Category Archives: Ask FuneralAdvice.Com

Some of these terms (such as Funeral Director and Mortician) are used interchangeably; however, there are some distinctions between them. A Funeral Director or Mortician may or may not be an Embalmer, but an Embalmer is usually also licensed as … Continue reading →

The Funeral Director in your neighborhood would be the place to start. They are there to help with the nearly 90 items that have to be addressed, from the selection of a casket to the verse on the memory cards. … Continue reading →

The body is cremated shortly after death, without embalming. The cremated remains are placed in an urn or other container. No viewing or visitation is involved, although a memorial service may be held, with or without the cremated remains present. … Continue reading →

Yes. Many families choose to have an open casket viewing for the deceased along with a traditional funeral service before the cremation takes place. Most funeral homes offer rental caskets just for that reason. There are many options for cremations … Continue reading →

Green burial can take place without the use of formaldehyde-based embalming, metal caskets, and concrete burial vaults. It’s the way most burials were performed for thousands of years up until the late 19th century. In some instances, green burial are … Continue reading →

Any Mass celebrated for a deceased person could be called a Memorial Mass or Memorial Service. This type of Memorial Mass or Service is celebrated when either no Funeral Mass has been celebrated or the Funeral Mass was celebrated in … Continue reading →

It is a great honor to be asked to help your friend during this painful time. There are a few things you would need to do before your can start helping. You will need to ask questions regarding the place … Continue reading →

Yes. Most Funeral Homes offer Pre-Arranged funerals which makes it easier for you to receive the type of funeral you would like to have and lesson the burden on your family at the time of your death. This information is … Continue reading →

“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 … Continue reading →

This a question to ask your Funeral Director when you pre-plan your funeral. Laws can vary greatly state to state, and your local Funeral Director will know which laws are applicable in your area.

According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) there are approximately 2,368 Funeral Homes – about 11% of the overall number of Funeral Homes – in the United States that are owned by publicly-traded stock corporations.

According to the National Funeral Director’s Association (also known as NFDA), there were approximately 21,528 Funeral Homes in the United States, based on the 1997 U.S. Census of Service Industries.

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 … Continue reading →

This request is certainly unique, though obviously gaining in popularity as a choice for scattering ashes, or “cremains.” The volume of cremains will vary greatly from request to request, as some people will only want a portion of their remains … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

This is absolutely your preference. If you are a very religious person, a Church Funeral is certainly appropriate, though keep in mind that you may have friends or family who do not practice the same religious beliefs and may be … Continue reading →

This is a question for your Funeral Director or the Stated Board of Funeral Services in Alabama. Most states have a similar governing agency for those of you who want to check if your state has such a requirement. Your … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

Grief is a highly variable and very personal journey through loss. There are no official time frames for how long it takes for someone to go through the stages of grief. It’s an emotional process that cannot be rushed. People … Continue reading →

There are a few options for you to explore in this sort of situation. First, contact whoever is in charge of services at the church. After explaining how important the music and readings were to your loved one, the director … Continue reading →

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, … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

A Sarcophagus is a stone container that holds a coffin of the deceased. Historically, persons of high birth (kings, pharaohs) were buried in a sarcophagus – usually highly decorated, inscribed with symbols and prayers and inlaid with precious metals and … Continue reading →

The term “sky burial” can refer to several very different burial traditions, both ancient (like the Sky Burial rituals practiced by Tibetan Buddhists or the Zoroastrians) and modern (such as scattering ashes at high altitude). The Tibetan Buddhist practice a … Continue reading →