Is a funeral really necessary?

Death is one of the most difficult losses we can experience – especially the death of a family member or spouse. The visitation and funeral service can be “tools” that help us accept the fact of death and permanent separation as the real thing. It becomes a time of consolation to those who have experience the loss – a time for friends to SHARE their grief.

The funeral helps us remember the life of the lost one. It provides strength for the family and friends and communicates to all those attending that this life is now permanently separated from ours.

Sometimes those who suffer do not attend the funeral of a loved and close one, and as a result, suffer more afterwards. The funeral can become the first stepping stone to the rebuilding of our own lives without the presence of the deceased.
 

What about Cremation?

If it is the wish of the family or was the wish of the deceased they be cremated, as opposed to earth burial, the funeral director in your area is in a position to make all the necessary arrangements and is familiar with all of the procedural problems.

Because cremation is merely an option to earth burial, this does not mean that the other parts of the funeral service may be traditional. For instance, you can still have a public or private visitation, a funeral service with the casket present and cremation occurring following the service, or a memorial service after the visitation period, with the urn present.

Your local funeral director can advise you with regard to your specific needs or requests, and can also offer a variety of urns for the containment of the cremated remains.

Cremated remains can be either interred in a cemetery lot, scattered in an appropriate setting, or kept for a later time to permit the cremated remains of the spouse to be interred or scattered at the same time.
 

What To Do When A Death
Occurs Out of Town

If you are ever involved in arranging a funeral for someone who dies out of town, you should contact a local funeral director who will make arrangements with a funeral director in the city or town where the death occurred.

Our membership in professional organizations give us contact with many highly qualified funeral professionals across North America. Your local funeral director will take the necessary steps to have the deceased brought home. They will confer with you at long distance, or with other family members locally, to plan the funeral.

It is important to call your local funeral director first. This will avoid duplication of effort and fees. Fell free to contact them at any time. All funeral directors are on call 24 hours a day.

Should the Casket be Open or Closed?

This question can only be answered by the family, never by the funeral director, under normal circumstances.

There are several options available to the family. The casket can be open during the visitation, or open for private family viewing only, and closed during the visitation. The casket can also be closed at all times, for both the family and visitors.

The customs of the family’s faith and the influence of their clergyperson’s thoughts may help determine what is to be done. In all cases, your funeral director puts forth their best effort to ensure the family may have viewing, if at all possible, and if desired.

Modern psychologists tell us that viewing the deceased helps the family accept the fact of death, especially when it may have been sudden or unexpected. If, however, the appearance of the deceased cannot be made acceptable, viewing may be possibly harmful. The family’s own wishes on the desired procedure will always be the guideline for your funeral director. They will respect the family’s wishes on all particulars of the funeral, as they try to provide a truly personal and meaningful service.
 

How is a Military or Fraternal Funeral Handled?

When a veteran’s military funeral and or burial is required, there are suggested ceremonies, equipment and procedures that can become part of the service. We have the ceremonial equipment and are versed in protocol, so that we can provide services honoring the Veteran in his final hour.

Fraternal orders, such as the Masons, K of C, or others, also have specific funeral requirements. We have conducted many, many funerals for members of fraternal and religious orders, so we are used to handling those rituals so important to the brotherhood.

If you would like advance information regarding military requirements and veteran’s funeral and burial expense allowances, contact your local funeral director. They would be pleased to assist you in any way possible.