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Funeral Homes - What They Can Do For
You
By S Matthews
When somebody dies, it's a shock. And once the shock
wears off, there's the question of what to do next. Few
of us are fully prepared to make funeral arrangements,
unless we've had the dubious honor of doing it all
before, and most of us don't even know the location of
our local funeral home.
A funeral is intended to celebrate a person's life.
Planning the right type of funeral, one that can give
comfort to friends and family while remembering the
deceased, is a feat in itself.
Once you do find its location (just look in the phone
book), it's not really that difficult to plan the
funeral - with their advice and help. Of course, there
are cheaper ways of planning a funeral, but leaving the
arrangements in the hands of the professionals is by far
the easiest way to go - both figuratively and literally.
They will take into account the wishes of both the
deceased and surviving family members, and plan a
funeral that meets both expectations.
Remember, you are by no means obligated to use all the
services that a funeral home offers. For example, they
may provide only top-of-the-line caskets (read:
expensive) and you may prefer a cheaper one, one that is
"green" and made of cardboard, bamboo or jute, or just a
simple cremation urn. They may urge you to hold a
five-course meal at a fancy restaurant following the
wake, or gently suggest that you hire a fleet of
limousines to carry the grieving party. Don't be
pressured into purchasing items or services that you do
not want or need - just say no!
What is a Funeral Home?
Also known as a funeral parlor or mortuary, a funeral
home is a business that does everything to care for the
deceased. From memorial services to burials, they do
everything possible to help the local community when
loved ones have passed on.
Here are a few of the services funeral homes or
mortuaries offer:
* Funeral pre-planning. Some people choose to pay in
advance and have their funeral ready well in advance of
their death. This makes it easier on surviving friends
and family, and also makes sure your own funeral lives
up to your last wishes.
* Document preparation. Many documents, including Social
Security forms and death certificates, will have to be
prepared after death. The Funeral Director will have a
list of what needs to be done and take care of most of
it for you.
* Funeral services. A funeral ceremony or memorial
service does not have to be held a a funeral home or
place of worship, it can be at a home, cemetery, park or
garden. The funeral home can help you decide where you
want it to be and advise you on the arrangements that
need to be made.
* Merchandise. Many funeral homes these days offer a
wide variety of merchandise, including caskets, burial
vaults, urns, monuments and keepsakes - ranging from
necklaces with a thumb print of the deceased indelibly
put on to teddy bears with tiny urns inside.
* Cremation services. While cremations take place in
crematoriums, the funeral home can help you make all
necessary arrangements.
* Preparation of the body. If you want your loved one to
be embalmed the funeral home can do this for you, as
well as choose a suitable goodbye outfit for the
deceased etc. A trained mortician will explain what has
to be done beforehand, if desired, and you will have
some say in the proceedings.
* Transport. A funeral director will make arrangements
for the transport of the deceased. If you wish the body
to cross state lines, there are often additional
considerations to take into account.
* Contact of clergy. You can ask for this to be done for
you, which may be helpful.
* Arrange a reception in a restaurant. Ditto, as above.
But be aware that some homes will recommend only those
eateries from which they will receive a hefty
commission.
* Obituary writing. Most funeral homes will help you
gather information you need to write an obituary. This
will include vital statistics such as age, place of
birth, occupation and names of survivors, but will also
include more interesting tidbits such as hobbies,
interests, educational and other achievements and club
affiliations. You can either write the article yourself
or have the funeral director or undertaker do it for
you, then submit it to publications requested by you.
* Florist. Many people choose to use one designated
florist for the funeral. The funeral home will have a
list on hand and can make contact for you if needed,
although you are welcome to use anyone you wish.
* Grief support. Grieving doesn't end when the lid snaps
shut on the coffin. Many people find they still need
help and support for months - even years - after a loved
one dies. Good funeral homes will provide a list of what
grief support services are available, and explain what
it all means.
Having a funeral is difficult both emotionally and
financially, and for many people finding a helpful,
supportive and affordable funeral home is the solution
to many problems. A funeral director can guide you
through all the decisions you have to make, and give
advice on planning a memorable funeral that is
tailor-made to meet your specific needs.
A funeral is intended to celebrate a person's life.
Planning the right type of funeral, one that can give
comfort to friends and family while remembering the
deceased, is a feat in itself. The right funeral home
can provide all the help you need to make this a day to
remember - and one that hopefully will not break the
bank.
Sarah Matthews is a writer for Yodle, a business
directory and online advertising company. Find a Healer
at Yodle Local or more Health & Medicine articles at
Yodle Consumer Guide. |
