1. What is the purpose of a funeral?

It's important to recognize that funerals and memorial ceremonies are for the living ... for those who are affected by the loss of a loved one. It is through the funeral process that a number of emotional needs are met for those who grieve.

A funeral is similar to other ceremonies in our lives. Like a graduation ceremony, a wedding, a baptism, and a bar mitzvah, a funeral is a rite of passage by which we recognize an important event that distinguishes our lives.

A funeral acts as a formal declaration of a death. It provides for the disposition of the body with or without rites and ceremonies. It is a testament to a life lived.

The gathering of family and friends for a time of sharing and funeral service helps to provide emotional support so needed at this time. This will help those who grieve to face the reality of death and consequently, to take the first step toward a healthy emotional adjustment. A funeral helps meet the spiritual and emotional needs of the survivors and also serves the community as a whole.

The funeral can and does take on many varied forms. Funerals can last from minutes to months and are usually influenced by the lifestyle and values of the bereaved family and friends.

2. What do I need to know when I first call?

You need to know:
a. The full name of the deceased
b. Where the deceased is located
c. Who pronounced the deceased and who are the attending physicians
d. Who is the next of kin and who will be making the arrangements.
e. The basic components of the funeral and where interment, entombment, or cremation will take place.

3. What do I need for the arrangement conference?

You will need: the vital statistics of the deceased (parents, survivors, birth date, birthplace, grade last completed in school, social security number, military service, etc.; and any insurance information and/or estate questions.) We will be glad to assist in filling claims; clothes for the deceased; and a picture for cosmetology purposes.

4. Is embalming required?

Except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law. However, it is often necessary for certain funeral arrangements such as an open casket viewing. If you do not want embalming, you usually have the right to choose an arrangement that does not require you to pay for it, such as direct cremation of immediate burial.

5. Who do I call first if a person dies outside of town?

Please call our funeral home first. We will take care of making arrangements to return the deceased to our funeral home.

6. What about death certificates, Social Security and Veteran benefits?

Our staff is very experienced in this field. We will file death certificates for you as well as notify the Social Security Administration. If there are benefits available, we will help you contact the appropriate resources. We will also file all Veteran claims and procure flags, markers, and death benefits. All we need is a copy of the deceased's military discharge (DD-214). For more information on Social Security and Veteran’s benefits, please see our Resources page.