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Frequently Asked Questions

 

1.  What do funeral directors do?  Primarily they safeguard the deceased person until final disposition, including embalming and other preparation work.  They also arrange and provide an orderly series of events that finalize the funeral, the final disposition and the legal paperwork so the family can proceed forward.

2.  Why are funerals so expensive?  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 may be attributed to a lack of familiarity with the normal price range.  If you find that the price for certain merchandise seems too high, you should check into different types of funerals. 

    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.

3.  Why are some casket prices more than others?  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 made of soft pine wood.  A casket with crepe interior materials would be priced less than an interior of velvet because of the quality 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.

4.  What happens if someone close to me dies away from home?  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.

5.  Must I purchase a burial vault?  In most areas of the country, state or local laws do 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 grave liner of a burial vault will satisfy these requirements.

6.  What really is embalming?  Embalming is a temporary preservation of a dead human body.  The process is accomplished by a surgical-like technique of injecting chemical solutions into the deceased's vascular system, thus producing a natural life like appearance.  The process dramatically retards tissue decomposition creating a time frame for a viewing and funeral service.

7.  Regarding embalming, what are my rights as a consumer?  According to the Federal Trade Commission Funeral Rule, all funeral homes are required to get permission.  If you select a funeral service which requires embalming, such as a funeral with a viewing, you may need embalming.  You are not required to have embalming if you selected arrangements such as a direct cremation or immediate burial.  If a funeral home charges for embalming, they must explain why in writing. EXAMPLE:  i. Selected service with a viewing ii. Arranged for shipment by common carrier or iii.  Selected arrangements that require the funeral home to hold the remains for more than 24 hours provided that no refrigeration is available, a sealed container is not used and provided that embalming does not conflict with religious beliefs.

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