Funerals

Planning for a Funeral

If you have to organize a funeral here are some important tips:

Shop around in advance. Compare prices from a few funeral homes. You can provide your own casket or urn.
Ask for a price list. The law requires funeral homes to give you written price lists for products and services.
Resist any pressure to buy goods and services you don't really want or need.
Avoid emotional overspending. It's not necessary to have the fanciest casket or the most elaborate funeral to properly honor a loved one.
Recognize your rights. Laws regarding funerals and burials vary from state to state. It's a smart move to know which goods or services the law requires you to purchase and which are optional.
A funeral is a major purchase. Be smart. If you need to cut costs, limit the viewing to one day or one hour before the funeral. Dress your loved one in a favorite outfit instead of having the funeral home provide clothing.
Plan, Plan, Plan. You can comparison shop without time pressures and it creates an opportunity for family discussion, and lifts some of the burden from your family when you tell them your wishes.

There are typically five types of funerals in the U.S. today.

Traditional with an open casket. The body is embalmed and placed in a casket. Religious services are held followed by earth burial, cremation or entombment.
Traditional with the casket closed. This is the same as the Traditional with Open Casket, except that embalming is optional.
Traditional with rented casket. Either of the two traditional open or closed casket funerals are done. Then, after the service, the body is transferred to a burial case or is cremated.
Memorial service. A religious or secular service is held either before or after the body has been buried or cremated.
Direct burial or cremation. The body is not embalmed; and it is buried or cremated as soon as legally possible.

If a funeral is to be conducted:

Where will the funeral be held? Church, synagogue, funeral home, graveside, cemetery chapel.
Who will conduct the services. Who will meet the clergy and arrange details including payment?
Will there be music. Who will arrange the musicians. Who will make payment?
What clothes is the deceased to wear. Who will take the clothes to the mortuary?
Is there going to be open viewing?
If the deceased is a women, is her hair to be styled and makeup applied?
Will the deceased wear any jewelry and will it stay with him/her or be removed prior to burial?
Who are the casket / pall bearers. Who will ask them. Will transportation be provided?
Will anyone from a fraternal organization be allowed to speak. Who will contact them?
Will anyone from a military organization be allowed to speak. Who will contact them?
Will the funeral be a military funeral?
How many seats for family members are needed. Is there any special seating for friends or groups?
Is there a wake. What are the times?
Is there going to be visitation, what are the times?
Will the survivors arrange their own transportation to the funeral or will the mortuary provide it?
Who is responsible for arrangements. What about parking overall?
Has info and announcements been provided to mortuary or newspaper and does it conform to local custom?
If flowers are to be omitted, have the mortuary and newspapers been instructed?
If gifts to non-profit organizations, in lieu of flowers is desired has this information been conveyed to the appropritate parties?