Funeral
& Burial Questions
What purpose does a funeral serve?
It is the customary
way to recognize death and its finality. Funerals are recognized rituals
for the living to show respect for the dead and to help survivors
begin the grief process.
What
do funeral directors do?
Funeral
directors are caregivers and administrators. They make the arrangements
for transportation of the body, complete all necessary paperwork,
and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral
and final disposition of the body. Funeral directors are listeners,
advisors and supporters. They have experience assisting the bereaved
in coping with death. Funeral directors are trained to answer questions
about grief, recognize when a person is having difficulty coping,
and recommend sources of professional help. Funeral directors also
link survivors with support groups at the funeral home or in the community.
Do
you have to have a funeral director to bury the dead?
In most states, family members may bury their own dead although
regulations vary. However, most people find it very trying to be solely
responsible for arranging the details and legal matters surrounding
a death.
Why
have a public viewing?
Viewing is part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Many
grief specialists believe that viewing aids the grief process by helping
the bereaved recognize the reality of death. Viewing is encouraged
for children, as long as the process is explained and the activity
voluntary.
Is
it possible to have a traditional funeral if someone dies of AIDS?
Yes,
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.
Isn't
burial space becoming scarce?
While
it is true some metropolitan areas have limited available cemetery
space, in most areas of the country, there is enough space set aside
for the next 50 years without creating new cemeteries. In addition,
land available for new cemeteries is more than adequate, especially
with the increase in entombment and multi-level grave burial.
Embalming
Questions
What
is the purpose of embalming?
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.
Does
a dead body have to be embalmed, according to law?
No.
Most states, however, require embalming when death was caused by a
reportable contagious disease or when remains are to be transported
from one state to another by common carrier or if final disposition
is not to be made within a prescribed number of hours.
Cremation
Questions
Is
cremation a substitute for a funeral?
No, cremation is an alternative to earth burial or entombment for
the body's final disposition and often follows a traditional funeral
service. In fact, according to FTC figures for 1987, direct cremation
occurred in only 3% of deaths.
So,
I've decided on cremation. Can I still have a funeral or a viewing?
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.
Funeral
Cost Questions
Why
are funerals so expensive?
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.
What
recourse does a consumer have for poor service or overcharging?
Funeral service is regulated by the FTC and state licensing boards.
In most cases, the consumer should discuss problems with the funeral
director first. If the dispute cannot be solved by talking with the
funeral director, the consumer may wish to contact the Funeral Service
Consumer Assistance Program. FSCAP provides information, mediates
disputes, provides arbitration, and maintains a consumer guarantee
fund for reimbursement of services rendered. (To contact FSCAP, call
708-827-6337 or 800-662-7666).
Do
funeral directors take advantage of the bereaved?
Funeral directors are caring individuals who help people deal with
a very stressful time. They serve the same families 80% of the time,
and many have spent most of their lives in the same community. If
they took advantage of bereaved families, they could not stay in business.
The fact that the average funeral home has been in business over 59
years shows that most funeral directors respect the wishes of the
bereaved families.
Is
it right to make a profit from death?
Funeral directors look upon their profession as a service, but it
is also a business. Like any business, funeral homes must make a profit
to exist. As long as the profit is reasonable and the services rendered
are necessary, complete, and satisfactory to the family, profit is
legitimate.
Don't
funeral directors mark caskets up tremendously, at least 400%?
No. Talking about the mark up on caskets is really not the point.
Most items--clothing, furniture, jewelry--are marked up as much or
more than caskets. The real question is whether the funeral director
is making an excessive profit, And that answer is "No."
Profits run around 12.5% before taxes -- not excessive by any standard.
Who
pays for funerals for the indigent?
Other than the family, there are veteran, union, and other organizational
benefits to pay for funerals, including, in certain instances, a lump
sum death payment from Social Security. In most states, some form
of public aid allowances are available from either the state, county,
or city or a combination. Most funeral directors are aware of the
various benefits and know how to obtain them for the indigent. However,
funeral directors often absorb costs above and beyond what is provided
by agencies to ensure the deceased a respectable burial.
What
to do if a Death Occurs
What
should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the
weekend?
Most Funeral Directors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a
week. Click here for more information.
Will
someone come right away?
If you request immediate assistance, yes. If the family wishes to
spend a short time with the deceased to say good bye, it's acceptable.
They will come when your time is right.
If
a loved one dies out of state , can the local Funeral Home still help?
Yes, they can assist you with out-of-state arrangements, either to
transfer the remains to another state or from another state. Click
here for more information.
Where
can I find more information about what to do when a death occurs,
as well as veterans and social secuirty benefits?
We have provided all that information for you. Follow these links
for more information on what to do when a death occurs and veteran
and social secuirty benefits.
