Frequently Asked Questions

A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, honoring, and remembering the life of a person who has passed away. While specific customs, traditions, and practices differ across different cultures and religions, all funerals serve the key purpose of giving the bereaved a special time and place to say goodbye and find comfort and healing in one another.

A viewing - also known as "visitation," a "wake," or "calling hours" - can involve an open or closed casket, and is seen as a vital part of the grieving process. Having their loved one present often helps family and friends to accept the reality of their loss, especially for those who may not have seen him or her in a while. The opportunity to come to terms with the death and say a final farewell is an important step on the road to closure and healing.

Embalming is a process used to sanitize and temporarily preserve the body of a person who has passed away. It can also enhance the appearance of a body that has suffered damage from an accident or illness. By preserving the body through embalming, we can give you and your family time to make personalized and meaningful arrangements, including a viewing if desired.

No. Except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law. However, many states recommend embalming for public health reasons and some funeral homes do not permit public viewing without embalming. If you opt to not use embalming, oftentimes we can offer families the opportunity for a private viewing prior to burial with minimal preparation excluding embalming.

Keep in mind that your personal presence at a visitation and or funeral/memorial services is an invaluable benefit to the survivors knowing that you adjusted your schedule and took time out of your day to come be with them.  It is a profound act of respect and personal concern for the deceased and their survivors.  Although most do speak, you actually don't need to say a word, your presence is what is so meaningful, and it is free, except for your time.  If you do decide to speak, offer words of kindness and compassion such as "I'm sorry for your loss" or "I am keeping you in my thought and prayers".  Perhaps an appropriate, fond memory might be appropriate as well.  Again your presence alone, is truly saying more than you can imagine.

The grieving process doesn't end with the funeral, and it will take time for the bereaved to heal. The family will need your support for months to come, so make sure to check in on a regular basis. Drop a note, make a phone call, and continue to invite them when you make social plans; they'll let you know if and when they are ready to participate. Reach out to the family on special occasions, like birthdays or anniversaries, especially during the first year following their loss.

You should use your judgment to determine whether your child is old enough to comprehend death and whether attending the funeral will be meaningful to them. It's important for children to be allowed to express their grief and share in this important ritual. If you bring young children, explain beforehand what they will see and experience, and make sure that they know the importance of being on their best behavior.

A funeral director is a licensed professional who specializes in all aspects of funerals and related services. Many funeral directors have dedicated the majority of their lives working with those who grieve the loss of a loved one.  They provide support to the family, guide the arrangement of visitations and funeral ceremonies, prepare the body according to the family's wishes, and ensure that everything goes according to plan. They also arrange for the removal and transportation of the body throughout the process, and assist families with any legal or insurance-related paperwork they might need to file. They're experienced at recognizing when an individual is having an extremely difficult time coping with a loss, and can provide extra support and recommendations for professional help if needed.

Absolutely! Our staff has years of experience getting to know families and incorporating their loved one's hobbies, activities, interests, and unique requests into meaningful and memorable services. Don't hesitate to make a request because you think it might be too "out there" - we're honored to work with you to create a service that truly reflects and celebrates your loved one's individual life journey.

It's important that you contact the local medical authorities first (as well as the police, if appropriate), and then make sure to give us a call as soon as possible. Oftentimes, 1 call to us is all it takes as we are skilled at working with out of town funeral homes and funeral services, if necessary.  We will work with you to make the necessary arrangements to get your loved one back home as quickly and easily as possible. Calling us 1st will also help you to avoid duplication of services and fees with other funeral homes as well.

Definitely! In fact, we encourage you to do so. Choosing cremation only indicates how you'd like to care for your loved one's physical remains, and doesn't exclude you from celebrating and honoring their life in any way. Whether you'd like to have visitation beforehand, arrange a funeral service before cremation, or wait and hold the service after the cremation, we're pleased to help you design a meaningful service to accompany the cremation.

Typical cremations require between 3 and 5 hours to complete the process.

In general, the government does not regulate the scattering of cremated remains. Make sure you check with your local and state regulations beforehand. If you wish to scatter the cremated remains on private land, permission from the landowner will be required first and foremost.

Yes. Autopsies and organ donation do not affect your ability to have an open-casket viewing and visitation.

A columbarium is a place for the interment of urns containing cremated remains. They're often located in mausoleums, chapels, or memorial gardens, and contain numerous small compartments, or niches, designed to hold urns.