Sample Category
Is embalming required? Should there be an open casket? When the casket is open, how should the dead be presented? Does cremation preclude a funeral service? Can the funeral service be personalized? What is the importance of visitation? What factors should be considered in selecting the day and time of the funeral service? Can funeral services or a body be held anywhere? How long does it take to prepare the body? Do caskets fully protect the body? Does the service have to be done by a minister? What if I don't have one?
Is embalming required?
Answer:
No, a common misconception exists that embalming is required by law. Some religions and cultures prohibit the practice of embalming and bury the body within 24 hours. However, embalming may be required by law in some special cases. Also, funeral homes may require embalming if you select certain funeral arrangements, such as a funeral with viewing. If the body is not buried within 24 hours, refrigeration may be required.
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Should there be an open casket?
Viewing the body brings closure to friends and family, allowing them to accept the death. When people walk up to the casket and view the body, for some people that is the moment they finally realize this person has died. This helps during the grieving process. Children in particular benefit from viewing the deceased, because their imaginations make the appearance of the body worse than it really is. It is also advisable to view the body if the person suffered before death, so one's memory of that person suffering is replaced by the memory of the deceased in peace.
When the casket is open, how should the dead be presented?
Since this is the last time family and friends will see this person, the viewing should leave fond memories. Appearance should be as natural as possible. If the deceased wore glasses, leave their glasses on, and don't change their hairstyle. Jewelry is appropriate, as are any other items meaningful to the dead. Clothing should be respectful and dignified.
Visitation is frequently held during evening hours, so it is recommended the family have a private visitation earlier that day. At that time, the family has an opportunity to see the body before the general public and request any changes to the deceased's appearance.
Does cremation preclude a funeral service?
Not at all. The cremation is simply delayed until the funeral service has taken place. Or if cremation is requested immediately, a memorial service can be held without the body present.
Can the funeral service be personalized?
Absolutely. Our funeral director will make every effort to customize the memorial service precisely to one's individual taste. There are many ways to have a service unique to the deceased rather than a standard service. A family member or close friend could deliver a personal eulogy, the music selection could include a favorite song, and personal items and pictures, and video tributes can be prominently displayed at the service.
What is the importance of visitation?
Visitation is a critical step toward the healing process. By establishing visitation hours and inviting friends and family to your home after the funeral service, it often gives people the chance to exchange stories about the deceased, reinforcing how much that person meant in everyone's life.
What factors should be considered in selecting the day and time of the funeral service?
Some practices within religions and customs have the body buried within 24 hours, so obviously that becomes the determining factor in scheduling funerals. Otherwise, always allow enough time for out-of-town guests to make travel arrangements to attend the service. Family and friends should also have enough time to read the obituary and arrange for time off from work. While some people may want to get through the service as quickly as possible, saying good-bye is an important part of accepting loss and letting go.
If adequate time is not allowed for scheduling the funeral, family and friends who weren't able to attend may harbor resentment or sadness because they were unable to pay their final respects. Funeral directors are flexible in helping the family select a date. It is not uncommon to postpone a service for a week after the death because a family member is out of the country.
Can funeral services or a body be held anywhere?
The most common sites for holding funerals are a church or a chapel in the funeral home. Another option is to hold the entire ceremony at a graveside service. Occasionally, funeral services are held at a family residence. If the body is cremated, cremation remains cannot be scattered just anywhere, according to EPA regulations.
How long does it take to prepare the body?
Under normal circumstances, preparing the body for the funeral service and burial takes three hours. It typically takes about two hours to embalm the body and one hour to dress the body and do cosmetology work. Factors which can lengthen the process include the weight of the individual and the condition of the body. Sometimes the embalming process takes up to four hours and the dressing/cosmetology stage takes three hours.
Do caskets fully protect the body?
There are two types of caskets: hardwood and metal. A hardwood casket is not completely impenetrable. Although metal caskets use rubber gaskets to create a stronger bond between the metal surfaces, they are also not airtight. However, the vault, which is the outer container made of concrete or metal, plays a vital role in maintaining the sanctity of the body by protecting the casket.
Does the service have to be done by a minister? What if I don't have one?
There is no requirement a memorial service must be performed by a member of the clergy. However, if one is desired, our funeral director will locate a member of the clergy of any denomination to perform the service. The director will arrange a meeting between the member of the clergy and the deceased's family before the service in order to tailor the service to the family's wishes.
