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“Memorial Portraiture” as it was called back then, was a relatively common practice from about the mid-1800’s to the early 1900’s. With the high rate of child mortality, it was often the only way to preserve the image of a child who passed away. Though wealthier families usually commissioned an artist to paint an image of a deceased loved one, photography was less expensive, so it was available to more families.

Early on in Memorial Portraiture the deceased were often posed to be “lifelike” or appear to be sleeping. Often the photographer would rouge the cheeks or paint in pupils to make the eyes look open. In later years, it was more common to see the deceased loved one photographed laid out in a casket.

Nowadays, most of the photographs involved in funerals are photos of the deceased alive - so that the memories of the individual are preserved in celebrating their life.

The total cost of cremation varies greatly from state to state, hovering somewhere between $800 to $3,000. The cost varies on several factors - transportation of remains, filing of required paperwork, additional service charges (removal of pacemaker, use of a special casket designed for cremation, extra handling charges, etc.) and urn selection, among other things.

Typically, a “direct cremation” is your least expensive option - the remains are not embalmed, but instead sent directly to be cremated. You can choose to have the cremains returned in a simple cardboard box rather than a custom urn - a good choice for those whose loved one requested their “ashes” be scattered in a unique site.

Some people choose to rent a casket for a viewing and then having their remains cremated. This may require embalming however, which will affect final costs.

This is a situation that you will need to discuss with your local Funeral Director. Human remains are transported all the time, and there are various laws regulating the transport. With today’s transient lifestyle, Funeral Directors handle this sort of scenario all the time, and are familiar with the steps necessary to transport cremains with care and dignity.

Pet funerals and burials are becoming an increasingly-popular option as pets have found a secure place in our homes as a member of the family. For some of us, our pets are much more than just “pets” - they are constant, loving companions, and in some cases, our animal companions improve life to a dramatic degree - think Service Animals or Police K9s who devote their lives to the service of humans. With all they give us, it is no wonder that people feel the need to “give back” and memorialize their pets with a fitting final tribute.

Many Funeral Homes offer Pet Funeral and Burial Services, so you can begin by contacting your local Funeral Director. They will know of local Pet Cemeteries, or can help you select a spot on your own property, if you would like to inter your pet at home. Be aware that some areas prohibit the burial of pets - even on private property - for health reasons, so check out your local laws if you decide to bury your pet at home. With today’s transient society, few people stay in the same residence permanently, and that is another thing to consider when selecting a burial location.

Most Veterinary Hospitals also offer information and options for Pet Funerals, Burials and Cemeteries. There are services that offer public or private cremations - often in the areas that prohibit pet burial, veterinarians are legally prohibited from releasing the intact body of your pet to you with the intent to bury it - they must either release the remains to a cremation service or a Pet Cemetery professional.

With a Public Pet Cremation, your pet is cremated along with others and you do not receive the ashes back - this is usually the least expensive option. With a Private Pet Cremation, your pet is cremated alone and you receive the ashes back in a specific timeframe, with or without a decorative urn of your choice.

If you decide to go with a Pet Cemetery, the Director can collect your pet’s remains (intact, if you wish) and you can select a casket for burial in the plot of your choice, or you can inter the urn of cremains. There are also some Pet Cemeteries with Scattering Gardens, if you would prefer to scatter your pet’s ashes - you can buy a remembrance marker to place in the Garden, or other memorial. There are some really nice options available - granite etched with a photo of your pet, or engraved metal plaques with a poem.

Your Funeral Director or Pet Cemetery professional will be able to advise you of the options and prices. The nice thing about a Pet Cemetery is that your pet’s final resting place will be preserved in perpetuity - it will never be moved or disturbed - no matter where you decide to move.

As for the actual Funeral or Memorial Services, you can discuss what you would like to do with your other family members and decide if you would like to hold a Service in a facility or perhaps graveside - you may even decide to have a dinner to remember and to celebrate the life of your pet - the Services are all about how you would like to pay tribute to your pet.

The responsibility for the cost of burying the indigent varies throughout the country - in some areas there are state funds set aside, in others it is a county responsibility, and in still others the local city or municipality may have to foot the bill. In all cases however, it is really the tax-payers who fund the burial, and it is usually a negligible amount - often only 1/10th the actual cost borne by the Funeral Home who has taken on the service. Your Funeral Director can help you find out who funds indigent burials in your area, or you can call your state government’s Funeral Services Board - every state has one - and they should be able to direct you to the appropriate contact.

In order to qualify for the indigent burial programs, there is  usually an application process where proof of income, assets, death benefits (or lack thereof) must be documented, as well as the inability of the next of kin  to pay. Often, if there is immediate family, they are responsible for covering the funeral costs of the indigent who has passed away, unless they meet the requirements outlined in the indigent burial programs.

Burial of the indigent has become a problematic issue in many areas - actual funeral costs far exceed what the government entities reimburse, forcing many Funeral Homes to refuse service, as they end up bearing the financial burden and cannot afford to stay in business with such a financial loss.

In cases of violent crime, some areas have victim restitution programs which may help defray funeral costs, and often communities will rally together to raise funds or a Funeral Director will donate their services. Speak with your local Funeral Director, and see what your options are.

Speaking at a friend’s Funeral or Memorial Services can be an emotional and challenging event, however, it can also be very rewarding and is an honor to be asked.

You can start by thinking about how special that person was in your life - what he or she meant to you and why. What memories did you share? What was unique and wonderful about that person? What will you miss the most?

There are some great websites out there to help you write a eulogy. Sometimes talking with someone else will help you collect your thoughts. And don’t worry about length - it’s better to have a speech that is brief and heartfelt than drawn-out and excessive. Show your genuine affection for the person you knew and honor and respect for the life they lived. Whatever you decide to say - let it be from the heart.

Nowadays, caskets are available for rental, just to fulfill that need. Speak with your Funeral Director about your preference to rent, rather than buy, a casket for the viewing and they will be able to show you the options available for rental.

There are also caskets specifically designed for cremation - usually they are made of a fiberboard material, and most look very much like the more “traditional” hardwood caskets. Again, your Funeral Director will be able to advise you of your options.

This is something you would need to ask your funeral director. Different crematory facilities have different policies regarding metal objects in the body. Pacemakers are usually removed as they can explode and damage the crematory unit. Often smaller metal plates, pins, etc., are left in the body for the process.

This question from one of our visitors illustrates why it is so important to have your wishes clearly spelled out when it comes to final plans, as well as appointing a health care proxy. There is no national or local information registry for final plans, and usually calling around to area funeral homes will not be any help - in today’s age of information privacy, funeral directors are limited in what information they can give out.

Family members also may not want to share final plans with others when they feel it may bring conflict. Final plans can be a very personal and private subject, so be understanding if a loved one chooses not to share details with you. Just make sure he or she has their final directives in a place that their appointed health care proxy or executor/trix can easily access when the time comes, and reassure them that their wishes will be respected and followed by those who love them.