What is the significance of a
funeral service?
How much does a funeral cost?
Is everything included in the price given to me by the funeral
home?
Can I make my funeral arrangements before I die?
How many types of caskets exist, and why are some more expensive
than others?
What is embalming and is it necessary before services are
held?
Can a funeral home assist me with Social Security benefits
and Veteran death benefits?
What is involved in the cremation process?
Are special cremation containers and caskets available?
Are the services held before or after cremation?
What happens to the cremated remains?
I have already made arrangements and
funded my funeral in advance. What if I move or want to use
another Funeral Home?
What is the significance
of a funeral service?
From the beginning of recorded history, societies have honored
those who died with a traditional ceremony. According to beliefs
at that time, the purpose of the ritual was to send the deceased
on his or her journey into the afterlife.
Today, however, many experts agree that the benefits of a
service are for those who are left behind after a death. A
"closure" of sorts must occur to help survivors
adjust to their loss and recognize that a death has occurred.
A funeral service provides the opportunity for friends and
family to celebrate the life that was lived and allow the
healing process to begin.
How much does a funeral
cost?
Funeral costs vary depending on the funeral home and type
of service selected. There are two types of costs associated
with a funeral: (1) services provided by the funeral home
and (2) merchandise such as a casket or urn.
Is everything included in
the price given to me by the funeral home?
All charges involving the funeral home's services and merchandise
are available from our professional staff. We will provide
a general price list with all charges.
Can I make my funeral arrangements
before I die?
Yes. Today, pre-arrangement and prepayment of funerals
are becoming more common. Prearranging will provide you with
more time to review your options and give you a choice in
your own funeral service. Pre-arrangement will provide you
with the peace of mind that everything has been taken care
of, relieving your family of the emotional and financial burden
that often comes with making arrangements when a loved one
passes away. Oftentimes, making arrangements in advance also
guarantees a service and funeral at today's prices, free from
inflation. At Pretlow & Sons Funeral Home, we will assist
you with your pre-arrangements.
How many types of caskets
exist, and why are some more expensive than others?
Caskets are made of either metal (bronze, copper or steel)
or wood. Prices vary, depending on the exterior and interior
materials used. Bronze, a semiprecious metal, is more expensive
than steel. Mahogany, a rare hardwood, is more expensive than
the readily available softwood pine.
What is embalming
and is it necessary before services are held?
Embalming is the temporary preservation of a deceased's remains.
It is not required by law, but is common practice when a viewing
is planned.
Can a funeral home assist
me with Social Security benefits and Veteran death benefits?
Yes. In fact, Pretlow & Sons Funeral Home will do
more than just assist you with securing these benefits. Our
staff is trained to complete all necessary paperwork to begin
the benefits process and to follow through to ensure that
the benefits are secured in a timely manner.
What is
involved in the cremation process?
Before cremation occurs, the death certificate must be completed
and signed by the attending physician or medical examiner,
and all civil and medical authorities must have issued all
required permits. In addition, necessary authorizations to
cremate must be obtained from the next of kin or authorizing
person and no objections to the cremation can be raised. The
cremation then takes place and the cremated remains are placed
in the designated container or urn selected for final disposition.
Are special cremation containers and caskets
available?
Pretlow & Sons Funeral Home offers a wide variety
of cremation containers and caskets to meet each family's
needs.
Are the services held before
or after cremation?
Services are held at the discretion of the family. Many choose
to have a traditional service first, followed by the cremation.
What happens to the cremated
remains?
There are many options to consider with a cremation. A family
can choose to bury the remains in a cemetery, store and display
them at home in an urn or scatter them in a place special
to the deceased. It is advisable to check local restrictions
on scattering remains on public property and obtain permission
for private property.
I have already made arrangements and funded my
funeral in advance. What if I move or want to use another
Funeral Home?
By making arrangements in advance, you were able to express
your own wishes and relieve this emotional burden from your
family. By funding your funeral in advance, you also relieved
the financial burden from your family. Usually, these arrangements
can be reestablished with another funeral home and nearly
all funding vehicles are transferable by the owner.
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