Question:
How do choose a funeral home?
Answer:
The funeral home and it’s staff play a critical role. Their advice, compassion and attention to detail and their willingness
to personalize the service should greatly Influence your decision. Many funeral homes specialize in services for specific religious
faiths, so ask them if they have experience serving your religious denomination.
To search for one of our qualified funeral homes click here.
Question:
Can we still have a funeral service if cremation is chosen?
Answer:
Yes. A funeral service is a personal choice. The service can be held prior to the cremation or after.
Question:
How can I help my child with the grieving process?
Answer:
Be available and listen. Everyone’s grief is different and that is especially true for a child. Be ready for tough questions
and consult resources such as the ones provided in our grieving section. Do not be afraid to ask for help. Also, be sure and
inform the child’s teachers and school counselor so that they are sensitive to the situation and can provide the additional
support needed and monitor any changes in behavior that may be of concern.
Question:
How can I make a loved one’s funeral service more personal and meaningful?
Answer:
There are so many options available to personalize a service. Whether it’s your loved-one’s favorite music, or an engraved
vault or casket. Browse our Celebration of Life examples and feel free to discuss your ideas with the funeral
director.
Question:
Why do we have funerals?
Answer:
Many religions and cultures participate in funerals for many different reasons. Funerals help to formalize the grieving
process and gives us an avenue and a formal process for our goodbyes to the deceased.
Question:
How much does a cremation cost?
Answer:
Much like the funeral, the cost of a cremation depends greatly on what products and services you choose. Many of the same options that are available to you when you choose a funeral are also available to you when you choose cremation.
Question:
How do I decide on the type ceremony?
Answer:
There are several types of ceremonies to be had, and you should choose the one with which you are most comfortable.
If the deceased belonged to a church or religious group, it may make sense to have a ceremony that would adhere to their traditions.
Or you may want to have a more informal service. You may also have to choose whether or not to have an open casket. Discuss
these options with family, friends or clergy to decide what’s best for the ceremony.
Question:
How much does a funeral cost?
Answer:
We know this is a major concern for most families, so let us explain why we cannot give you a specific dollar amount and what you can do to help control your costs.
The cost of the funeral really depends on the type of arrangements, products and services you decide to buy. Do you want a traditional ground burial, entombment or cremation? Will it be a formal service, celebration of life or no service at all? Will it be held at the funeral home, church, grave side or somewhere else? What type of products do you want -- casket, vault, urn, etc.? What services do you need the funeral home to provide (transfer of body to funeral home, embalming, preparation of body, number of family cars needed, open or closed casket, etc.) Realize the cost can also differ because of factors such as competition, region of the county, local government regulations and religious denominational requirements. The funeral homes charges do not include other expenses that are sometimes necessary, such as a burial plot for a casket, space in a columbarium for an urn and some incidental costs for a death certificate, burial license and filing fee.
By law the funeral home must provide you with a General Price List (GPL) of all the goods and services they offer, along with the price of each. Like a restaurant menu, the GPL allows you to select only those items you want, and it tells you how much each will cost. While funeral homes are permitted to offer packages of services at a discount over the itemized total, they must also offer services priced individually. The GPL is one of the most important tools you have for controlling and understanding funeral costs. Preplanning your funeral can also help you control costs.
By making decisions ahead of time, you can avoid making choices during an emotional period in your live and gives yourself the opportunity to set aside funds to be used for future services.
If you comparison shop, be sure you are comparing equal services and products.
The following averages are for “Regular Adult Funerals”. Welfare services, infant and children funerals, immediate dispositions and other “partial” services are excluded. For 2007, averages are as follows:
$8,081 Total Cost to Family
$6,034 Average regular adult funeral cost*
$1,139 Average of cost of vault or other outer burial
receptacle, clothing and additional service
requirements
$908 Average cash advances**
* The average “Regular Adult Funeral” normally includes staff services, use of the funeral home and equipment, professional care, vehicles, printed material and casket. This amount generally provides for traditional services with a visitation and ceremony.
** Cash advances are for grave open and closing, flowers, musicians, honorariums, obituaries and catered meals.
The amount spent increases or decrease significantly if something other than traditional services and/or “average” merchandise is selected.
The above amounts do not include any payment made directly to other service providers such as cemeteries or other incidental costs outside the scope of the funeral director’s usual services.
Question:
What service does the funeral director provide?
Answer:
The duty of the funeral director or mortician is to oversee the care of the body and arrangements of the funeral service.
These include transportation of the deceased, preparing the deceased for viewing, arranging a ceremony for the family of the
deceased and providing the final disposition of the body. He or she will also arrange for death certificates, assist with writing
the obituary and be happy to help with special arrangement you might want.
Question:
What is the best way I can deal with my loss?
Answer:
Do whatever feels best for you. Talk to friends and family openly about your feelings. Discuss how the recently deceased
affected your life and how you affected theirs. Remember favorite memories you shared with that individual and share them with
others. Be sure to give yourself time to understand all your thoughts and feelings. Discuss your feelings with your spiritual
leader, doctor or counselor.
Question:
How do I make sure that the service I plan follows the religious practices of the deceased?
Answer:
Contact the local facility for that affiliation. There is also a wealth of information on various websites. You can
conduct an internet search by typing in the particular religious faith followed by “burial.” For example: Jewish
Burial