Commonly Asked Questions about Funerals

What is the purpose of a funeral?

Funerals are an vital step in the grieving process.  It is important to recognize that funerals are for the living...for those who have suffered the trauma of losing a loved one.  Often funerals are the first step in the healing process.  They offer surviving family members and friends a caring, supportive environment in which to share thoughts and feelings about the death.  It also offers them the opportunity to pay tribute to their loved one.  Funerals quite often become reunions of family and friends of the deceased.

What kinds of funerals do most persons select?

Funerals should be unique, and no two funerals are exactly alike. Each funeral should reflect the unique needs and desires of the survivors.  A funeral should honor and celebrate the life that was lived.  Sharing pictures, favorite music, mementos, and other special memories about the life of an individual should be emphasized at funerals to commemorate the life they lived.

What is a eulogy?

A eulogy is a written tribute or speech given at a funeral or memorial service to commemorate someone who has passed away. The eulogy is not to be lengthy, but should offer praise and commendation and reflect the life of the person who has died.

What about cremation?

Cremation is an alternative to earth burial.  Cremation is not the funeral.  It is a form of final disposition of the body. Cremation may be preceded by a regular funeral with the body present, or followed by a memorial service.  In the case of a funeral, a rental casket can be used for visitation and funeral services. After the service cremation occurs, just as interment in a cemetery takes place after funeral services.  Families may chose interment of the cremains, scattering of the cremains, or placing the cremains in a place of honor in their home.

What is the difference between a Funeral Service and a Memorial Service?

A funeral service is a ceremony that takes place with the body of the deceased present.  A memorial service is a ceremony honoring the deceased without the body present.

What is the purpose of embalming?

Embalming sanitizes the body, provides temporary preservation of the body, retards the decomposition process, and enhances the appearance of the body for viewing.

Is embalming required by law?

Except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law. Embalming may be necessary, however, if you select certain funeral arrangements, such as a viewing.

Should children attend the funeral?

Children react differently from adults when a family member dies. When a child asks a question about death, answer them truthfully and do not make things up. Whether or not a child should attend a funeral is a personal decision to be made with the child. If the child was close to the deceased, it is fine for the child to attend if he/she feels comfortable doing so. The best thing to do is to talk to the child about how they are feeling and answer their questions about what a funeral is and what will happen there. A child who is frightened about attending a funeral should not be forced to go.  However, remembering the deceased in some other way, such as lighting a candle, saying a prayer, making a scrapbook, looking at pictures, or telling a story may be helpful.  Such activities may then be included as part of the visitation or service.

What do Funeral Directors do?

Funeral Directors are caregivers and facilitators.  They are there to help you through a very difficult time in your life.  They make the arrangements for transportation of the body, complete all necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the body. Funeral directors are listeners, advisors and supporters.  They have experience assisting the bereaved in coping with death. Through discussions with you, based on information you share about your wishes and details about your loved one, they are able to offer guidance and help you coordinate a very personal and meaningful tribute that honors the life of your loved one.  Funeral directors also link survivors with support groups in the community.

Why have a public viewing?

Viewing is a part of culture and ethnic traditions.  Viewing aids the grief process by helping the bereaved recognize the reality of death.  It also gives family and friends the opportunity to say their final goodbyes prior to the disposition of the body. Viewing is encouraged for children, as long as the process is explained and they involvement is voluntary.

Why are funerals expensive?

A funeral home is a 24-hour, labor-intensive business, with extensive facilities (such as viewing rooms, chapels, hearses) which must be maintained.  These expenses must be factored into the cost of a funeral. Moreover, the cost of a funeral includes not only merchandise, like caskets, but the services of the funeral director overseeing all of the necessary details.

How much does a funeral cost?

You and your family will determine the cost of a funeral. A funeral can be as extravagant or as simple as you desire.  There is a wide range of funeral services from which to choose.  There are certain expenses basic to almost every funeral, but many are determined by the selections that are made, the services specified, and the additional items requested.

Is it possible to plan a funeral in advance?

Yes.  There are benefits to preplanning funerals.  Preplanning offers emotional and financial security.  It ensures your personal wishes regarding your own funeral, and its relieves your family of much of the emotional burden at the time of your death.  Preplanning doesn't necessarily mean prepaying, but, prepaying through our pre-arranged insurance can reduce the financial burden on your family by locking in today's prices.  Also, our pre-arranged plan will provide descendant coverage at no additional cost.  Please ask our arrangement counselor for details.

Is a vault required by law?

No.  It is not usually required by law; nevertheless, some cemeteries may require outer containers or vaults to maintain their structural integrity of the gravesite. Burial vaults are an accepted means of enclosing the casketed remains of a loved one within a grave. The purpose of a burial vault is to maintain the grave from the effects of settling and outside forces of water or excess weight.

If a loved one dies out of state, can the local funeral home still help?

Yes.  We can assist you with arranging the transfer of the remains from another state, and with any subsequent services.  On the other hand, if your loved one dies locally, but burial will be out of state, we can also assist with those arrangements.

Commonly Asked Questions about Pre-Planning

Is funeral pre-planning always a good idea?

Funeral pre-planning really doesn't have any downside, provided a person does a little homework beforehand. Pre-planning is the process of gathering information on the more than 50 decisions that need to be made at the time of death. These typically include the disposition arrangements, decisions about visitation, funeral or memorial services, and merchandise. These are basic decisions that determine the major portion of the cost of funeral arrangements. Such decisions should be written down and communicated to a trusted friend or relative who may be in charge of carrying out the wishes. Funeral providers generally have forms that can be used for this purpose and will maintain them in their files if you wish. Making these pre-arrangments removes a large emotional burden from families at the time of death.

What questions should I ask before pre-paying for a funeral?

Pre-paying funeral expenses can be a good way to finish the planning process. It is always a good idea to first make sure all the prices for the services to be rendered are a good value. If the funds are held in trust, ask who manages the trust, who manages the trust.  If an insurance product is being used, make sure the company is reputable and has a good record of claims payment. Also determine if there are any tax consequences or benefits to you, and make sure you understand completely what is guaranteed and what is not.

How can I get pricing information?

The Federal Trade Commission requires all funeral homes to give price information over the phone upon request. You don't need to give your name or address if you are uncomfortable doing so. In addition, all funeral homes should mail or fax you a General Price List with a simple phone call.

Why do I need to prepay funeral expenses if I already have a lot of insurance?

If a person's financial portfolio is extensive, or there is ample insurance coverage, prepaying for funeral expenses may not be necessary from a strictly financial perspective. There may be reasons other than financial, however, for a person to prepay funeral expenses. This may be a way of insuring that the funeral plans are carried out exactly as specified, or it may be a way of concluding the planning process.

Is it a good idea to put your funeral plans in your will?

Since wills are not usually read until after the funeral, this may not be most successful to ensure your funeral plans are carried out desired.  It is usually more effective to have your funeral provider execute a preplanning document and for you to distribute copies to those parties who are most likely to be responsible for finalizing your arrangements.