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The following are answers to the most frequently
asked questions about funerals.

1. Is prearranging right for me?
If one has the funds to set aside, prearranging is right for you. In other words, if depositing the cost of a funeral into a separate account won't adversely affect the way you live, it is the right thing to do. One should verify that the account is opened and funded as stated in the contract.

2. Can I transfer my existing prearranged contract to another funeral home
without penalty?
Yes. Call the funeral home to which you would want to transfer the arrangement and
they will explain procedure. Although "cancellation" penalties may exist, transfers
can be made without penality. We honor any transfer, however, pricing between
funeral homes may be quite different so it is possible that not all funeral homes will
accept a transfer as "payment in full."

3. Are my prearrangement funds at ANY risk?
Depending on how your funeral home handles these funds, possibly yes. To clarify, the only way one can pre-finance a funeral without risk is to open an individually owned investment bank account in which the funeral home is listed as an escrow agent and the account is guaranteed by the federal government. The funds do not change hands until after death. The account can only be drawn by the funeral home after submitting a copy of the death certificate.

4. What does a funeral cost?
Pricing a funeral can be complicated. When most people ask this question they want to know the entire cost of the funeral, not just the costs charged by the funeral home. That would include the "cash advance" items such as the church or clergy, music, newspapers, cemetery, certified copies, etc. However, the complete cost of a "traditional" funeral will generally be between $6000 - 10,000. Depending mostly on cemetery and casket arrangements. The cost can go higher. A direct cremation or burial can be less than 1/3 the cost of a traditional funeral.

5. What should I do when a family member dies?
If the death is in a hospital or at home under hospice care, call the hospice nurse or the funeral director. If the death was not at a hospital or unexpected, you must call the rescue or the police. The police will contact the state Medical Examiner who
then determines procedure.

6. Can we do things differently, make this funeral unique, or do we have to follow "tradition"?
A good funeral director will encourage different ideas and suggestions to make a funeral "special" or more of an individual tribute. Pictures are a great way to memorialize someone in a personal way. They help people remember the "happy times." Ideas are endless. Speak to your funeral director for guidance and suggestions. He should be of great assistance.

7. Can we wait a few days, for family to make the necessary travel arrangements and arrive, before scheduling calling hours and the funeral?
Yes. Except under very unusual circumstances, waiting a few days or even a week
should not be a problem.

8. If I choose cremation, can my cremains be brought into my Catholic church?
Yes. However, the Catholic Church would prefer the family take the body of a deceased church member into church, before cremation, for a Funeral Mass or a Mass of Christian Burial. This is a celebration into a new life and an honor to the body, which served as the "Temple of God" during this life.

If you have a question for one of our directors please
contact us and we will help in every way we can.