Funerals
Funerals are the final chapter of our lives. When
a loved one passes, grieving family members and friends
are confronted with dozens of decisions to make about
funerals. Unfortunately, decisions must be
made swiftly and under great emotional duress. What
kinds of
funerals are available? Which funeral
home providers are most knowledgeable about
funerals?
Should I cremate, bury or donate my loved one to science?
What are the legal requirements? What type of estate
decisions and arrangements must be made? Are dignified
services affordable for my loved one? As a leader among
the nation's largest network of
funerals, cremations
and cemetery providers, our professional staff, at Funeral
& Cremation Emporium is here to help you with these
essential decisions.
At this moment family members will be faced with financial
decisions that can be overwhelming, especially with
the approaching deadlines. Every family is different,
and not everyone envisions the same type of
funerals.
Funerals are influenced by cultural and religious
traditions, as well as costs and personal preferences.
These factors help determine whether
funerals
will be elaborate or simple, public or private, religious
or secular, and where it will be held.
Listed below are some types of
funerals that may be selected:
1. The type of funeral, often referred to by providers
as "traditional"
funerals, usually includes
viewings or visitations and formal services; such
as a burials, entombments or cremations of decedents.
These ceremonies are generally the most expensive.
In addition to the funeral home's basic professional
services fee; costs often include embalming and
dressing of the decedent, rental of the funeral
home for the viewing and / or service, and the rental
of a hearse and limousine(s) for transportation
of the deceased and their family. The fees of
caskets, cemetery plots
or crypts and other goods for
funerals
must also be included.
2. Direct burial
funerals are immediate
disposition of decedents at cemeteries. Neither
viewings nor visitations take place; therefore embalming
is not necessary. Memorial services or gatherings
may be held at gravesides. Direct burials usually
cost substantially less than "traditional" or full
service
funerals. Costs include: A. Funeral
home's basic professional services B. Casket purchases
or burial containers C. Transportation and decedents
care D. Cemetery plot or crypt fees. Graveside services
would be an additional cost.
3. Direct
Cremation
funerals are the incineration of human
remains shortly after death has occurred. These
funerals are currently the most cost effective.
Embalming is not a requirement. Families usually
place the decedent's cremated remains in
cremation urns
or other appropriate receptacles. Memorial service
funerals with or without the cremains present
may be held in remembrance of your loved one at
a church or funeral chapel. These types of
funerals
allow families and friends to attend life celebrations.
The cremated remains may be kept in the home, buried
at cemeteries, placed in crypts, niches, or scattered
at sea / one's favorite place. Costs for these simple
funerals include: A. Basic professional
services of funeral director and staff B. Alternative
cremation container or cremation casket fee C. Transportation
fee from the place of demise to the crematory D.
Purchase of an urn or other receptacle selected
by the family. An additional fee would apply if
the cremated remains are scattered at sea by a scattering
service or placed at a cemetery inside of a plot,
niche or scattering garden.
Pre-planning
funerals will help relieve families
of undue pressure while grieving. Dealing with the loss
of a loved one is very strenuous for family members
to manage. An increasing number of people are planning
their own
funerals, designating their preferences,
and sometimes even paying for them in advance. They
see pre-planning
funerals as an extension of
will and estate planning. One is relieved to be sparing
their loved one from making difficult decisions during
a time of pressure and strong emotion.
For your protection, the "Funeral Rule", enforced by
the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), protects consumers
by allowing them to purchase funeral goods, such as
caskets and other items from a source other than funeral
homes, without being penalized in any way. When beginning
the arrangement process, the funeral director, by law,
must give you a General Price List (GPL) of the goods
and services they provide. With the exception of the
non-declinable fee (the basic fee of the funeral director
and staff, which must be accepted), you can choose or
omit any item on their GPL. The funeral director cannot
change the prices on their GPL, charge you a fee, or
offer you different price lists to penalize you for
purchasing funeral goods elsewhere.
While inquiring about
funerals you should not
limit your search to just one particular funeral home
because you may risk paying more than necessary for
the services. You will be narrowing your choice and
options of goods and services that may be available.
Comparison shopping for
funerals need not be
difficult, especially if it's done in the comfort of
your own home by searching
funerals on websites
or by the use of a telephone. The "Funeral Rule" requires
directors to provide pricing information for
funerals
from the site or over the phone to anyone who inquires.
In addition, many funeral homes are happy to mail you
their price lists and company information at your request.
When comparing prices for
funerals, be sure
to consider the total cost of all items together.
Planning
funerals are a very important. For
those who are left behind,
funerals provide
the focal point from which the healing process to begin,
a place for family and friends to gather to reminisce
and support each other; an opportunity to celebrate
the life and accomplishments of a loved one; and a chance
to say goodbye. We are here to help you begin that healing
process. Our staff is available 24 hours daily to answer
all of you questions and concerns, so please don't hesitate
to contact us at any hour. For additional information
on
funerals; please complete the "contact us"
information and our staff will mail brochures to you
immediately.
