Funeral Planning

Funeral planning is a difficult task to face. When someone you love passes, grief stricken family and friends are often confronted with numerous decisions that must be made quickly. We, at Funeral & Cremation Emporium are here to lend our helping hand to you while making these necessary decisions. Here are some questions we will answer throughout this guide: When funeral planning, what type of funeral should I arrange? While funeral planning should I consider arranging a burial or cremation? What funeral home should I contact? What are the legal requirements? What type decisions about the estate must be made? Am I able to afford a respectful funeral for my loved one?

Pre-funeral planning your services will relieve your family of additional stress while suffering a tremendous loss. An increasing number of people are funeral planning for themselves by expressing personal preference, and even paying for their funeral in advance. They see funeral planning as an extension of will and estate planning. It’s a relief to spare their loved ones from making difficult decisions during a time of enormous pressure and grief. Unfortunately, facing financial decisions can also be overwhelming, especially with rapidly approaching deadlines. We guarantee that our firm provides a professional dignified service at the most affordable price. Your funeral director will be able explain all legalities required by your state, depending on the type of final disposition that you may choose. All families are different, and not everyone wants the same type of funeral planning. Funeral planning service practices are influenced by personal preferences, religious and cultural traditions, as well as financial strain. These factors help determine whether funeral planning will be simple or elaborate, private or public, religious or secular, and the location where the ceremony will be held.

The Funeral Rule protects funeral planning, and is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This rule protects consumers by allowing them to purchase funeral items, such as caskets and other merchandise from a third party, without being penalized. When you begin funeral planning, the funeral director, by law, must present you with a General Price List (GPL) of the merchandise and services available. With the exception of the non-declinable fee (the basic fee of the funeral director and staff, which must be accepted), you can select or omit any item on their general price list. The funeral director cannot legally change the prices on their GPL, charge you a fee, or provide you with a different price list to penalize you if you wish to purchase funeral merchandise from a third party.

An excellent way to begin funeral planning is to comparison shop from the comfort of your own home by searching the internet. At your request, many funeral homes are required to mail you their general price lists itemizing complete funeral costs. When funeral planning be sure to consider total charges from the funeral home and cemetery as well as any outside service that will be utilize. Listed below are common funeral services that should be considered when funeral planning:

1. Traditional Funeral: This type of funeral planning usually consists of a viewing or visitation with a formal memorial ceremony to follow; such as a burial, entombment or cremation of the decedent. Funeral planning for this type of arrangements will be the most costly. Along with the funeral home’s services fee, funeral costs often include embalming and dressing of the decedent, rental of the funeral home for the viewing and memorial service, rental of the hearse for the decedent and limousine(s) rental for transportation of the family. The fees of a casket, cemetery plot / crypt and other funeral merchandise must also be considered.
   
   
2. Immediate Burial: Funeral planning for this type consists of the immediate disposition of the decedent at the cemetery. A viewing /visitation will not take place; therefore embalming is not required. A graveside service may be held. An immediate burial costs much less than a traditional funeral service. When funeral planning don’t forget to include charges for the funeral home’s basic professional services, casket or burial container fee, care and transportation of the deceased, and all cemetery fees. When funeral planning, also consider that if you decide to have a graveside service there will additional costs.
   
   
3. Direct Cremation: When funeral planning for this type of disposition, remember the act of cremation is irreversible. Direct cremation is the incineration of human remains after death has occurred. Cremation is currently the most affordable. Embalming is not required. A memorial service with or without the cremated remains present can be held. The cremains can be kept at a residence, buried in a cemetery plot, placed inside a niche, or scattered at sea or on land. Costs include professional services of funeral director and staff, fees for either a cremation casket or alternative container, transportation fees from the place of demise to the crematory and the purchase of a cremation urn or other receptacle selected by immediate family. Additional fees would apply if the cremated remains are scattered by a scattering service or placed at a cemetery inside of a plot, niche or scattering garden.

Including a memorial service or gathering while funeral planning allows family and friends to say a final-goodbye to their loved one. The ceremony place allows a peaceful location for family and friends to congregate and lend support to each other. This provides the focal point for the healing process to begin. We are here to guide you in arranging a memorable funeral for your loved one. Our funeral directors are available at any hour to assist you when you are funeral planning. In addition, you can complete the “contact us” information and our staff will send you additional funeral planning information.