Shopping around for Funeral Homes

Why it's Important to Shop Around for Funeral Homes

Whether you are planning a loved one's funeral or simply pre-planning your own, it's important to shop around and find a funeral home or mortuary with which you feel most comfortable. The rule of thumb is to visit at least three facilities, if possible. Compare and contrast everything they offer including location, pricing and availability.

The funeral home you choose should be in an appropriate location that is convenient for everyone to get to and have ample parking. You may want to consider the distance to the cemetery as there may be an additional charge for transporting your loved one from the funeral home to the cemetery -- some companies charge by the mile. You will also want to compare prices between the funeral homes. Federal law mandates that all goods and services be put in writing.

Finally, you want to make sure that the funeral home is available when you need it and that the appropriate amount of time and attention is given to your loved one.  For more information, check out http://elegantmemorials.com.

Cremation

Cremation has been around for many centuries. Today, many people are choosing cremation due to its cost-effectiveness and its environmentally friendly process. During the cremation process, the deceased placed in a combustible container and then into a special type of furnace for about three hours. At the end of that time, the resulting “ashes” are then placed in a container, or an urn, and given to the family.
There are many ways the resulting ashes can be disbursed. Ashes can be scattered, placed in an urn, or buried. There are also some very creative ways to keep the remains, such as incorporate ashes into memorial jewelry, paintings and ceramics.
Even if you have chosen cremation rather than traditional burial, that doesn’t mean there can’t be a service. A traditional funeral or memorial service can be held, complete with music, funeral poems, funeral programs, and other typical funeral elements. You can also have a non-traditional memorial services such as ceremonies is special locations like parks, the ocean, a marina or even a golf course. You can tailor the ceremony to reflect the interests of your loved one.
Cremation can be a much less expensive option, if you’re careful about which add-on services are chosen. Some of these add-on expenses include funeral casket rental for viewing the remains prior to cremation, headstones or grave marker expenses within a memorial garden, and fees to use a funeral home or church for a service. All of those may be very important to you, but remember that each time you utilize a service for viewing, transportation, memorializing and cremation of the deceased, there will probably be a cost associated with it. However, with careful planning and research, you should be able to plan for both cremation and final services that are affordable.
Also See:
Funeral Costs
Cost of Cremation
Scattering Ashes

Green Burial -- Green Funeral

Many people are now exploring new eco-friendly options for funerals and burials. There are many things that you can do to make your funeral, cremation or burial more environmentally-friendly.

Select a “Green” Funeral Casket — A “green” casket is a casket made of bio-degradable materials has has much less environmental impact.
Forgo embalming
Do not use a burial vault – A Burial vault is not required by law. Inform funeral home or cemetery staff that you do not want to use one.
Consider cremation instead of traditional burial methods.
Do not use limousines
Use recycled paper and materials during funeral services and for funeral programs.
There are many resources that can help you plan a green funeral and burial. The internet, clergy, and funeral directors can assist with everything you need to be eco-friendly.

Burial Insurance -- Funeral Insurance

If you have never planned a funeral or memorial service, you may not be aware of how costly it can be. Funerals, on average, can range between 3,000-10000 dollars, depending on which options you choose. There are several expenses associated with funerals and memorials including the casket, flowers, administrative and planning services, funeral programs and obituaries, burial costs and grave markers, just to name a few. These costs may be overwhelming, especially if you are on a budget. Funeral or burial insurance may be an option to help pay for the considerable funeral costs.
For some, life insurance may be an option for paying funeral costs. However, if you are unable to obtain life insurance, you may need burial or funeral insurance. This type of insurance may have a variety of options, and may or may be the right option for you. If considering purchasing burial or funeral insurance, make sure you have researched your options, and fully understand what your policy will cover.

Funeral Planning

Funeral planning can be an overwhelming task. It is can be difficult to make decisions during such an emotional time. Whether you're planning a loved one’s funeral or pre-planning your own, the process can be difficult if you do not know or understand your options. Begin by considering these four important questions.

1. What is your budget for the funeral or memorial service?
2. Do you want the body to be present at the funeral?
3. Will you have a religious or traditional funeral or a contemporary funeral or memorial service?
4. Which people will accomplish the many administrative tasks (such as creating funeral programs, selecting speakers for the service and writing obituaries) associated with funeral planning?

Answering these key questions will put you well on your way to planning the perfect funeral or memorial service that fits into your budget.

Funeral Planning

If you are planning a loved one’s funeral or pre-planning your own, the process can be much easier if you understand your options. Consider these four important questions.

1. What is your budget for the funeral or memorial service?
2. Will the body be present at the funeral?
3. Will you have a religious or traditional funeral or a contemporary funeral or memorial service?
4. Which people will accomplish the many administrative tasks (such as creating funeral programs, selecting speakers for the service and writing obituaries) associated with funeral planning?

Answering these key questions will put you well on your way to planning the perfect funeral or memorial service that fits into your budget. For more detailed information about funeral planning, see this funeral planning article.

Funeral and Bereavement Poems

Funeral Poems are an integral part of any funeral, homegoing, memorial or celebration of life service. They help to provide comforting words to friends and family. The are also an easy way to convey feelings, without having to compose the words yourself. Poems are used during the actual funeral service, at burial site, or ashes scattering ceremony. They are also used in funeral printed materials, such as funeral programs, funeral program templates, acknowledgement cards and prayer cards.

The internet is an excellent source of funeral poems. There are many sites that list free poems. These poems are often categorized according to relationships, including poems for mothers, fathers, children, grandmothers, grandfathers and illness, and many more. Elegant Memorials also has a wide variety poems:
Funeral and Memorial Poems for Mother - Mom - Grandmother
Funeral and Memorial Poems for Father - Dad - Grandfather
Funeral and Memorial Poems for Kids - Children - Babies

What is a Funeral Program

The funeral program (sometimes called a memorial service bulletin or funeral order of service booklet) is the printed document that outlines events in the funeral or memorial service and summarizes the life achievements of your deceased loved one. The family of the deceased usually prepares the information for the funeral program. The family may work with the funeral home or church to design the funeral program template, or they may use a company such as Elegant Memorials to create a customized funeral program template that can also serve as a keepsake.

The Funeral Program Template Layout

Funeral Program Cover:
The cover of the funeral program sometimes has a picture of the deceased, as well as their full legal name, date of birth, date of death, location and time of service, and a title for the funeral program (ex. “In Memory”, “Homegoing Celebration, etc.” "In Remembrance").

Order of Service:
The Order of Service is the next key section of the funeral program. This is the part of the funeral program that outlines the order of events for the service. The information in this section of the funeral program will be greatly effected by the cultural and religious beliefs of the deceased. If the service will is run by religious clergy, it may be best to contact your religious officiates. The funeral director will also have information, and may be able to provide you with a “typical” service outline for your funeral program. A typical Order of Service in a funeral program will contain the Prelude, Processional, Prayer, Song (Hymn of Comfort), Reading (Scripture, Poem, Prayer, Old Testament, and New Testament), Acknowledgments, Cards & Condolences, Obituary Reading, Eulogy, Final Viewing, Benediction, Recessional, and Interment location.

Obituary:
The funeral program will also contain a written obituary. The Obituary details the biographical highlights of the deceased person’s life. The obituary in the funeral program will detail where the person was born, where they lived, any information about their spouse, children and other information such as hobbies, and personal stories will be shared. It is important that the information in the obituary is reviewed to include accuracy of dates and names.

Surviving Family Members:
The immediate family members mother, father, sisters, brothers, should be listed first. Secondly, the immediate family, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, In-laws, Grandparents, and Grandchildren should be listed. Predeceased family members may also be included in the funeral program to establish genealogy or relation of the person to an extended family.

The Back of the Funeral Program:
The back of the funeral program may include a poem, favorite song or prayer. The final section of the program may also include a personal quote from a family member, listing of pall bearers (men that carry the casket), flower bearers (women traditionally carry flowers and place them on the alter) or special acknowledgements (short thank you from the family).

When designing a funeral program, it is important to remember that the funeral program is a keepsake that represents the life of your loved one. The funeral program should be detailed and share the unique personality traits of your loved one.