 What purpose does a funeral serve?
It is the customary way to recognize death and its finality. Funerals are recognized rituals for the living to show respect for the dead and to help survivors begin the healing process.
What do funeral directors do?
We spend the majority of our time helping families
create a meaningful tribute to their loved one.
Learning about the person who lived is very important
to us. Listening is perhaps our greatest skill.
Working as a team, we strive to create a comfortable
environment for families, visitors, and friends. There
is also a tremendous amount of administrative
responsibilities and event planning that we handle
behind the scenes (including coordination with clergy,
cemeteries, crematories, reception halls, restaurants,
florists, musicians, veteran honor guards, veteran
benefit offices, social security, city/town clerks and
health departments, doctors offices, medical examiners
office newspapers, airlines, web site, etc.). We truly
love what we do!
Why have a public viewing?
Viewing is part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Many grief specialists believe that viewing aids the grief process by helping the bereaved recognize the reality of death. Viewing is encouraged for children, as long as the process is explained and the activity voluntary.
What is the purpose of embalming?
Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body, retards the decomposition process, and enhances the appearance of a body disfigured by traumatic death or illness. Embalming makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, thus allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them.
Does a dead body have to be embalmed, according to law?
No. Most states, however, require embalming when death was caused by a reportable contagious disease or when remains are to be transported from one state to another by common carrier or if final disposition is not to be made within a prescribed number of hours.
Isn't burial space becoming scarce?
While it is true some metropolitan areas have limited available cemetery space, in most areas of the country, there is enough space set aside for the next 50 years without creating new cemeteries. In addition, land available for new cemeteries is more than adequate, especially with the increase in entombment and multi-level grave burial.
How much does a funeral cost?
Funeral costs
are divided into three parts. The first part is the
funeral home service charges. The second part is the
casket, outer burial container and/or urn selected.
The third part is the non-funeral home costs like
cemetery/crematory expenses and newspaper notices.
1.) We currently offer a “complete funeral service
package” which includes all the services necessary to
have a gathering of friends (also referred to as a
wake or visiting hours), a church service or funeral
home service, the hearse and limousine, pallbearers/funeral assistants,
administrative support, obituary web site listing, and
full attention of our funeral caregivers in creating a
meaningful service. Our charge for this complete
package is $5140 which is discounted from $5490 if a
casket is purchased from the funeral home. If other
services are selected, individual costs would be
itemized. Our complete general price list is available
in our funeral homes. You can request a copy in
person, over the phone, or through email.
2.) Caskets range in price from $625 to $9700
depending on the material they are constructed from
(i.e. Cherry, Pine, Mahogany, Poplar, Oak, Steel,
Stainless Steel, Copper, Bronze), the interior fabric
(velvet or crepe), the finish (polished or satin), and
the thickness of the material. Outer burial containers
range in price from $1040 to $4300. Urns range in price
form $80 to $2795.
3.) The non-funeral costs are outside charges which
the funeral home pays on the family’s behalf. After
receiving payment from the family, the funeral home
writes and distributes the checks to necessary places.
These costs include cemetery expenses (which can range
from $500 to $5000 or more, newspaper notices (which
can range from $75 to $750 or more), flowers,
musicians, clergy offerings, and many other items.
We highly recommend sitting down with us and
discussing the type of services that would be
appropriate for your family. Through this process, we
will create a complete estimate of expense.
Has this cost increased significantly?
Funeral costs have increased no faster than the consumer price index for other consumer items.
Why are funerals so expensive?
When compared to other major life cycle events, like
births and weddings, funerals are not expensive. A
funeral home is a 24/7, labor-intensive business, with
extensive facilities and equipment. Contrary to
popular belief, funeral homes are largely
family-owned, community centered businesses with a
modest profit margin.
Is cremation less expensive than burial?
In most cases cremation is less expensive than burial.
Cremation does not require a burial vault and the
crematory fees are typically less expensive than
cemetery grave opening fees. If someone is eligible to
be buried in Massachusetts National Cemetery, then
burial is actually less expensive than cremation
because the cemetery provides the grave, the grave opening and the grave liner at no cost to the family.
Are casket stores a less expensive option?
We have found that our pricing structure for caskets
is comparable with caskets stores. Families appreciate
the convenience and comfort of making this decision
while they are here in the funeral home on our
in-house high resolution virtual catalogue, as opposed
to entering a large room full of caskets.
What recourse does a consumer have for poor service or overcharging?
Funeral service is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission and state licensing boards. In most cases, the consumer should discuss problems with the funeral director first. If the dispute cannot be solved by talking with the funeral director, the consumer may wish to contact the Funeral Service Consumer Assistance Program. FSCAP provides information, mediates disputes, provides arbitration, and maintains a consumer guarantee fund for reimbursement of services rendered. (To contact FSCAP, you may call 800-662-7666).
Who pays for funerals for the indigent?
Other than the family, there are veteran, union, and other organizational benefits to pay for funerals, including, in certain instances, a lump sum death payment from Social Security. In most states, some form of public aid allowances are available from either the state, county, or city or a combination. Most funeral directors are aware of the various benefits and know how to obtain them for the indigent. However, funeral directors often absorb costs above and beyond what is provided by agencies to insure the deceased a respectable burial.
What should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend?
We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Will someone come right away?
If you request immediate assistance, yes. If the family wishes to spend a short time with the deceased to say good bye, it's acceptable. They will come when your time is right.
If a loved one dies out of state , can the local Funeral Home still help?
Yes, we
recommend calling us first. We will arrange with an
out of state colleague to assist you on our behalf.
This prevents having to pay two full service charges.
So, I've decided on cremation. Can I still have a funeral or a viewing?
Yes, quite often some sort of viewing precedes the actual cremation. Your Funeral Home can assist you with the necessary information for a funeral with a cremation following or a memorial service.
What government agencies help defray final expenses?
Usually, Funeral Directors will help gather the necessary information to apply for financial assistance from Social Security, Veteran's Affairs, retirements, and any others.
Do you watch “6 Feet Under” or “Family Plots”?
Yes. Needless to say, real life is always different
than a TV show.
Did you go to school to learn funeral service?
Yes. In MA, we are required to complete 2 years of
schooling and 2 years of an apprenticeship. Following
these requirements, a state and a national exam must
be passed to become a licensed funeral director.
Continuing education has always been a hallmark at
Keohane Funeral Service and all of our funeral
directors continue to attend many seminars and
courses.
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