-
-
What is the purpose of a
funeral?
What do funeral directors do?
Do you have to have a funeral director to bury the dead?
What is embalming?
Does a dead body have to be embalmed, according to law?
Why have a public viewing?
Isn't burial space becoming scarce?
Is cremation a substitute for a funeral?
What are the costs associated with planning a funeral?
What are caskets made out of and what are the associated
costs?
Don't funeral directors mark caskets up tremendously, at
least 400%
Has the cost of a funeral increased significantly?
Why are funerals so expensive?
Do funeral directors take advantage of the bereaved?
Is it right to make a profit from death?
Are there any governmental programs to pay for funerals?
What recourse does a consumer have for poor service or
overcharging?
What should I do if the death occurs in the middle of
the night or on the weekend?
Will someone come right away?
If a loved one dies out of the area, can Crawshaw
Funeral Home still help?
What is the purpose of a
funeral?
The purpose of
the funeral varies among cultures but most funerals, regardless of
culture, share similar values. The funeral process has undergone a
philosophical transformation in recent years in the United States. It is
no longer thought of as strictly a time of mourning but rather a
treasured family and community event to celebrate the majesty of the
life lived. The funeral has thus become the forum to create a personal
reflection of the deceased's life.
Psychologically, the funeral also serves as an accepted event to openly
express feelings and emotions, which is a critical process in terms of
the future well-being of all those touched by the loss. Designer
funerals are gaining momentum throughout the United States. These types
of funerals consist of a carefully thought-out and planned series of
events reflecting various aspects of the deceased's life. Specifically,
some of the elements might include sharing the deceased's life through
multi-media, music, non-religious or religious ceremonies, special
catered events, sports celebration outings, etc...
back
to top
What do
funeral directors do?
Funeral
directors are caregivers and administrators. They make the arrangements
for transportation of the deceased, complete all necessary paperwork,
and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and
final disposition.
Funeral directors are listeners, advisors and supporters. They have
experience assisting the bereaved in coping with death. Funeral
directors are trained to answer questions about grief, recognize when a
person is having difficulty coping, and recommend sources of
professional help. Funeral directors also link survivors with support
groups at the funeral home or in the community.
Do you
have to have a funeral director to bury the dead?
In most
states, family members may bury their own dead although regulations
vary. However, most people find it very trying to be solely responsible
for arranging the details and legal matters surrounding a death. In
Illinois a Licensed Funeral Director must complete and file a death
certificate and other legal paperwork.
back
to top
What is embalming?
Embalming is a
surgical procedure which is performed on the deceased's body. The
procedure involves opening the arterial network to facilitate the
removal of fluids from the body and replacing them with a natural
combination of preservative compounds which assist the body in
temporarily slowing down the biological decomposition process.
Medical preservation is performed in order to present the body in the
most dignified and natural manner. Dating back to ancient Egypt, medical
preservation (embalming) was a service provided by priests to select
families based on social position.
Embalming makes
it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final
disposition, thus allowing family members time to arrange and
participate in the type of service most comforting to them.
Does a
dead body have to be embalmed, according to law?
No.
Most states, however, require embalming when death was caused by a
reportable contagious disease or when remains are to be transported from
one state to another by common carrier or if final disposition is not to
be made within a prescribed number of hours. If the body is to be viewed
by the public it must be embalmed.
back
to top
Why have a
public viewing?
Viewing is part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Many grief
specialists believe that viewing aids the grief process by helping the
bereaved recognize the reality of death. Viewing is encouraged for
children, as long as the process is explained and the activity
voluntary.
Isn't
burial space becoming scarce?
While
it is true some metropolitan areas have limited available cemetery
space, in most areas of the country, there is enough space set aside for
the next 50 years without creating new cemeteries. In addition, land
available for new cemeteries is more than adequate, especially with the
increase in entombment and multi-level grave burial.
back
to top
Is
cremation a substitute for a funeral?
No.
Cremation is an alternative to earth burial or entombment for the body's
final disposition and often follows a traditional visitation and or
funeral service. In fact, according to FTC figures, cremation with no
additional services occurred in only 3% of deaths. Crawshaw Funeral Home
can assist you with the necessary information for a funeral with a
cremation following or a memorial service.
What are the costs associated
with planning a funeral?
Planning a
funeral or personalized farewell involves costs associated with three
categories.
The first category are funeral home costs which include the professional
services of the funeral director and staff, temporary medical
preservation of the body for viewing (embalming), the use of the funeral
home facilities for visitation and ceremony, and transportation (Funeral
Coach, Limousine and motor vehicle equipment costs).
The second category are merchandise costs which can include the casket,
the outer burial container (the receptacle which is placed into the
cemetery grave and the casket is then placed inside of it), remembrance
stationery and keepsakes, video tributes, miscellaneous gifts, etc...
The third category are third party or non-funeral home costs which can
include the purchase of a cemetery plot, the opening and closing of the
grave, the associated religious or non-religious service costs,
newspaper notifications, post funeral events such as a catered
reception, etc...
The charge for an
adult, full-service funeral will vary depending on the area in which you
live; a fair range in the area of Jackson County, Southern Illinois in
which we serve would be $6000-$8000 as of 2006. This price includes a
professional service charge, transfer of the deceased from place of
death, embalming, other preparation (i.e. dressing cosmetics,
restoration and casketing), use of facilities for visitation, use of
facilities for ceremony, funeral coach, limousine, flower car,
pallbearer/lead car and merchandise selected (i.e. casket, concrete
burial container, etc.). Cemetery, newspaper, monument, sales tax, etc.
charges are additional.
back
to top
What are caskets made out of
and what are the associated costs?
Caskets are made
primarily from two types of materials: metal and wood. Metal caskets
vary in cost depending on the type of metal used. Bronze is the most
costly metal used in casket manufacturing because it takes significantly
longer to process from a raw material and manufacturing standpoint.
Bronze has a
molecular structure which remains strong and non-rusting over long
intervals of time. Ancient Bronze statues throughout the world are
reminders of the enduring characteristics of Bronze.
Copper is a naturally occurring ore which is extracted from the earth
and considered to be the most beautiful of all metals used in casket
manufacturing. It is lower in cost than Bronze but shares the same
non-rusting characteristics as Bronze. Stainless Steel is considered to
be the best value in metal caskets because it has great strength and
rust-resistant characteristics. Metal caskets made from medium and light
weight carbon steel represent the lower cost ranges.
The most costly wood caskets are made from Mahogany and Walnut, two
species of wood which are in scarce supply. Cherry, Maple, Oak, and
Pecan wood species are more readily available and reflect the moderate
cost ranges while Pine and Poplar are exceptionally plentiful and
therefore, are the least costly type of wood caskets.
Don't
funeral directors mark caskets up tremendously, at least 400%?
No.
Talking about the mark up on caskets is really not the point. Most items
- clothing, furniture, jewelry - are marked up as much or more than
caskets. The real question is whether the funeral director is making an
excessive profit, and that answer is "No." Profits run around 12.5%
before taxes - not excessive by any standard.
back to top
Has the
cost of a funeral increased significantly?
Funeral costs have increased no faster than the consumer price index for
other consumer items.
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 times as
much; but because it is a happy event, these costs are rarely
criticized. Funeral homes are largely independently owned and contrary
to popular belief
have
only a modest profit margin.
The overall cost
of a funeral includes many factors. A funeral director and their staff
are available to you 24 hours a day 7days a week and on all holidays.
The ability to call on your funeral professional and know that all the
details related to creating a memorable, meaningful and certainly
affordable funeral experience will be handled with compassion and the
utmost care.
The practical
matters of physical facilities and equipment (i.e. visitation/chapels,
funeral vehicles, etc.); as well as the taxes, insurance, and utilities
necessary to maintain a successful business are often overlooked by the
public as being related to the so called "expensive funeral". Other fees
such as cemetery, newspaper notification, flowers, sales tax etc.) also
contribute to the final expense. And of course we must never forget the
"casket" of which many people think is the greatest expense of all.
Not
everyone selects or requires the same type of services and only those
costs associated with any individual funeral apply. You do not pay for
what you do not want.
Do funeral
directors take advantage of the
bereaved?
Funeral directors are caring individuals who help people deal with a
very stressful time. They serve the same families 80% of the time, and
many have spent most of their lives in the same community. If they took
advantage of bereaved families, they could not stay in business. The
fact that the average funeral home has been in business over 59 years
shows that most funeral directors respect the wishes of the bereaved
families.
back
to top
Is it
right to make a profit from death?
Funeral directors look upon their profession as a service, but it is
also a business. Like any business, funeral homes must make a profit to
exist. As long as the profit is reasonable and the services rendered are
necessary, complete, and satisfactory to the family, profit is
legitimate.
Are there any governmental
programs to pay for funerals?
No, except in
cases of
some
veterans. If a veteran is drawing a pension or the veteran
dies at a Veterans Affairs Facility he or she may qualify for limited
burial benefits. If a person qualifies for social security, he or she
may be eligible to a one time death benefit of $255.00 payable
only to a
surviving spouse or a dependent child.
A Funeral
Director will help gather the necessary information to apply for
financial assistance from
Social Security,
Veteran's Affairs,
retirements, and any others; we have links to the Social Security and
the Department of Veterans Affairs websites on our links page.
back
to top
What
recourse does a consumer have for poor service or overcharging?
Funeral service is regulated by the
Federal Trade
Commission
and state licensing boards. In most cases, the consumer should discuss
problems with the funeral director first. If the dispute cannot be
solved by talking with the funeral director, the consumer may wish to
contact the Funeral Service Consumer Assistance Program. FSCAP provides
information, mediates disputes, provides arbitration, and maintains a
consumer guarantee fund for reimbursement of services rendered. (To
contact FSCAP, you may call 800-662-7666).
The
National
Funeral Directors Association
has a number of resources available with funeral cost statistics and
information.
You will find a link to the National Funeral Directors Association
website on our links page.
What
should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the
weekend?
Call us no
matter what time it is, at Crawshaw Funeral Home a Funeral
Director is available to assist you 24 hours a day, seven days a week,
including all holidays.
back
to top
Will
someone come right away?
Yes,
if you request immediate assistance, normally within one hour or less.
If the family wishes to spend a short time with the deceased to say good
bye, it's acceptable. We will come when your time is right.
If a loved
one dies out of the area, can Crawshaw Funeral Home still help?
Yes, we
can assist you with out-of-the-area arrangements. We will make the
necessary arrangements for transportation of the remains back to our
area.
Today,
more and more families are choosing to plan funerals in advance. This
trend continues to grow as people discover the benefits of planning
ahead. Information is gathered and decisions that would have to be made
at the time a death occurs are instead made in a leisurely manner, amid
comfortable surroundings, and without the stress that accompanies grief.
“Celebration
of a life should be as individual as the person it honors”
back to top |
