What do I need to know about funeral homes?
When a person loses a loved one, they are in an extremely vulnerable emotional state. He or she needs support and encouragement, but first and foremost he or she needs to think about how to arrange a funeral. Funeral homes have staff, equipment and special facilities designed to help the loved ones of the deceased with organization.
source: peoples.ru
The main services a funeral home can provide are
- Being able to take the deceased to a funeral home.
- Conducting consultations with relatives and loved ones about funeral arrangements.
- Conducting embalming, dressing procedure for the deceased, makeup and other cosmetic procedures, hair cutting and styling and, if necessary, body restoration.
- Drawing up the necessary documents and records (death certificate, related documents related to death benefits, creating and publishing obituaries).
- Providing funeral related products (coffin, urn, casket, etc.).
- Provision of related goods of clerical type. As a rule, these are guest registration books, prayer cards, and memorial folders.
- Coordination of plans with clergy, cemeteries or crematoriums.
- Providing transportation to transport the deceased, as well as his family, relatives and all guests.
- Preparation and decoration with flowers and other decorations of the room in which the ceremony will take place. Organization of musical accompaniment.
- Organization and supervision of the funeral ceremony.
- In some cases organization of alternative options for funeral ceremonies.
- As a rule, everything starts with a choice. Here are a few questions to answer when choosing a funeral home.
How long has the funeral home been in business?
Perhaps it’s important to you that the funeral home is owned by the same family and has been operating under certain canons for several centuries? Or conversely, are you considering a bureau from a national chain?
Are all services at the funeral home provided by full-time staff?
Some funeral homes hire additional staff to provide certain services. This can affect the overall cost, so it’s worth checking in advance to see if all services are provided by the staff of the funeral home.
What funeral programs and packages does the bureau offer?
Find out whether funeral homes can offer you a set of separate options (perhaps you don’t need consultations or preparation of documents) or a full package of services, which will include a full cycle of preparation. Depending on which program you choose, the price will vary.
What are the basic costs and what additional costs may be incurred?
If additional expenses are expected, you should be prepared for that. It is better to clarify this right away. On the websites of some funeral homes, you can immediately see a list of prices for services and everything you need to organize the funeral. If you do not see what you need in this list, ask right away.
Will the family be able to arrange the ceremony based on their preferences?
This is usually a question that comes up when it comes to arranging a military funeral. Inquire if the bureau can accommodate all your wishes regarding the burial, memorial service and military honors. Again, some services may be included in the general price list, while others will need to be paid for separately.
In general, ask any questions that interest you, because the nuances of the ceremony and your expenses will depend on it.
Choosing a funeral home is just one of the many decisions you will have to make in the difficult days of saying goodbye to a loved one. Some people choose a funeral home in advance and make arrangements for the entire process to spare their loved ones the added stress of funeral planning as well as the sudden expense. Because finding a funeral home instantly isn’t easy, whether you’ve just lost a loved one or are doing the pre-planning yourself. The details surrounding a death are quite legitimate reasons for worry and pain.