FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is embalming required?
Embalming is not required by law. However if embalming is not authorized, certain services including visitation or viewing will not be provided.

Is a casket required for cremation?
A casket is not required by law for cremation. However, services selected that include visitation/viewing do require that a casket be selected. For those cremation arrangements that do not include visitation, alternative containers are available for this purpose.

Costs associated with funerals
There is currently the impression that funerals are expensive. When compared to other major life events, like births and weddings, funerals are not as expensive. Births and weddings are happy events therefore those expenses are rarely criticized. A funeral home is a twenty four hour, labor intensive business with extensive facilities and equipment. These expenses must be factored into the cost of the funeral. Moreover, the cost of the funeral is not only the merchandise like a casket. The cost also includes the services of the funeral director and staff. Only a few of the tasks that they perform are making the funeral arrangements with the family, filing the appropriate forms, dealing with doctors, ministers, newspapers and other as well as seeing to every detail.