Archive for the ‘Funeral Planning’ Category

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Are There Differences between Male and Female Funeral Directors?

Thursday, August 29th, 2013

Are There Differences between Male and Female Funeral Directors?The funeral planning industry has long been considered a male-dominated profession. From the funeral directors who greet you at the door to the behind-the-scenes morticians who prepare your loved one for a final viewing, men have made up the majority of funeral service workers for quite some time.

Historically, caring for the dead has been the responsibility of women. As caretakers of the home (where most body preparation took place during the pre-Victorian eras), women were responsible for washing and dressing the body, and placing it in a shroud. From there, men took over. Building coffins, carrying the body, and the actual burial was men’s work. In fact, burial was considered such a “male” issue that in many cultures, women weren’t even allowed to attend the funerals or participate in the procession.

(more…)

Jewish Funeral Planning Customs: Chevra Kadisha

Friday, August 23rd, 2013

Jewish Funeral Planning Customs: Chevra KadishaJewish funeral customs are some of the most unique and beautiful traditions in the burial industry. With a focus on a strong sense of community and mourning, these customs range from the strict preparation of the body to mourning habits like sitting shiva (a seven-day mourning period observed by the immediate family of the deceased).

In keeping with these religious rites is the chevra kadisha, a holy society (or organization) composed of individuals who oversee the process of preparing the body of the deceased for burial. Central to the concept of chevra kadisha are showing a proper level of respect for the body and ensuring that the ritual cleansing and dressing of the body is in keeping with Jewish standards.

Why Body Preparation is Important

In today’s funeral industry, body preparation tends to be a fairly invasive process. From autopsies and embalming to the thick layers of makeup put on to hold an open casket ceremony, there can be quite a bit of physical manipulation done to what remains of the person you loved.

In the Jewish tradition of chevra kadisha, this aggressive approach is set aside in favor of a more personalized purification rite. Those who are tasked with the body’s preparation are considered to be doing an incredibly good and selfless deed, as their task is one that is done for reasons of kindness.

(more…)

Funeral Trends: Ghanaian Fantasy Coffins

Friday, August 9th, 2013

Funeral Trends: Ghanaian Fantasy CoffinsA recent trend in the funeral planning industry is to bypass traditional caskets in hardwood and stainless steel to opt for something more personalized. From custom-made themed caskets and do-it-yourself casket kits to simple shrouds that make the most out of a green funeral, it seems like consumers today have more options than ever before.

And while it might seem like these additional options are strictly an American phenomenon, the truth is actually quite the reverse. In a recent magazine article at Don’t Panic, one journalist shows that in terms of quirky coffins, Ghana has got almost the entire world beat.

Ghanaian Fantasy Coffins

In Ghana, West Africa, one tribe has taken burial to the next level with fantasy coffins. So named because they are colorful, whimsical, and definitely crafted from the world of fantasy, these caskets are similar to traditional ones in terms of the materials and craftsmanship. Hardwoods are used for the exterior, and the insides are lined with satin and other plush options. It’s the design that really makes the difference.

(more…)

Is a Discount Funeral Home a Good Idea?

Tuesday, August 6th, 2013

Is a Discount Funeral Home a Good Idea?In an age when everyone is trying to cut back on their expenditures, it might seem like a good idea to reduce funeral costs by choosing a discount funeral home. Traditional funerals can be quite expensive—particularly if no advance funeral arrangements were made—and the stress associated with paying for a burial among the rest of the emotional toll death takes can rapidly push a family over the edge.

Discount funeral homes exist to provide a lower-cost alternative to families who want to save money on planning a funeral. They exist in large part because funeral homes have become so corporatized in the past few decades. Discount funeral homes found a niche market among these corporations, where discounts and great customer service drive sales.

This can be good news for consumers. As is the case with any type of free market like this, funeral homes competing with one another to lower prices, provide better service, and increase your options means that you have more freedom of choice. But how far is too far?

For some families, that answer is when discount funeral homes begin to cut back on some of the more time-honored traditions that bring comfort to grieving families.

Discount Funeral Homes

(more…)

Common Cremation Questions

Tuesday, July 30th, 2013

Common Cremation QuestionsWhen it comes time to start funeral planning, you may find that you have lingering questions about cremation. Yes, we all know that it provides a lower-cost alternative to traditional burial, and that the outcome—an urn of ashes—can be scattered or kept on the mantelpiece as a kind of memorial to the deceased.

But what about the details? When is cremation not recommended? How personalized is the process of transforming the body into ashes? And where can you go to find more information?

The following list of common questions should help provide a baseline of understanding the cremation process. For additional information, you should always contact a local funeral home or the Cremation Association of North American (CANA).

(more…)

Save on Burial Costs with a Funeral Committee

Friday, July 26th, 2013

Save on Burial Costs with a Funeral CommitteeThere is perhaps no better way to cut back on funeral costs than to take a community approach to burial. Part of the reason funerals are so expensive is because most families go through the process alone. They meet with a funeral home, make decisions in isolation, and handle the entire burden by themselves. This type of process makes it difficult to share resources and even best practices—two things that can actually end up saving thousands of dollars on a funeral.

What is a Funeral Committee?

Funeral committees are a community, church, or other group effort created to establish a safe place for families to turn for low-cost burials in keeping with local traditions. Most funeral committees exist within religious institutions (since so many burial practices have their roots in a specific religious ideology), and are formed as part of a congregation effort to make planning a funeral on everyone involved.

(more…)

Requesting a Private Autopsy

Tuesday, July 23rd, 2013

Requesting a Private AutopsyIn the funeral planning industry, most people associate autopsies with high-intensity drama and crime. Thanks in large part to television and the media, it is generally assumed that only deceased individuals who have died under suspicious circumstances are eligible to receive autopsies. While it is true that the majority of autopsies are performed for this reason, families may also request private autopsies for their own personal information.

Why Get a Private Autopsy?

If officials don’t suspect an unnatural cause of death, chances are they will release a body directly to the funeral home of your choosing. However, if you have any questions about your loved one’s health or cause of death, you may want to opt for an autopsy in order to seek answers.

Some of the more common reasons for requesting a private autopsy include:

  • Questions about the cause of death
  • Concerns about the treatment and care of the deceased prior to death
  • Insurance settlements and medical malpractice issues
  • Family health concerns (particularly if the deceased is believed to have died from a genetic disorder)
  • Peace of mind

(more…)

Death Certificate FAQs

Tuesday, July 16th, 2013

Death Certificate FAQsAlthough every state handles death certificates differently, there are some universal standards that should help you navigate the process of ordering death certificates, making corrections, and process other record-keeping needs.

For questions about your specific state, we encourage you to contact your state’s vital records office or the National Center for Health Statistics.

Death Certificates: Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need a death certificate for?

A death certificate is needed to settle most financial and legal affairs on behalf of the deceased. As the official legal record of death, the death certificate is needed for most insurance companies, the Social Security Administration, and other agencies that must process paperwork related to the deceased’s affairs.

(more…)

What Can a Funeral Home Legally Refuse You?

Thursday, July 11th, 2013

What Can a Funeral Home Legally Refuse You?Oftentimes, when we talk about rights and responsibilities in the funeral planning industry, it’s about what you, the consumer, can legally expect from a funeral home. Several federal laws exist to protect you from predatory burial practices and to ensure that any investment you make in a per-arranged funeral plan is safe for the future.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that funeral homes don’t have rights, too. As businesses like any other, they are just as susceptible to non-payments, customers who change their minds, and other consumer practices that pose a risk to their bottom line. That’s why they have a few legal rights, as well.

Although most laws do rest on the side of the consumer, here are a few things a funeral home is allowed (and not allowed) to do.

  • A funeral home has the right to refuse to accept the deceased’s remains if there is a dispute about the right of disposition. This means that when family members disagree about how to dispose of a loved one’s remains (and when there is no legal document or situation that assigns one person the right to make decisions), the funeral home can opt not to handle the case—even if one person promises to pay for the funeral out-of-pocket. (more…)

What Happens When a Loved One Dies in Prison?

Tuesday, July 9th, 2013

What Happens When a Loved One Dies in Prison?Funeral planning isn’t a positive experience in the best of circumstances—so when you add a complicated legal or personal situation, things have a way of becoming even more difficult and emotional.

One scenario that few people anticipate having to navigate is how to take care of the deceased when he or she passes away in a government institution like jail. However, this type of situation can and does happen, and there are options for families who wish to reclaim the deceased’s body for a personalized burial.

The Death Care Industry and Prison

In many cases, inmates who face a long time in prison—or who are otherwise in a situation in which death has a reasonable chance of occurring while they are incarcerated—make a will or other advance plans for death. Because they are already firmly in the legal system and have had contact with a lawyer, they may have been encouraged to draft a will that indicates where and how their body will be interred.

(more…)

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »