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What is the significance of a funeral service?
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. 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, prearrangement 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. Prearrangement 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 Browne's Mortuary, we will assist you with your prearrangements. 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 semi-precious metal, is more expensive than steel. Mahogany, a rare hardwood, is more expensive than the readily available softwood pine. We also carry a selection of lesser expensive caskets used for burial and cremation made of synthetic products. What is embalming and is it necessary before services are held? Embalming is the temporary preservation of a deceased's remains. It is only required by law when there is to be a public viewing, or the deceased is to be transported over state lines via common carrier. Can a funeral home assist me with Social Security benefits and Veteran death benefits? Yes. In fact, Browne's Mortuary 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, no objections to the cremation can be raised and a minimum of 48 hours must have transpired since the death occurred. 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? Browne's Mortuary 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 cremains 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 cremains on public property and obtain permission for private property. How can we memorialize cremation? There are several ways to memorialize a cremation. One option is burial of the urn, marked with a bronze memorial or sculpture. Browne's Mortuary can assist it's customers with referrals to purchase cremation niches in columbariums. Also you may have the remains scattered in a "scatter garden" that provides scenic landscapes for visitors and the option of purchasing a small bronze plaque in memoriam of the decedent. |