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How do we select a
funeral director and mortuary?
This is a personal decision. Your primary concerns should be with
the reputation of the mortuary, that total costs are within your
budget, and the receptivity of the funeral director to your specific
desires. If at all possible, funeral arrangements should be
discussed in advance by the patient and family. Many individuals
plan their own funeral and burial arrangements to insure that
everything will be as they desire. Many excellent resources are
available to help you and your family with this decision
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What should the family
do at the time of death?
A family member should call the mortuary chosen as soon as possible.
Most mortuaries answer calls 24 hours a day. Your clergy should also
be notified as soon as possible.
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Who writes and arranges
for the placement of the obituary?
You do not have to do this yourself. It is one of the services
routinely performed by funeral homes. The funeral director will
obtain the information from you on a questionnaire, then contact the
appropriate publications.
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What does a funeral
cost?
This is highly variable and should be discussed in detail with your
funeral director. Important factors include the types of services
requested and the type of casket or cremation receptacle chosen. All
funeral homes are required by law to provide full disclosure of all
costs in an itemized list.
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Who presides over the
funeral service?
This is a personal decision. Usually a member of the clergy
presides. Fraternal or military organizations may also take part in
the service, where appropriate.
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Burial or cremation?
This is a personal decision and, if possible, should be discussed
with the family in advance. Most people in the United States are
buried, but an increasing number are selecting cremation
(approximately 25%). If possible a burial site should be selected
prior to death. If a site has not been selected, the funeral
director will help your family through this process. When cremation
is chosen you must decide the final destination of the cremated
remains (cremains). Many states prohibit scattering cremains on land
or in waterways. Cremains are often placed in an urn and stored in a
wall niche or buried in a cemetery plot.
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What funeral benefits
are available to veterans?
All veterans of the U.S. military services with discharges other
than dishonorable, their spouses and dependent children are eligible
for burial in a Veteran's Administration National Cemetery, for
government provided headstones or markers, and for Presidential
Memorial Certificates. For more information call Veteran's
Administration National Cemetery Systems, Office of Memorial
Programs, Washington, D.C. The telephone number is 1-800-697-6947.
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Links
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URL:
www.nfda.org/resources/
National Funeral Directors Association web site provides consumer
education, tips on arranging a funeral, and consumer funeral "Bill
of Rights".
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URL:
www.funeralnet.com/info_guide/index.html
Funeral Net web site provides information on funerals, cremation,
Veteran's Benefits, airline bereavement policies, and a glossary of
funeral terms.
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