What is the purpose of a funeral?
The funeral is for the living. It helps the survivors face the reality of death. By acting as a ceremony of recognition the funeral gives testimony of the value of life.
By involving a planned activity the funeral provides friends and relatives a chance to express their support and love. By allowing the clergy to be directly involved in the program, the funeral can reaffirm religious beliefs.

The funeral;
• Helps confirm the reality and finality of death.
• Provides a climate of mourning and the expression of grief.
• Allows the sorrows of one to become the sorrows of all.
• Is the only time when love is given and not expected in return.
• Is a means family and friends to honor their loved one in a special way.
• Encourages the affirmation of religious faith.
• Is a declaration that a life has been lived, as well as a sociological statement that a death has occurred.
• Helps survivors to better cope with their grief and move forward in their lives.

How can the Funeral Director help you?
We can answer many of your questions or concerns regarding the legal, financial and emotional aspects surrounding death. We are knowledgeable of the laws, customary procedures, and psychological considerations. This information can be especially helpful at the time of a death in the family, but often questions arise before the crisis situation. Feel free to contact us for answers to any related questions you might have.
We are specifically trained and socially sensitive. We have experience assisting people in dealing with their grief and also possess an understanding of the proper coping techniques; we can assist you when a death occurs, listening to your concerns and offering wise counsel. We can also handle all of the special technical arrangements for a funeral.

Why are funerals so expensive?
When compared to other major life cycle events, like births and weddings, funerals are not expensive. A wedding costs at least three to four times as much; but because it is a happy event, wedding costs are rarely criticized.
A funeral home is a 24-hour, labor-intensive business, with staff, facilities viewing rooms, chapels, expensive specialized automobile equipment such as limousines, hearses, etc.
The maintenance of this service is unending; that is, it must be available 24 hours every day of the year. Therefore, ours is a 168-hour week and not the 40 hour week which is the accepted standard.
Moreover, the cost of a funeral includes not only merchandise, like caskets, but the services of a funeral director in counseling and making arrangements; preparing the body, filing appropriate forms; dealing with doctors, ministers, newspapers, cemeteries, and many other vendors; and organizing all the necessary details. These expenses must be factored into the cost of a funeral.

Does a deceased person have to be embalmed, according to law?
No, however, some states require embalming when death was caused by a reportable contagious disease or when the deceased are to be transported from one state to another by common carrier. IF A VIEWING WITH OPEN CASKET IS DESIRED AND THE BURIAL If final burial is not to be made within a prescribed number of hours for a service with open casket.

If I decide to be cremated, can my family still have a funeral service in our local church?
Yes, cremation is a form of disposition, and quite often some sort of viewing precedes the actual cremation. This viewing or funeral ceremony can take place at the funeral home or your church. You can purchase a casket or in the case with our firm, you may rent a casket. The cremation would take place after the ceremony instead of a burial. If you are considering cremation there are many options... Call us or set an appointment for more details. I've decided on cremation. Can I still have a funeral or a viewing?

What should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend?
We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to talk with you concerning the death of a loved one.

If a loved one dies out of state, can you still help?
Yes, we can assist you with out-of-state arrangements, either to transfer the remains to another state or from another state.