Frequently Asked Questions about funerals

  1. What is a funeral?
  2. What type of funeral is right for my family?
  3. How can I personalize my funeral?
  4. Do we need an obituary and what is usually in one?
  5. Who are funeral directors and what do they do?
  6. What happens if my loved one dies in the night?
  7. What happens if my loved one dies away from home?
  8. What is embalming?
  9. Do I need to embalm my loved one?
  10. How much does the typical funeral cost?
  11. Why are funerals so expensive?
  12. Do I need to provide clothing? What kind?
  13. Who should I contact if I was not satisfied with the way my funeral service was handled?
AnchorWHAT IS A FUNERAL?

A funeral is a ceremony for a deceased person prior to burial or cremation, and gives friends and family the opportunity to gather and mourn the passing of their loved one, to share cherished memories, and celebrate their life.  A funeral is a vital first step to help the bereaved heal after the loss of someone special.

AnchorWHAT TYPE OF FUNERAL IS RIGHT FOR MY FAMILY?

If your loved one did not specify their wishes in life, the type of service is entirely up to you.  Services and celebrations of life are typically held at a funeral home or a place of worship. There are a plethora of different services, ranging from religious to military to wholly non-traditional.  Our funeral directors are more than happy to help find a service that meets you and your family's needs.

AnchorHOW CAN I PERSONALIZE MY FUNERAL?

There is no right or wrong way to celebrate a life. A more common personalization might include custom prayer cards, or memorial folders. Many families will make a collage or slide show for a loved one's service, and others might create a memorial table with some of the deceased's favorite things. Some family members honor a loved one by singing their favorite song, or reciting something they wrote in life. In honoring a loved one, only your imagination is the limit. Your funeral director will be glad to assist you with finding personal ways to celebrate any life.

AnchorDO WE NEED AN OBITUARY AND WHAT IS USUALLY IN ONE?

We highly recommend that you place an obituary notice in either the local newspaper, or online. At Rose Family, we allow families to place an obituary on our website at no additional cost. An obituary lets the public know that a death has occurred, and gets the word out about any services.  Space may be limited in a newspaper obituary, but you may include a little blurb on the life and legacy of the deceased.  An online obituary or memorial website offers you the chance to fully recount a life in as many words as you need. Find our Eulogies and Obituaries section to assist with writing. 

AnchorWHO ARE FUNERAL DIRECTORS, AND WHAT DO THEY DO?

Funeral directors are in charge of all the logistics and regulations following a death.  They complete all the necessary paperwork, make arrangements for the transportation of the body, and put into action the choices made by the family in regards to the funeral service and the final resting place.  Beyond the logistics, funeral directors are there to provide moral support and guidance for someone coping with death.

AnchorWHAT HAPPENS IF MY LOVED ONE DIES IN THE NIGHT?

We are here to help. Funeral directors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

AnchorWHAT HAPPENS IF MY LOVED ONE DIES AWAY FROM HOME?

We are here to help. We can arrange to have the remains transported home from anywhere in the world, but the first step will be to find a funeral home in the country or state of death to communicate with us. 

AnchorWHAT IS EMBALMING?

We are happy to educate our families on this process. CLICK HERE for an in-depth view of our process. 

AnchorDO I HAVE TO HAVE TO EMBALM MY LOVED ONE?

No.  In fact, some religions forbid embalming. We encourage our families to consider the benefits of embalming, and more information can be found HERE. 

AnchorHOW MUCH DOES A TYPICAL FUNERAL COST?

Funeral expenses can vary greatly depending on the services provided.  The average cost of a burial is between $3,000-$7,000, however, the most basic of services can cost as little as $1295.  The cost includes all professional services including transportation, preparations, the purchase of a casket and urn, taxes and fees, and the burial or cremation itself. A funeral director will give you an exact cost breakdown for the service you would like to have when you call us.

AnchorWHY ARE FUNERALS SO EXPENSIVE?

Funerals are labor intensive and require time consuming work from many different entities.  The cost of a funeral goes beyond merchandise such as caskets or urns. It includes a funeral director making the necessary arrangements, filling out and filing legal forms, and dealing with all the other professionals involved in the death (doctors, insurance companies, state regulators, cemetery or crematory staff).  Funeral directors work an average of 40 hours per funeral.  The cost of operating a funeral home is factored into the cost as well.  Funeral homes are a 24 hour operation, with extensive facilities that need to be maintained and secured. 

AnchorDO I NEED TO PROVIDE CLOTHING? WHAT KIND?

For simple direct cremation, clothing provided by the family is optional.  For burials and viewings, the family will need to provide clothing before the service.  We recommend something you believe your loved one would want to be dressed in for there service.  Traditionally this is a suit and tie for men or a formal dress or suit for woman, but there is no set rule. For women who have been embalmed, we often encourage long sleeves and higher collars in order to hide any suturing from the process. 

AnchorWHO SHOULD I CONTACT IF I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THE WAY A FUNERAL SERVICE WAS HANDLED?

At Rose Family Funeral Home, we strive to ensure that every family is satisfied with the care they have received. We encourage all our families to reach out to us if they are not fully satisfied so we can rectify the situation. However, if you need to reach out fore help beyond our funeral home, we are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission, and they can be reached by telephone at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) or you can fill out a form online at www.ftc.gov.