Andrea, we never lose the focus on family so you never have to worry about "cookie-cutter" approaches where you select a plan and get the same thing the last customer received.

Cremation is simply a means of final disposition. What many people don't realize is that there can be services or ceremonies when cremation is chosen. Cremations actually increase the options available to you. It in no way eliminates the funeral. We would be glad to send you a pamphlet describing your many options.

Contact us to request "A Guide to Cremation Services"

You can never be prepared for the death of a loved one, even, when that death comes after a long and serious illness. At Raynor & D'Andrea Funeral Homes, we are committed to help you through this most difficult time, and we offer a series of "Care Notes", some or all of which may help you in your journey through grief. These are all available free of charge. Some of the titles in this series are:

• Losing Someone Close
• Grieving in Your Own Way
• When Death Comes Unexpectedly to Someone You Love
• Finding Your Own Way After the Death of a Spouse
• Cherishing Your Memories of a Loved One
• Bearing the Special Grief of Suicide
• Planning the Funeral of Someone You Love
• Finding Help in a Support Group
• Finding Ways to Help Someone Who is Grieving

Most of our local hospices have excellent programs for those who have recently lost a loved one.