Funeral Home Information
Funeral Homes have been around for thousands of years in one form or another. Just about everyone is familiar with our modern funeral homes that sometimes look like elaborate palaces, and in other cases smaller more intimate gathering places. Thousands of years ago the funeral homes of the times were more often than not located far outside the city limits and were almost never visited by the grieving loved ones directly. Instead the workers would visit the home of the deceased and take away the remains and return them weeks later after the process was completed. Modern day funeral services and funeral homes are managed in a way that is generally accepted as being far more sensitive to the needs of the surviving family and friends.
In the more recent past, as recent in fact as the late 1800’s and early 1900’s the local funeral homes shared their work space with the local Livery Stables. Before it was understood that the care we provide for the deceased can in many cases directly affect the well being of the surviving loved ones it was considered acceptable to care for our deceased loved one in the same building and in almost the same manner as our deceased livestock. As society as a whole has become more civilized and more aware of disease and the importance of preventing it’s spread the funeral homes and the behind the scenes processes have also become more advanced and more specialized.
Modern day funeral homes normally include a number of different private rooms for individual families and groups of friends to gather together while they remember the life and accomplishments of their dearly departed loved ones. In many cases there can be more than one funeral going on at the same time and it is hardly noticeable by the grieving visitors. Because of a deep understanding of what is needed to ensure closure and a successful service, funeral homes and the funeral directors who work within them are more often than not able to provide an experience that meets the requests of the deceased while at the same time respecting the living and their need for closure. Funeral Homes are understandably no one’s favorite place in the world but when a Funeral Service is done well Funeral Homes can be a pleasant cleansing and healing experience for many visitors.
From the very first funeral where there were no health and safety precautions taken to the current funeral services the general feeling for the mourners has not changed a lot. Professionals in the funeral services industry are painfully aware of the fact no one particularly likes to be in a position where they need to be making arrangements or dealing with funeral homes in any capacity. It is because of this awareness that funeral homes and their staff are always working hard to make the experiences as pleasant as it can be considering the circumstances. Many funeral homes will also offer post service grief counseling for family and/or friends who are finding it difficult to cope with a sudden loss. If you or a member of your family is experiencing difficulty beyond the expected grief you might consider talking to a staff member at your local funeral home to see if they are currently offering any support group or individual counseling services. Even if they are not offering them at their location they will be able to help you find either other funeral homes offering them, or community groups that offer the service. In most cases a support group can be found that is not only available at convenient times but they are usually free of charge as well.
Although funeral homes usually rank among the least favorite places for people to visit, the employees there are highly trained and ready to help you through what could be the most painful experiences you will ever have to manage. Funeral Directors are compassionate by nature and are always willing to do whatever is necessary to help the family through their grief. In many cases local funeral homes can not only help you with the funeral service itself but also with a number of other details that many people forget about. Your funeral director can help you get your loved ones obituary posted in the next printing of your local newspaper, they can help you get access to the death certificate from the government, they can also help you get all of the flowers in order for the service. Although it is rarely a fun experience, rest assured your local funeral homes and their staff members will be there for you and your family every step of the way.
Funeral Home Listings Added Today
Giles Monument Company
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Quality Products Inc
Lorenzon & Son Monument Company
Catholic Cemeteries Association - Queen of Heaven Cemetery
David Marble & Granite
Golden Gallon
Waconda Funeral Home
Hamby Funeral Home
Funeral Homes Directory
Dress Etiquette at a Funeral
Proper Funeral Dress Etiquette
Funerals can be a confusing time for most people attending, and so can choosing an outfit to wear to that funeral. Although it is common knowledge that one should never attend a funeral in their Friday night clubbing outfit most people are still confused about what to wear and put a lot of emphasis on color. Although most people are under the impression that they should wear only black to funeral in modern times the color you wear is less important than the style of clothing you are wearing. The wearing of black clothing by the immediate family is an old tradition that is not nearly so important today.
Wearing black clothing to the funeral and sometimes for weeks or months following the death of a loved one is something that has been done by mourners for hundreds of years but as our society evolved so did our way of showing respect in mourning. Although most people still wear dark colors on the day of the funeral and to memorials for the deceased it is no longer a required or even assumed way to dress.
Since you will be expected to sit or stand for expected periods of times at the funeral and during the memorial service it is a good idea to wear something that is not only conservative, but also comfortable and easy to move in. There will likely be a lot of sitting standing walking and hugging so you will want to be comfortable while also looking smart and respectful. Dress pants and dress shirt with a tie and removable sports jacket is usually sufficient for men while a dress, skirt, or a dress pant and dress shirt combination is usually ideal for women.
The color you choose should be directly representative of the type of funeral that you are attending. If you have been asked to attend the ‘funeral’ of your loved one or friend you should choose darker or more neutral colors, where as if you are attending the ‘celebration of the life’ of a person you might choose more color in your outfit. With more color you might add a sash to your dress, or wear a colored dress shirt rather than plain white or choose a red, pink, green, or other colored tie. Regardless of the type of funeral formal dress is always suggested, although at memorial services that is not always the case. At memorial services that are held somewhere other than a church or funeral home you should dress for the location. If everyone is gathering for a drink and celebration at the deceased favorite pub or restaurant, casual dress is usually acceptable.
What it all boils down to is you need to think about the person who has passed away, and think about the other people who will be attending the funeral. How close are you to this person? What would he or she wear to your funeral? How do you want the other attendees to remember you? Although it is in poor taste for an attendee to comment on a person’s clothing selection, this is a memory they will have of you forever, try to make it a positive memory.
Burial vs. Cremation
Choosing Between Burial and Cremation
Choosing between burial or cremation is a tough call for some while a very easy decision for others. Normally choosing between the two is based on four different things, where will you or your loved one be placed after the funeral (buried, niche wall, entombed etc), how much money do you want to spend, and of course what did everyone else in your family choose to do, and last but not least, religion.
If there is already a family plot purchased in the cemetery and that is where you or your loved one is destined to go after the funeral, you might be able to choose between burial or cremation. If the family plot already has a number of people in it you might be left with only cremation as an option based on space restrictions alone. Depending on the plot size and the state you are in there are only so many people allowed in each plot.. For example a single plot can have two caskets buried and up to three urns (these numbers will vary depending on state), so if there are already two caskets (parents for example), the children might have to be cremated to get three or more into the plot. If you have selected a niche wall you must be cremated to be placed into your allotted space In the wall as there is only room for urns. If the remains are to be entombed you can choose between cremation or whole body burial of sorts. The tomb size and current occupancy will determine whether or not you must be cremated to fit in, or whether it can fit a full sized casket into it.
Truth be told more and more often money is a factor in determining what to do with a loved one’s body after death. In most cases cremation is considerably cheaper than burial. When money is tight cremating your loved one means you can do just about anything with his or her ashes, some keep them in their home in an urn until such time that a permanent resting place can be purchased, others immediately bury them or place them in a tomb or niche wall. Choosing burial means you need to pay for the space, a casket, and a headstone and the actual act of burying the body or urn. Niche walls tend to be a less expensive option because with cremation you do not need an expensive casket or a large area in the cemetery to bury the body or a large headstone.
Looking at what other family members have done in the past will make it easier to ensure you are meeting with that persons religious beliefs. There are some religions that will not allow cremation or embalming for that matter. There are even cases where religion will require really fast burial with other specifics like head must be facing a certain way and the like. Looking back at their family history will make it easier for you to respect their heritage and religious beliefs.