A death forces you to deal with a world of details you know little about at a time when you are most vulnerable. Since you must depend in large part on guidance from a funeral home, it is important that you have confidence that these advisors are open, honest, and have your best interests at heart when helping you plan a funeral.

Funeral directors are caregivers and administrators. Primarily they care and safeguard the deceased person until final disposition, including embalming and restorative work. It has been estimated that over 136 individual activities must take place in order for one funeral to be conducted. The funeral director is actually an organizational specialist. A growing number of funeral directors are trained as grief counselors to help families through the bereavement process; they are able to link survivors with support groups at the funeral home or in the community. They also arrange and provide an orderly series of events that finalize the funeral, the final disposition, and legal paperwork so the family can proceed forward. They also provide the physical establishment in which all of this can be accomplished.

The funeral and the ceremony that accompanies it are indeed very important. For those who are left behind, a funeral provides a place for family and friends to gather for support and to reminisce, an opportunity to celebrate the life and accomplishments of a loved one, a chance to say goodbye, and the focal point from which the healing process can begin.

The funeral identifies that a person's life has been lived, not that a death has occurred. It is also important to notify the community that this person has died. There are people beyond the immediate family who have the right to grieve a death.

In most states, they are not. But each state does have different regulations. You should call the local department of health to find out exactly what your state requires. Texas state law does not prevent a family from burying a member of the family without using a licensed funeral director. However, most places where people die, such as a hospital, hospice, nursing home or other legitimate facility will not release a body to anyone other than a licensed funeral director or someone representing a licensed establishment. Also, most people find it very trying to be solely responsible for arranging the details and legal matters surrounding a death.

A service can usually be held at any location that family and friends feel would be comfortable and appropriate. Your funeral director can assist with arranging a meaningful service.

A Gathering of Friends is a less formal event. It allows family and friends to share their loss and treasured memories of the deceased. A Gathering of Friends may include light refreshments and can be held at any appropriate location, including an accommodating funeral home, a park, a restaurant, or the home of a family member or friend.

We can send you some general information which will apply to anyone planning a funeral. But to make informed decisions, you'll want more specific facts. And the fastest, easiest and most effective way for you to get them is to sit down, visit with us, review our programs, discuss various options, and ask questions.

The Funeral Director is responsible for explaining all of the charges that specifically pertain to the funeral home's services and merchandise sold stated on its general price list. Any additional charges may fall under the category of cash advances. These additional charges might be for opening and closing the grave, clergy honorarium, newspaper notices, flowers, organist, church sexton, etc.

There is a great range in prices for services and merchandise from your local funeral directors, depending on the type of funeral you purchase and each company's price structure. The perception that funerals are too expensive usually can be attributed to a lack of familiarity with the normal price range. If you find that the price for certain services and merchandise seems too high, you should check into different types of funerals and different companies until you find the price that fits your budget.

When compared to other major life cycle events, like births and weddings, funerals are not expensive. A wedding costs at least three times as much, but because it is a happy event, wedding costs are rarely criticized. A funeral home is a 24-hour, labor-intensive business with extensive facilities (viewing rooms, chapels, limousines, hearses, etc.); 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 a funeral director in making arrangements; filing appropriate forms; dealing with doctors, ministers, florists, newspapers, and others; and seeing to all the necessary details. Contrary to popular belief, funeral homes are largely family-owned with a modest profit margin.

Obviously, it is difficult to comparison shop in an at-death situation. Therefore, it is important to speak with your local funeral director ahead of time. By preplanning, you can find a provider whose services and merchandise fit your budget.

You and your family do. A funeral can be as extravagant or as simple as you desire. Preplanning your funeral can help control costs. By making decisions ahead of time, you avoid making choices at a time when your emotions are heightened. It also provides an opportunity to set aside funds that can be used to pay for part or all of the future service.

A funeral, like any other service, can have a range of prices depending on the provider. It is similar to asking "How much does a wedding cost?" Funeral costs are divided into two categories: services, as provided by the funeral director and funeral home staff; and merchandise, such as caskets, outer burial containers, urns, etc.

Talking with friends who have used the services of a funeral home or your personal experience from attending funeral services of friends or relatives at a variety of funeral homes are excellent methods of comparison. You might also consider just stopping by a funeral home unannounced to experience how you are treated. To a lesser degree, you can also gain some experience from randomly contacting various firms by telephone.

You can call your local Better Business Bureau to see if complaints have been filed against a local funeral director and whether they were satisfactorily resolved. Also, you can call one of the national funeral trade associations, which have standards of ethics, to see whether your local funeral homes are members.

Yes; as a convenient method of payment, most funeral homes will allow for an insurance assignment. This assignment transaction is processed by the funeral home, releasing only the funeral expenses to the funeral service provider, and with any remaining balance going directly to the beneficiary. The insurance assignment is an effective, convenient means by which to cover funeral expenses.

Keep in mind that simply having life insurance will not make the important decisions that must be made in regard to your funeral -- which funeral home will take care of the service, what types of service will be held, how much will be spent on the funeral service, etc.

Usually, Funeral Directors will help gather the necessary information to apply for financial assistance from Social Security, Veteran's, retirement, and any others.

Although the Veterans Administration does not pay for complete funerals, it does provide certain merchandise, services, and reimbursements. Your local VA office can provide you with a variety of benefits available. In general, any veteran with a discharge other than dishonorable is entitled to be buried in an accepting national cemetery. He or she may also receive a free grave space with a bronze, granite, or marble memorial marked with veteran's rank, war served, and religious icon.

Other specific circumstances, better explained by your VA benefits counselor, may have additional burial-related benefits.

Yes; if that is the wish of the family, the funeral director will arrange designated times for calling hours, have the times published in the newspaper, and simply add to the obituary that services will be private or at the convenience of the family. This information will make it clear to the public as to arrangements, and fulfill the wishes of the family.

Because a funeral service is a reflection of the life of a loved one, it is not only possible, but important, to personalize. One way is to bring personal items into the funeral home to be displayed in or near the casket. For example, an avid golfer might have a favorite putter placed in the casket. An avid hunter or fisherman might have some of their personal effects or trophies displayed on a memory table. A person who quilted could have the casket draped with a quilt they made. An artist could have their work displayed. A person’s favorite rocking chair could be brought to the funeral home and placed next to the casket.

In conjunction with, or sometimes in place of, a clergy person family or friends may share personal thoughts, memories and feelings about the deceased as part of the service.

Yes; usually all arrangements may be made in advance. When you preplan your funeral services, you will be able to consider the many options available. You will have the opportunity to make an informed decision about your funeral and cemetery arrangements, and the form of memorial you prefer. You will be able to make choices that are meaningful to both you and your family, and you will gain peace of mind knowing your family and friends will be relieved of the emotional and financial burden often associated with making arrangements when a death occurs. By prearranging your funeral and cemetery arrangements, you benefit by purchasing at today's prices, free from inflationary pressures in the future.

This may vary by state so check with your local funeral directory. Considerations include the need to secure all permits and authorizations, notification of family and friends, preparation of cemetery site and religious considerations. For example, Orthodox Judaism requires that the body be interred within 24 hours of death; some Islamic faiths require that the body be interred before sundown on the day of death. Some states have limitations on the maximum length of time allowed to pass prior to final disposition. The State of Texas does not have a legally set time limit for burial; it is advised that within 24 hours of death, one of four things should take place: embalming, refrigeration, burial, or cremation.

While most services are held in the morning or afternoon, some families are now choosing to have services held in the evening hours for the convenience of family and friends. This enables more people to attend the service who otherwise might be unable to be excused from their place of employment during the day.

The most important quality that enables the funeral director to provide services in the community is his or her reputation for honesty and good will. In fact, a good reputation is the key factor in being able to stay in business. If a particular funeral director took advantage of the bereaved, it would not be long before the community responded to those actions by going to a different funeral director.

The Federal Trade Commission Funeral Rule requires that all funeral homes itemize their charges for professional services, facilities, and motor equipment and that they provide a General Price List to all clients. You have the right to select and pay for only those services you choose to utilize.

Most caskets are made of either wood or metal. Metal caskets are made of bronze, copper, steel, or stainless steel. Wood caskets are available in a variety of types of wood. Interiors of caskets are usually made with velvet or crepe; however, other materials may be available.

All funeral homes are required by the Federal Trade Commission to have casket price lists available to the public at all times. Your funeral home will gladly discuss prices on the phone, send you a copy of the price list, or arrange an appointment to see available caskets.

It depends upon the materials with which the casket is made. Obviously, a casket made of bronze would be priced higher than one made of steel. A casket made of solid mahogany would be more costly to manufacture than one of soft pine wood. A casket with crepe interior materials would be priced less than an interior of velvet because of the cost of the material. It depends upon what materials the casket shell is made of, the interior materials, and any protective features included in that particular model.

Yes; it is certainly a financially sound decision to purchase anything at today's prices which can then be used at a later time; however, you need to consider several things. Who will store the casket – you or the company from which you purchased it? If you buy it without delivery, you need to know how your purchase will be protected.

As a matter of fact, you can, although as a matter or practicality, it may present some storage challenges for you. You might consult a funeral home for correct measurements as the casket will ultimately need to be placed into a burial vault, graveliner, or mausoleum crypt.

These are the outside containers into which the casket is placed. Burial vaults are made of a variety or combination of materials including concrete, stainless steel, galvanized steel, cooper, bronze, plastic, and fiberglass. A graveliner is a lightweight version of a vault which simply keeps the grave surface from sinking in.

In most areas of the country, state or local law does not require that you buy a container to surround the casket in the grave. However, many cemeteries require that you have such a container so that the ground will not sink. Either a graveliner or a burial vault will satisfy these requirements.

Quality service firms will not only assist with securing these death benefits, they will most likely complete all the paperwork for you.

The publication of an obituary notice is a matter of your personal choice. While most newspapers control the editorial format, you have the right to limit the amount of information, if any provided to them.

Children grieve just as adults do. Any child old enough to form a relationship will experience some form of grief when a relationship is severed. As adults we may not view a child’s behavior as grief as it often is demonstrated in ways which we misunderstand as "moody", "cranky", "withdrawn," or other behavioral patterns which do not appear to us to be grief.

When a death occurs, children need to be surrounded by feelings of warmth, acceptance, and understanding. This may be a tall order to expect of the adults who are experiencing their own grief and upset.

Caring adults can guide children through this time when the child is experiencing feelings for which they have no words and, thus, can not identify. In a very real way, this time can be a growth experience for the child, teaching about love and relationships.

The first task is to create an atmosphere in which the child's thoughts, fears, and wishes are recognized. This means that they should be allowed to participate in any of the arrangements, ceremonies, and gatherings that are comfortable for them.

First, explain what will be happening and why it is happening at a level the child can understand. A child may not be able to speak at a grandparent's funeral but would benefit greatly from the opportunity to draw a picture to be placed in the casket or displayed at the service. Be aware that children will probably have short attention spans and may need to leave a service or gathering before the adults are ready. Many families provide a non-family attendant to care for the children in this event.

The key is to allow the participation, not to force it. Forced participation can be harmful. Children instinctively have a good sense of how involved they wish to be. They should be listened to carefully.

After the death has occurred, the most prudent decision would be to call your funeral service. Your funeral director will be able to make the necessary arrangements to transfer the deceased, relieving the family of the burden of dealing with unfamiliar people, places, and related issues.

Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body, retards the decomposition process, and enhances the appearance of a body disfigured by traumatic death or illness. Embalming makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, thus allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them.

Most states require that a deceased person either be embalmed or placed in refrigeration after a period of 24 hours from the time of death. Funeral Services can be held at any time after that. In some areas of the country that time frame could be as long as three weeks.

While a hearse or casket coach is most commonly used for this purpose, other options are often appropriate. Families might consider more personalized and meaningful options; for example, a fire fighter may be transported by fire truck.

Certified copies of a death certificate are used as proof of death for the transfer of stocks and bonds, banking transactions, and life insurance. Your funeral provider can help you determine how many certificates you may need to settle an estate and may also secure them for you.

In addition to coordinating the donation, your funeral home can arrange for either a Memorial Service or a Gathering of Friends to be held at a time and place convenient for the family.

In many cemeteries today, there is a funeral home on the grounds. If not, then arrangements would have to be made with the cemetery or a local funeral home to pick up the body and transfer it to the cemetery.

Yes. Death because of AIDS is no different than any other cause of death. A person who dies of an AIDS-related illness is entitled to the same service options afforded to anyone else. If public viewing is consistent with local or personal customs, that option is encouraged. Touching the deceased's face or hands is perfectly safe. Because the grief experienced by survivors may include a variety of feelings, survivors may need even more support than survivors of non-AIDS-related deaths.

The complaint should first be given to the funeral director that served the family.

In most cases, the consumer should discuss problems with the funeral director first. Most often, the complaint will be resolved by the funeral director. If the situation is not resolved to your satisfaction, then a complaint should be filed with your state's board of funeral service, or with a consumer complaint department of the state attorney general's office. Funeral service is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission and, in Texas, by the Texas Funeral Service Commission. If the dispute cannot be solved by talking with the funeral director, the consumer may wish to contact the Funeral Service Commission at 888-667-4881 or visit their website at www.tfsc.state.tx.us.

Most Funeral Directors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you request immediate assistance, yes. If the family wishes to spend a short time with the deceased to say good bye, it is acceptable. They will come when your time is right.

Yes; they can assist you with out-of-state arrangements, either to transfer the remains to another state or from another state.

Yes; quite often some sort of viewing precedes the actual cremation. Your Funeral Home can assist you with the necessary information for a funeral with a cremation following or a memorial service.

Cremation is simply a form of disposition. The crematable casket is placed in a cremation chamber where, through a process of heat and evaporation, the body is reduced to its original elements – bone fragments, not ashes.

The casket or container is placed in the cremation chamber, where the temperature is raised to approximately 1400 degrees to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. After approximately 2 to 2 1/2 hours, all organic matter is consumed by heat or evaporation. The remaining bone fragments are known as cremated remains. The cremated remains are then carefully removed from the cremation chamber. Any metal is removed with a magnet and later disposed of in an approved manner. The cremated remains are then processed into fine particles and are placed in a temporary container provided by the crematory or placed in an urn purchased by the family. The entire process takes approximately three hours. Throughout the cremation process, a carefully controlled labeling system ensures correct identification.

The optimum temperature range is 1400 degrees to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit for the cremation chamber.

Cremating at the optimum temperature (1400-1800 degrees), the average weighted remains takes 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Several more hours may be required before the cremated remains are available to the family.

Yes. State law generally provides that only one body may be cremated at a time. However, in some states, the remains of family members may be cremated together with the consent of the next-of-kin.

Yes, the body is exposed to direct heat and flame. Cremation is performed by placing the deceased in a casket or other container and then placing the casket or container into a cremation chamber or retort, where they are subjected to intense heat and flame.

Because cremation is an irreversible process and because the process itself will eliminate any ability to determine exact cause of death, many states require that each cremation be authorized by the coroner or medical examiner. Some states have specific minimum time limits that must elapse before cremation may take place. Your local funeral service provider can advise you of applicable regulations, if any.

It is essential that pacemakers and other medical devices be removed prior to cremation. They may explode when subjected to high temperature, which can be hazardous to crematory staff and equipment. In addition, any special mementos, such as jewelry, will be destroyed during the cremation process. Anything you wish to keep should be removed by the funeral director before the casket or container is transferred to the crematory.

A complete cremation is a two-step process. Firstly, the actual exposure of the deceased to several hours of intense heat and flame; after which the remains are mostly ash except for certain bone fragments, then the entire remaining ash and fragment volume is gathered and run through a processor, creating a uniform powder-like texture.

The quantity of cremated remains of an adult is comparable to the size of a 6 inch x 6 inch x 6 inch box or a large dictionary. The appearance resembles crushed seashells.

Arrangements can usually be made through the funeral home or crematory for relatives or representatives of the deceased to witness the cremation.

No; actually only a small percentage of cremation service providers have their own cremation units.

Due to the irreversible nature of cremation, most states require a waiting period before the actual process may begin. Unless a body is embalmed, refrigeration is the only alternative available that will retard tissue decomposition. Refrigeration is a necessity that protects family and friends, the crematory operator and the general public from potential health hazards.

No. In most cases, it is your choice. It may depend on such factors as whether the family selected a service with a public viewing of the body, whether there is to be a funeral service, or whether there is refrigeration available. Embalming may also be necessary if the body is going to be transported by air or rail, or because of the length of time prior to the cremation.

No. For sanitary reasons, ease of placement and dignity, many crematories require that the deceased be cremated in a combustible, leak proof, rigid, covered container. This does not need to be a casket as such. What is required is an enclosed, rigid, container made of wood or other combustible material to allow for the dignified handling of human remains. The type of casket or container selected is really a personal decision. Caskets and containers are available in a wide variety of materials ranging from simple cardboard containers to beautifully handcrafted oak, maple or mahogany caskets.

There is a choice of very affordable cremation caskets that are completely combustible. The selection includes options from a simple pine or cloth-covered casket to a hardwood casket.

Many funeral homes offer a hardwood ceremonial casket for viewing or funeral services prior to cremation. The ceremonial (or rental) casket is specifically designed to provide a very aesthetically pleasing, affordable and environmentally prudent alternative to purchasing a casket for a cremation service.

Yes; it would be advisable that you discuss this situation with your cremation provider prior to the cremation. The size of your urn will be of great importance if you plan to have all of the cremated remains included in this container.

Cremation does require the same degree of planning as does traditional burial. After the death of a loved one, families and friends are grieving. In an emotional state of mind, people often have difficulty making important decisions, and they may later regret arrangements made in haste. Preplanning for your cremation removes the burden from friends and family.

No. Just stating your wishes will not necessarily assure their being honored. To assure your wishes will be honored and to prevent your survivors from having to make decisions and arrangements at the time of your death, you can choose a cremation provider and prearrange your cremation. The cremation provider can also keep the personal data and authorizations which will be required for your death certificate, so that your survivors will not have to be asked for this information during an emotional time. You may also prepay the expenses of your cremation if allowed by state law.

No, cremation is simply a method of preparing human remains for final disposition.

Direct cremation usually means cremation with no visitation or services. Some people choose direct cremation believing that the quickest, simple option is best. However, all cultures recognize the need to come together to share and grieve at the time of death. Most people require something more than only disposing of a loved one. Grief shared is grief diminished.

It really depends entirely on how you wish to commemorate a life. One of the advantages of cremation is that it provides you with increased flexibility when you make your funeral and cemetery arrangements. You might, for example, choose to have a funeral service before the cremation; a memorial service at the time of cremation or after the cremation with the urn present; or a committal service at the final disposition of cremated remains. Funeral or memorial services can be held in a place of worship, a funeral home or in a crematory chapel.

Yes; more families select an appropriate service to take place before the cremation or after. You may still have a traditional funeral with visitation, with the cremation disposition taking place after the service. The psychological benefits of viewing our loved ones and having the opportunity to say good-bye are well documented and are available with cremation.

It's completely a matter of family preference. Many times when a family is split regarding the decision to cremate, a compromise may be achieved by having a traditional service first, to be followed by cremation.

With cremation, your options are numerous. The cremated remains can be interred in a cemetery plot, retained by a family member, usually in an urn, scattered on private property, or at a place that was significant to the deceased. (It would always be advisable to check for local regulations regarding scattering in a public place.) Cremation is just one step in the commemorative process—the preparation of the human remains for memorialization. Today, there are many different types of memorial options from which to choose. Memorialization is a time-honored tradition that has been practiced for centuries. A memorial serves as a tribute to a life lived and provides a focal point for remembrance, as well as a record for future generations. The type of memorial you choose is a personal decision. The limit is set only by your imagination.

Yes, with permission of the owner.

You might choose ground burial of the urn. If so, you may usually choose either a bronze memorial or monument. Also available at many cemeteries are cremation niches in columbaria. They offer the beauty of a mausoleum setting with the benefits of above ground placement of remains. Many cemeteries also offer scattering gardens. This area of a cemetery offers the peacefulness of a serene garden where family and friends can come and reflect.

A columbarium, often located within a mausoleum or chapel, sometimes free-standing, either indoor or outdoor, is constructed of numerous small compartments (niches) designed to hold urns containing cremated remains.

As long as it is permitted by local regulations, the cremated remains can be scattered in a place that is meaningful to you. This can, however, present difficulties for your survivors. Some people may find it hard to simply pour the mortal remains of a loved one out onto the ground or into the sea. If you wish to be scattered somewhere, it is therefore important to discuss your wishes ahead of time with the person or persons who will actually have to do the scattering. Another difficulty with scattering can occur when the remains are disposed of in an anonymous, unmarked or public place. Access to the area may be restricted for some reason in the future, undeveloped land may be developed, or any of a host of other conditions may arise that could make it difficult for your survivors to visit the site to remember you. Even if your cremated remains are scattered in your backyard, what happens if your survivors relocate sometime in the future? Once scattered, cremated remains cannot easily be collected back up. Having your remains placed, interred or scattered on a cemetery’s grounds ensures that future generations will have a place to go to remember. If remains are scattered somewhere outside the cemetery, many cemeteries will allow you to place a memorial of some type on the cemetery grounds, so survivors have a place to visit that will always be maintained and preserved.

It provides a focal point for memorializing the deceased. To remember, and be remembered, are natural human needs. Throughout human history, memorialization of the dead has been a key component of almost every culture. The Washington Monument, Tomb of the Unknowns and Vietnam “Wall” in Washington, D.C are examples of memorialization which demonstrate that, throughout our history, we have always honored our dead. Psychologists say that remembrance practices, from the funeral or memorial service to permanent memorialization, serve an important emotional function for survivors by helping to bring closure and allowing the healing process to begin. Providing a permanent resting place for the deceased is a dignified treatment for a loved one's mortal remains, which fulfills the natural human desire for memorialization.

Yes. Depending upon the cemetery's policy, you may be able to save a grave space by having the cremains buried on top of the casketed remains of your spouse, or utilize the space provided next to him/her. Many cemeteries allow for multiple cremated remains to be interred in a single grave space.

Yes. The remains are normally placed in an urn. Most families select an urn that is suitable for placement on a mantle or shelf. Urns are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials.

The cost depends on the type of permanent memorial, location of the memorial, urn and placement selected.

Most religious faiths accept cremation. In fact, cremation is increasing in popularity across the nation. More people are turning to cremation as a more environmentally conscious option to traditional burial.

Some religions prefer cremation; some do not recommend the practice; most permit you to choose. Today most religions allow cremation except for Orthodox Jewish, Islamic, Eastern Orthodox and a few Fundamentalist Christian faiths Should you have any questions or concerns, we suggest you speak with a member of your clergy, or contact your local prearrangement provider.

Catholic News Service announced that the Vatican now permits in the United States funeral Masses with cremated remains present. It will be the decision of each bishop to determine if this is pastorally appropriate in his diocese.

The introductory material from the Vatican reiterated that the church prefers "that the body of the deceased be present for funeral rites" and stresses that cremated remains be treated with respect and should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium. Scattering at sea, from the air or ground, or kept at home are not considered to be reverent disposition.

When cremated remains are present, they must be contained in a "worthy vessel" placed on a table or in the place normally occupied by the casket, and must be covered with a pall. The Easter Candle may be present. The urn may be carried to its place in the entrance procession or placed on a table before service begins. The words in the blessing and dismissal will be changed for cremation. The prayer or committal will read "earthly remains" in place of "body." This new Vatican decision does not affect "Eastern" churches.

Nearly all Protestant Churches allow for the urn to be present during the memorial service as well as most Catholic churches In fact, if the family is planning on a memorial service, we encourage the cremated remains be present as it provides a focal point for the service.

The death of a family member or friend not only affects adults, but also can have a profound impact on children. Children experience grief just as adults do. Child experts say that even before children are able to talk, they grieve when someone loved dies. And these feelings about the death become a part of their lives forever.

It is important to remember that children deal with death differently at different ages and that their reactions are not always obvious or immediate. A child at two or three years of age has little understanding of the meaning of death while one who is eight or nine has a capacity to grasp life’s mysteries and will remember the experience vividly. The level of a child’s emotional development should be taken into consideration by the adult before talking to the child about death or death-related topics.

Adults who are willing to talk openly about the death of a loved one help a child understand that grief is a natural feeling when someone has died. A child needs adults to confirm that it’s all right to be sad and to cry; that the hurt they feel now won’t last forever.

Caring parents can help a child during a time of loss by being open, honest and loving and by responding to his or her questions in a way that shows they care.

When answering a child’s questions, adults should keep in mind the following:

When a deceased family member or friend is to be cremated or already has been cremated, your child may want to know what cremation is. In answering your child’s questions about cremation, keep in mind the guidelines that have already been outlined. Keep your explanation of what cremation involves simple and easy-to-understand.

In explaining cremation to your child, avoid words that may have a frightening connotation such as “fire” and “burn”. Instead, in a straight-forward manner, tell your child that the deceased body, enclosed in a casket or container, is taken to a place call a crematory where it goes through a special process that reduces it to small particles resembling fine gray or white sand. Be sure to point out that a dead body feels no pain. Let your child know that these cremated remains are placed in a container called an urn and returned to the family. If cremation has already taken place and the container picked up, you may want to show it to the child. Because children are curious, your child may want to look at the contents. If your child makes such a request, look at them yourself first so that you can describe what they look like. Share this with your child. Then let the child decide whether to proceed further.

If possible, arrange for a time when you and your child can be with the body before the cremation is carried out. If handled correctly, this time can be a positive experience for the child. It can provide an opportunity for the child to say “goodbye” and accept the reality of death. However, the viewing of the body should not be forced. Use your best judgment on whether or not this should be done.

Depending on the age of your child, you may wish to include him or her in the planning of what will be done with the cremated remains. Before you do this, familiarize yourself with the many types of cremation memorials available. Some of the many options to consider include burying the remains in a family burial plot, interring them in an urn garden that many cemeteries have, or placing the urn in a columbarium niche. Defined as a recessed compartment, the niche may be an open front protected by glass or a closed front faced with bronze, marble, or granite. (An arrangement of niches is called a columbarium, which may be an entire building, a room, a bank along a corridor or a series of special indoor alcoves. It also may be part of an outdoor setting such as a garden wall.) Although your child may not completely understand these or other options for memorialization, being involved in the planning helps establish a sense of comfort and understanding that life goes on even though someone loved has died.

If you incur any difficulties in explaining death or cremation to your child, you may wish to consult a child guidance counselor who specializes in these areas.

When a child asks questions about cremation, adults should be prepared to answer.

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PACKAGES

TRADITIONAL FUNERAL SERVICES:

Full Service Package Best Value includes all services for a celebration of life tribute package These services are typically chosen for a traditional burial.
This package includes basic services of the funeral director and staff; embalming; other preparation of the body, viewing/visitation, funeral ceremony (at the Funeral Home or other location) graveside service; funeral coach; flower car/utility vehicle; transfer of remains to the funeral home.
Simple Service Package To assist those with modest economic means the following is a dignified offering that will provide families an affordable burial option. Cemetery opening & closing and setting fees for the grave are separate.
Our Simple Tribute package includes basic services of the funeral directors and staff, transfer from place of death into our care. Bathing and disinfecting unembalmed remains, funeral service at our chapel or other facility, funeral coach, graveside service, service vehicle. Funeral home will perform all preparations, including dressing & hairdressing. Service start time must be either 10:00 am or 2:00 pm. Charges for cemetery graves, opening closing the grave, newspaper obituaries, flowers and clergy honorarium are additional.

CREMATION SERVICES:

The following is a list of choices which represent the cost of our services. They may or may not include the casket or container required for visitation or viewing, burial, entombment or cremation. You are in no way limited to these service options. You may itemize services in order to select only those which are right for you.
Celebration of Life Service with Cremation Following Service includes everything usually selected for a Celebration of Life service. Selections Charges for newspaper obituary, flowers and certified death certificates are additional
This package includes basic services of the funeral director and staff; transfer of remains to the funeral home; embalming; other preparation of the body; viewing/visitation (at the Funeral Home); funeral ceremony (at the Funeral Home); flower car/utility vehicle; ceremonial casket w/insert; transportation to the crematory and crematory fee. NOTE: for services conducted outside of the funeral home there will be an additional charge of 265.00 for the use of a hearse. The following casket is included: Ceremonial. A full list of urns and memorial packages are available at the funeral home.
Memorial Service with Cremation Cremation with ceremony of life service to follow. This plan is designed to accommodate families that are choosing cremation and prefer to have a ceremony following to honor a life well spent.
This package includes basic services of the funeral director and staff; transferring from place of death into our care, bathing and disinfecting of unembalmed remains, refrigeration, transfer to the crematory, alternative container, flower/utility vehicle, crematory fee, ceremony (at our facility or at other place of worship). A full list of urns and memorial packages are available at the funeral home.
Immediate Cremation No service or viewing. Charges for newspaper obituary and certified death certificates are additional. Authorizing agent must select from the funeral home or provide suitable containers prior to and following the cremation.
This package includes reduced basic services of the funeral director and staff; washing and disinfecting unembalmed remains; refrigeration; service vehicle; transfer of remains to the funeral home; transfer to the crematory; crematory fee and alternative container. A cremation tray for respectful care of the remains and suitable container for the cremated remains need to be selected. Options are available from our funeral home.