When a loved one passes, it can be difficult determining which things to do and who to contact. Check out some of our most frequently asked questions about our funeral services and where to start after a loved one passes.
Throughout human history, all around the globe, friends and families have gathered together to celebrate the life of a passing loved one. It is a time to reflect, share stories, and give light to the positive things that a passing loved one has brought to this world. A funeral offers a very constructive environment for people to think about and reevaluate their views on life and death.
We determine the cost of a funeral by the type of services and merchandise (urn, casket, keepsakes, etc.) you desire for your loved one. Our funeral director will provide you with a copy of our General Price List prior to you making any decisions. This price list will go into detail about the various types of services available and the cost for each.
Before completing the funeral arrangements, our funeral director will prepare an itemized list of each of your chosen services, merchandise, and any charges for services provided by outside parties that are being paid through our funeral home.
Our funeral directors are highly aware of the unexpectedness of a funeral and the cost that come along with it. We will do anything in our power to help your family understand the options, and we will provide compassionate guidance to give your loved one the service they deserve within your budget. Contact our funeral director for information on repayment plans.
The necessary steps to relocate your loved one’s remains internationally depends on the individual requirements of the country. NFDA has a comprehensive international shipping directory available with the most current regulations and contact information for individual countries’ consular offices.
Cremation is a service that reduces the body to ashes and bone fragments through the use of intense heat, which can take up to two to four hours. Then, the cremated remains are pulverized into a granular texture and can be contained in a special urn and displayed in your home.
The number of cremations in the United States has risen from about 15% of all deaths in the mid-90s to almost 50% in 2014. Cremation is mainly chosen for the fact that it’s more simple and economical. This service allows more flexibility in funeral and memorial services. Cremation also uses less of our land resources than traditional earth burial.
Most religions permit cremation. Canon Law permits cremation for Roman Catholics, but your loved one’s remains must be buried or entombed, not scattered or personally kept. Muslim, Greek, and Jewish Orthodox faiths absolutely forbid cremation, as well as some fundamentalist Protestant groups.
Many funeral homes will suggest you purchase a decorative urn for your loved one, but you can simply use the plain container in which the ashes are returned from the crematory. The cardboard or plastic container is adequate enough for storing, shipping, burial, or placing in a columbarium.
Cremated remains can be placed in a columbarium niche or a cemetery in a grave. Loved ones may also purchase a keepsake in the form of jewelry, miniature urn, or other suitable objects, where small portions of the cremated remains may be placed and shared amongst loved ones. Many people choose to purchase multiple keepsakes to share the cremated remains with several family members and friends.
Embalming is a choice that depends if there will be an open casket viewing during the ceremony. Public health laws may require embalming if the body is going to be transported by air or rail.
In general, the cost of a grave space is determined by the location in the cemetery and availability of spaces. Graves in a more desirable location, such as a hilltop or near a water feature, will cost more than spaces in other locations.
The various prices of caskets are determined by the material from which the casket is constructed and the grade of interior fabric that is selected. Our funeral director will review casket details, prices, and comparisons with you before you make a decision.
Other than ground burial, many cemeteries will offer interment in lawn crypts or entombment in mausoleums. Furthermore, most cemeteries provide choices for those who have selected cremation. These often include placement of cremated remains in a niche of a columbarium or in an urn space.
Yes. Your selected cemetery will provide a temporary identification marker on your loved one’s grave, but this marker is intended only as a placeholder until the headstone or grave marker is set into place. Without one, your loved one’s grave space will become unmarked once the temporary marker becomes illegible or removed.