What do we do immediately following the death of our loved one?

If the death occurred at home without medical assistance, i.e. Hospice, Home Health or a Physician, then call your funeral director and explain the circumstance. They can help determine who else should be notified. Usually the death occurs in a medical facility or under medical care. In those instances the people in charge will call your funeral director for you. The funeral director will help guide you through this difficult time. Your funeral director is available 24 hours a day and should be notified when the death occurs regardless of the time of day or night.

What purpose does a funeral serve?

It is the customary way to recognize death and its finality. Funerals are recognized rituals for the living to show respect for the dead and to help survivors begin the grief process.

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.

How soon do we have to have the funeral?

Usually the funeral is held 3 to 4 days following the death. Factors to consider when deciding on the time of the service are, the distance that family members have to travel to attend the funeral, are there any holidays that would interfere with the burial, what is the schedule of the person that will officiate at the funeral. Yes, you can wait 7 to 10 days if you desire, however, families have expressed to us that the waiting can be very difficult.

Does a dead body have to be embalmed, according to law?

No. Most states, however, require embalming when death was caused by a reportable contagious disease or when remains are to be transported from one state to another by common carrier or if final disposition is not to be made within a prescribed number of hours.

What do funeral directors do?

Funeral directors are caregivers and administrators. They make the arrangements for transportation of the body, complete all necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the body.

Funeral directors are listeners, advisors and supporters. They have experience assisting the bereaved in coping 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.

Who does the obituary? What newspapers do we put the obituary in?

Our arranging funeral director will gather the information for the obituary at the time we meet with you. We will then send that information to all local and any distant newspapers that you direct. Many newspapers will not accept obituaries directly from families.

Where do we get the Death Certificates? How many will we need?

The state registrar in the county where the death occurred issues certified copies. We will obtain the information needed for the death certificate when you come for the arrangement conference. The Certified Copy of the death certificate will be needed for any claims for death benefits or to change any titles (real estate, vehicles, investments, etc.). We can help you get the number of death certificates that you feel you will need. Cost for Certified Copies of death certificates vary in the state of Michigan, as each health district determines their charge.

What do I need to bring to the funeral home for the arrangement conference?

During the arrangement conference vital statistics and obituary information will be obtained so you would need to bring that type of information (social security number, father's name, mother's maiden name, years of formal education, birth date and place, etc.). You may bring the clothing at this time if the clothing is ready. Clothing usually consists of all the normal clothing that your loved one wore including underclothing.

Can we have a viewing if what we want is cremation?

Cremation is a means of disposition. You may have a viewing prior to cremation and you may even have the body present for the funeral ceremony with cremation to follow. If you have a public viewing the body would have to be embalmed.

Is cremation a substitute for a funeral?

No, cremation is an alternative to earth burial or entombment for the body's final disposition and often follows a traditional funeral service. In fact, according to FTC figures for 1987, direct cremation occurred in only 3% of deaths.

Isn't cremation cheaper than burial?

It can be, but depending on the choices you make it can be similar in cost to an immediate burial service. As a general rule the crematory charge for the cremation process is usually less than a cemetery space. However something has to be done with the ashes after cremation (such as scattering, burial, or keeping the ashes, or some combination there of). This choice may or may not increase the expense of the cremation.

A couple of words about cremation: cremation is irreversible so every effort should be made to accommodate everyone's needs prior to the cremation process, i.e. a time for viewing the body and having the body present at the service; and if you are considering scattering the ashes, that too is an irreversible act. You may want to consider your needs and those of others to have a place to remember your loved one on Memorial Day or other anniversaries, or you may wish to keep a small keepsake amount of ashes for this purpose also.

How much does a funeral cost?

In 2002 the charge for an adult, full-service funeral, was $8,257. This includes a professional service charge, transfer-of remains, embalming, other preparation, use of viewing facilities, use of facilities for ceremony, hearse, limousine, and casket. The casket included in this price was an 18-gauge steel casket with velvet interior which may or may not be the most common casket chosen. Vault, cemetery, and monument charges are additional. (Source: 2003 NFDA Survey of Funeral Home Operations).

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 (viewing rooms, chapels, limousines, hearses, etc.), these expenses must be factored into the cost of a funeral.

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 with a modest profit margin. The statistics below may be helpful in assessing the true economic picture of a funeral home:

Family-owned        85%
Firm in business for      63 years
Average calls/year1       67
BEFORE tax profit        11.3%

(Source: 1995 NFDA Survey of Funeral Home Operations)

If a loved one dies out of state, can the local Funeral Home still help?

Yes, they can assist you with out-of-state arrangements, either to transfer the remains to another state or from another state.

My spouse was a Veteran. What will Veterans Administration pay?

As a rule of thumb the Veterans will provide honors at the graveside, provide a headstone, and a flag for burial purposes. If the veteran died in a V.A. facility or under V.A. care or if the veteran was receiving a pension from the V.A. they may be entitled to more reimbursement. Please check the V.A. web site for information about benefits. Requirements for military honors are explained at the Military Funeral Honors web site.

What does Social Security pay towards funeral expenses?

Social Security will pay a lump sum death benefit to a surviving spouse or dependent children. That amount is usually $255.00. To learn more about Social Security contact their web site click here.