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A funeral or memorial is a customary way to recognize death and its finality. Funerals are held for the living to show respect for the dead and to help survivors begin the grief process. They also give mourners a chance to share stories, create memories, fulfill religious beliefs and customs, participate in a support system, and gather at a peaceful place during a time of confusion and uncertainty.
There can be as many as 200 tasks when planning a funeral. Many of them are listed below. After meeting with you at a private consultation, our Funeral Director will coordinate many of these for you and assist you in completing others.
Funeral directors are caregivers, advisors, and administrators. They make the arrangements for the transportation of the body, complete all necessary paperwork, and carry out the wishes of the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the body. They have experience assisting the bereaved in coping with death, are trained to answer questions about grief, and can recommend sources of professional help.
Family, close friends, co-workers, fellow worshippers, neighbors and acquaintances, and in some cases, the greater community.
The cost of a funeral includes all the services of a funeral director and the funeral home staff, transportation, merchandise, such as caskets and urns, and other services and fees associated with the funeral or memorial service. In general, funeral homes make only a modest profit.
Funeral service is regulated by the FTC and state licensing boards. In most cases, the consumer should discuss problems with the funeral director first. If the dispute cannot be resolved by talking with the funeral director, the consumer may wish to contact the Funeral Service Consumer Assistance Program. FSCAP provides information, mediates disputes, provides arbitration, and maintains a consumer guarantee fund for reimbursement of services rendered. (To contact FSCAP, call 708-827-6337 or 800-662-7666).
In addition to family, there are veteran, union, and other organizations that provide benefits to pay for funerals. In some cases this may include a lump sum death payment from Social Security. In most states, some form of public aid allowance is available from the state, county, or city, but individuals must meet certain requirements. Sometimes these allowances can be combined. Most funeral directors are aware of the various benefits and know how to obtain them.