A funeral home is a business that offers a variety of funeral and burial services designed to help families dispose of the remains of their loved ones in a manner of their choosing. There are a considerable number of goods and services that a funeral home offers, but not all of them will be selected by individual families. Each family is unique, each death is unique, and therefore each funeral service is unique. The type of goods and services chosen by the family will also be unique, depending on the wishes of the family and / or the deceased. Families can customize the funeral service according to their needs, choosing from a variety of services that best honor the memory of their loved one.
The death of a loved one is a difficult time for families, and many people are unsure about the funeral planning process. Typically, the family will work closely with a funeral director, who will ensure that your loved one’s funeral services are planned according to your wishes. The funeral director can help you choose the best services to honor your loved one in the most solemn, memorable, and dignified way possible. Here are some of the many services available at most funeral homes:
Recovery and embalming of the body: The funeral home is responsible for recovering the body from the place of death (hospital, home, nursing home, etc.) and transporting it to the funeral home. It is at the funeral home that the body will be prepared for proper disposal. The funeral director will explain all the options available to the family and help them make the right decisions for their loved one, including whether there will be a view of the body or whether the body will be embalmed prior to burial. If the body is to be cremated, the funeral home is responsible for transporting the body to the crematorium, if it does not operate one on site, and retrieving the remains after the procedure.
Preparation and handling of the body: Funeral home staff are responsible for handling the body with the utmost dignity and respect at all times while preparing your loved one for the funeral. This includes not only washing and embalming the body, but also preparing it for viewing. The funeral home staff will perform services such as dressing the body, combing hair, putting on makeup to give it a lifelike appearance, and placing the body inside the casket for viewing and burial. The family must be sure that the deceased person will be treated with the utmost care and respect during this process.
Processing of procedures: Documentation of the death of a loved one can be overwhelming for grieving family members. Death certificates, special permits, and authorizations are just a few of the paperwork that must be completed and submitted on behalf of the deceased. The funeral director will collect information from the family to prepare the necessary documentation and will ensure that all documentation is complete and properly filed with the proper authorities. Since many family members may want a copy of a death certificate, the funeral home must obtain the correct number of certified copies of the death certificate that will be provided to the requesting parties. It is also the funeral home’s responsibility to broadcast obituaries to newspapers and other media so that family members, colleagues, and friends of the deceased are aware of the planned funeral service.
Funeral planning and concierge services: The funeral director will help the family decide the details of the funeral service and will ensure that all the details of the funeral are carried out in accordance with the wishes of the family. This includes arrangements for where the funeral will take place, where the memorial service will take place, and whether the cremated body or remains will be buried, scattered, or otherwise disposed of. The funeral home will also assist the family in ordering the flowers needed during the service, the casket or urn to house their loved one, and other arrangements for the funeral service. Most funeral homes also offer a car service to pick up a family member at the airport and a concierge service to make hotel and restaurant reservations for incoming family members.
Funeral homes provide a variety of services that can help a grieving family make the right decisions when planning a loved one’s funeral. It is important for funeral directors and staff to offer compassionate care and understanding to the grieving family.