Frequent Questions

The funeral director's job is to assist the bereaved in various ways to help them through the loss of a loved one. A funeral director provides bereavement and consolation services for the living, in addition to making arrangements for the cremation for the deceased.

The following list is not all-inclusive, but describes some of the major tasks of a funeral director: 

• Removal and transfer of the deceased from the place of death to the funeral home
• Professional care of the deceased
• Consulting with family to make arrangements for the cremation
• Filing certificates, permits, and other required forms
• Obtaining copies of the death certificate
• Assists the family with death-related claims, including Social Security, VA insurance, grief counseling

Yes, cremation is merely the disposition of the body. Memorial services are to honor and remember your loved one, regardless of disposition.

Yes, pre-arranging cremation services can be done by simply recording your wishes with the funeral home and notifying the appropriate next of kin.

• Advance Directives - If the deceased left any written advance directives concerning the disposition of his remains and memorialization, you need to bring them with you. These instructions may be found in a will, or there may be a formally witnessed disposition directive, funeral pre-arrangements, or a pre-need contract.
• Military Discharge Papers
• Recent photograph of the deceased and any personal effects that you wish to be included in the cremation
• Specific information on the deceased: 
•     Full legal name
•     Address
•     Marital status
•     Social Security number
•     Date of birth
•     Place of birth (city and state)
•     Educational history (number of years of schooling)
•     Armed Forces service dates and serial number
•     Occupation or profession
•     Parent's names, including mother's maiden name
•     Next of kin and other survivors