FAQs: General
| Question #1 | What is a funeral? |
| Answer: | A funeral is a time when friends and family gather to celebrate a life and mourn the loss of a loved one. The funeral is the starting point of the recovery process and the first step toward healing. |
| Question #2 | Why Do We Have Funerals? |
| Answer: | 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. The funeral declares that a death has occurred. It celebrates the life that has been lived, and offers family and friends the opportunity to pay tribute to their loved one. 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. 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. |
| Question #3 | What type of funeral service should I have? |
| Answer: | A funeral service can be open to the public or accessible by invitation only. You can choose burial or cremation, a large service or a small one. And you can follow the liturgy of the religion of your choice. Our funeral directors are trained to provide you with support and guidance to help you plan a funeral that reflects your needs and desires. |
| Question #4 | Can I personalize my funeral service? |
| Answer: | You most certainly can. Each funeral should reflect the life of the deceased – and no two people are the same. We encourage you to let us know exactly how you want yourself or your loved one to be remembered and we will do our best to create a ceremony that will truly celebrate your life. |
| Question #5 | Why should we have a public viewing? |
| Answer: | While not every tradition encourages a public viewing, we believe that they serve a purpose. Making a viewing part of your funeral service provides closure to all in attendance, especially the bereaved. Studies show that viewing the body helps the bereaved recognize the reality of death and can help in the grieving process. |
| Question #6 | What does a funeral director do? |
| Answer: | Our funeral directors are here to help you, any time of any day. It is our job to care for you at one of the most difficult times of your life. We work with you to plan the memorial. We carry out all wishes during the funeral and in the disposition of the body. We promise to guide you in the right direction when planning the funeral and help you before, during and after the service. |
| Question #7 | What should I do if a death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend? |
| Answer: | Call us. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you need immediate assistance, one of our funeral directors will be there. |
| Question #8 | What should I do if a death occurs while away from home? |
| Answer: | Our funeral directors can help you no matter where a death has occurred. We’ll take care of everything from bringing your loved one back home to helping you arrange the service. |
| Question #9 | What Options Are Available in Services and Disposition? |
| Answer: | A valuable aspect of contemporary funerals is their individuality. Whether a ceremony is elaborate or simple, funerals are often individualized to reflect the life of the deceased and to hold special meaning for family and other survivors. It may reflect one's religious beliefs as a reaffirmation of faith in a greater life beyond this world. It may reflect the occupation or hobbies of the deceased. It may center around an ethnic background or social affiliation. In our society, three basic forms of final disposition are practiced. The first is earth burial which continues to be the form of disposition chosen most often. Cremation is also a choice. This is a process of preparing the body for final disposition whereby the body is reduced by intense heat over several hours to a few pounds of small fragments. These cremated remains are usually placed in an urn which may be buried, placed in a memorial niche, or kept in some other location. Cremated remains may also be scattered where permitted by law. Finally, entombment in a crypt is also a choice and is one of the oldest forms of disposition. Today many cemeteries maintain crypts for entombment which may be in a mausoleum or in an outdoor garden. |
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