Frequently Asked Questions

When a death occurs away from home one of the first questions to ask is will there be any type of service where the death occurred.  If there will not be, your first step is to contact our funeral home.  Our funeral home staff will arrange with another funeral home or mortuary, where the death occurred, to have preparation and transportation made back to our funeral home.  This method often is less expensive than if you were to work directly with a funeral home where the death occurred.

For thousands of years, funerals have allowed survivors to express their feelings about the death of someone they love.  The rituals provide comfort when things seem chaotic and out of control.  The funeral is for expressing intense grief.  For many, a gathering or visitation followed by a celebration or funeral or memorial service is the first step in the grieving process.  It is a time when friends, family and other guests can come together to grieve openly and to support one another in a community environment.  It is also a time to say good-bye.  Viewing the deceased is an important step in the grieving process.

• Pick up the deceased and transport the body to the funeral home (anytime day or night)
• Arrange and prepare death certificates and other legal documents
• Help the family obtain certified copies of death certificate
• Help explain some of the benefits which are available through Social Security or the Veteran's Administration
• Help to prepare and submit obituary information to the newspapers of your choice
• Bathe and embalm the deceased body
• Prepare the body for viewing including dressing and cosmeticize
• Assist the family with funeral arrangements and purchase of casket, urn, burial vault and cemetery plot
• Schedule the opening and closing of the grave with cemetery personnel
• Coordinate with clergy if a funeral or memorial service is to be held
• Arrange transportation to the funeral and/or cemetery for the family
• Help order funeral sprays and other flower arrangements as the family wishes
• Provide Aftercare, or grief assistance, to the bereaved

It is a process which sanitizes and temporarily preserves a dead body for the funeral service.  It delays the decomposition process and allows time for viewing and services by the family prior to burial or cremation.  It restores a life-like appearance to the body and can enhance the appearance of a body that has undergone a traumatic death or illness.

No, however many states require embalming under certain circumstances such as when the death is caused by a contagious disease or if final disposition is not made within a certain time frame.  Embalming preserves the body, often allowing more time for arrangements.  It is generally required if there will be a visitation.  If the deceased is to be directly buried or cremated, embalming is not necessary.

The casket and cremation discount stores do not have a history of longevity in the business.   Casket and cremation retail stores may also have limited suppliers for merchandise.  We purchase our fine quality products from reputable casket and cremation companies who have been in the business for many years.  Their products all come with a liability warranty.  If you are considering purchasing a casket or other merchandise from a source other than your funeral professional we encourage you to first check with your funeral professional to make sure you are comparing identical products when comparing prices.

Yes, cremation is only a method of disposition of the body; it does not limit your options. The cremation can take place either before or after a funeral depending on what type of service you choose. Oftentimes, families choose to have the body present for a gathering and celebration service with cremation to follow. You can still have a viewing, funeral/memorial service and burial.