Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What purpose does a funeral serve?
A funeral is the customary way to recognize death and its finality. Funerals are recognized rituals for the living that show respect for the dead and help survivors begin the grief process.
Q: What do funeral directors do?
Funeral directors are caregivers and administrators. They make the arrangements for transportation of the body and complete all necessary paperwork. They implement the choices made by the deceased, or the family of the deceased, regarding the funeral and final disposition of the body.
Funeral directors are listeners, advisors and supporters. They have experience in assisting the bereaved as they cope with death. Funeral directors are trained to answer questions about grief, recognize when a person is having difficulty coping and recommend sources of professional help. Funeral directors also link survivors with support groups at the funeral home or in the community.
Q: Why have a public viewing?
Viewing is part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Many grief specialists believe that viewing aids the grief process by helping the bereaved recognize the reality of death. Viewing is encouraged for children, as long as the process is explained and the activity voluntary.
Q: What is the purpose of embalming?
Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body and retards the decomposition process. It also enhances the appearance of a body disfigured by traumatic death or illness.
Embalming makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, thus allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them.
Q: Do human remains have to be embalmed, according to law?
No. Most states, however, require embalming in certain circumstances:
- when death is caused by a reportable contagious disease
- when remains are to be transported from one state to another by common carrier
- if final disposition will not be made within a prescribed number of hours.
Q: Isn't burial space becoming scarce?
It is true some metropolitan areas have limited available cemetery space. However, in most areas of the country, there is enough space set aside for the next 50 years, so creating new cemeteries will not be necessary. In addition, land available for new cemeteries is more than adequate, especially with increases in entombment and multi-level grave burial.
Q: Why are funerals so expensive?
When compared to other major life cycle events, like births and weddings, funerals are not expensive. A wedding costs at least three times as much, but because it is a happy event, wedding costs are rarely criticized.
A funeral home is a 24-hour, labor-intensive business with extensive facilities and resources (viewing rooms, chapels, limousines, hearses, etc.), and these expenses must be factored into funeral costs. Moreover, the cost of a funeral includes not only merchandise, like caskets, but the services of a funeral director in making arrangements; filing appropriate forms; dealing with doctors, ministers, florists, newspapers and others; and seeing to all the necessary details.
Contrary to popular belief, funeral homes are largely family-owned businesses with modest profit margins. The statistics below may be helpful in assessing the true economic status of funeral homes:
- Family-owned 85%
- Firm in business for 63 years
- Average calls/year 165
(Source: 1995 NFDA Survey of Funeral Home Operations)
Q: What should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend?
Most funeral directors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you may call at any time.
Q: Will someone come right away?
Yes, if you request immediate assistance. If your family wishes to spend a short time with the deceased to say goodbye, someone will come when your time is right.
Q: If a loved one dies out of state, can the local funeral home still help?
Yes, the funeral home in that area can assist you with out-of-state arrangements, whether it be to transfer the remains to or from another state.
Q: I've decided on cremation. Can I still have a funeral or a viewing?
Yes. Quite often a traditional viewing precedes cremation. Your funeral director can provide you with all necessary information and help you arrange for a funeral followed by a cremation or a memorial service.