The
loss of a love one thru death can be a very stressful and emotional
time. As difficult as it is, arrangements will need to be made
regarding the funeral or memorial service and final disposition
of the deceased. Clark Associates Funeral Home is available
to ease you through this difficult process, to answer all your
questions and to help with the preparations. Our priority is
to provide assistance and support to you and your family.
Many factors are involved in planning a funeral, cremation or
memorial service that you will need to think about in order
to complete your arrangements. The first step is to establish
an appointment at the funeral home to discuss the type of service
that you and your family prefer and to plan arrangements and
details.
The following information addresses many of the questions that
frequently arise when making funeral, cremation, memorial or
pre-planning arrangements.
The importance of a Funeral or Memorial Service
History
has shown societies have honored their dead through ceremonies
for the purpose of properly sending them on their journey into
the next life. Today, psychologists and other experts agree
that such ceremonies and rituals benefit those left behind who
must reconstruct their lives following their loss.
Before family and friends can fully adjust to their loss, however,
it is important that they first express their grief in meaningful
ways. The funeral or memorial service provides the opportunity
to do just that.
Why
think about funerals now?
At
the time of death, it is common for those making the funeral
arrangements to question whether they are making the right decisions
and honoring the wishes of the deceased. The only exception
is when a funeral has been pre-planned by an individual, stating
his or her wishes concerning the service, memorialization and
final resting place. By pre-planning, not only can a person
specify options in advance of need, but the family is relieved
of having to make these important decisions. We will explain
further options under Pre-arranged Funerals.
Planning the Funeral or Memorial Service
Clark
Associates Funeral Home is available to service you 24 hours
a day, seven days a week, and will be available to help you
immediately when a death occurs. The first service of a funeral
home staff will be to transfer the deceased to the funeral home
where our Licensed Funeral Directors will provide the appropriate
services and guidance needed.
The process of planning a funeral or memorial service itself
usually begins by meeting with the Funeral Director. At this
meeting – referred to as an arrangements conference –
we present our general price list and listen to the family’s
preferences to help plan a service that will truly reflect the
life of the diseased. The funeral director will explain the
details involved in planning the service, and discuss the various
options.
Among these preparations, the Funeral Director will help you……
• Decide the time, structure and aspects of the visitation
and/or service;
• Coordinate with the clergy and/or fraternal orders;
• Place the obituary and death notice in the newspaper;
• Select the appropriate merchandise, such as casket,
urn or vault;
• Obtain necessary paperwork, including the death certificate
Location of a Funeral or Memorial Service?
A
funeral or memorial service can take place in a funeral home,
house of worship,country club, lodge or at grave site, as directed
by the family or as pre-arranged by the deceased. Regardless
of the chosen location, our funeral home has the knowledge,
personnel and means to fulfill the requirements of any family’s
faith or traditions.
Personalization is available
Many
families are tailoring a funeral or memorial service to reflect
the personality or life of the deceased. Prayers and remembrances
offered by family and friends, favorite music, treasured belongings,
photos and mementoes, items from a hobby, or awards can play
a role in making the final tribute fitting and meaningful. Audio/visual
effects have become more common, adding a unique dimension to
a service. Such tributes also can shift emphasis from the circumstances
of the death to memories of a life lived.
What disposition choices are available?
A
majority of funerals in North America conclude with earth burial.
Purchases made for this option generally include a casket, vault,
cemetery plot, and headstone or grave marker.
Another choice is cremation. People choose cremation for a varity
of reasons, including environmental concerns, personal preference,
flexibility, religious beliefs, changing family surroundings
and traditions. Cremation is not intended to replace the elements
of the traditional funeral; it is simply an alternative to earth
burial or entombment. Accompanying services can range from the
most traditional with full visitation and memorial service to
cremation with minimal services.
Above-ground entombment is provided in mausoleums, buildings
designed and maintained to house remains. Mausoleums are especially
popular in certain religions of North America. The availability
and price ranges form mausoleum crypts vary depending on geographic
location.
Burial
Site
Often,
a family plot exists where husbands, wives, brothers and sisters
can be buried together. If a burial site has yet to be selected,
Clark Associates Funeral Home can provide information on cemeteries
and their requirements. Some cemeteries require families to
visit their property to sign authorization forms and make financial
arrangements.
Clergy
We
will arrange with your clergy person to conduct the funeral
or memorial service on your behalf. If you are not affiliated
with a member of the clergy but would like one involved in the
service, we will contact one for you.
It is common for a member of the clergy to lead the memorial
or funeral and graveside service, and offer support to family
and friends. What is most important is that the process has
special meaning for those closest to the deceased, regardless
of the service options chosen. If the person being honored was
active in their religion, it is fitting for the clergy to be
an important part of the funeral. If the deceased had little
or no religious affiliation, it may be more appropriate to have
a few friends or family members conduct a non-denominational
service and share thoughts with those attending the service.
Clothing
The
selection of clothing to dress the deceased for burial or visitation
is a personal decision. When choosing the clothing, keep in
mind that women’s clothing should have high necklines
and long sleeves. Men’s clothing also should be long-sleeved
and should have close fitting collars. Although neck ties are
not necessary, they can be worn by the deceased. You should
include undergarments, as well as slippers. Shoes are not usually
worn.
We also have available Linen shrouds for both men and women.
Flowers
Friends
and relatives often send flowers as a way of expressing their
sympathy and offering support to family and close friends. As
floral tributes arrive, we will take care of receiving and arranging
them for the visitation, funeral or memorial service.
Memorial Donations
In
memoriam some families prefer a donation to a favorite cause
or charitable group in memory of the deceased. A memorial fund
also can be initiated, especially if the deceased had minor
children or a dependent with a disability. In these cases, the
family will inform those offering support that “Memorial
gifts can be made in memory of (the deceased) to (charity, fund
or organization).”
Pallbearers
Usually,
those asked are close relatives and friends of the deceased.
Traditionally, six pallbearers are used; however, you may chose
as many as you wish. Those selected should be physically capable
of lifting without injuring themselves. Honorary pallbearer
status can be given to those unable to lift or attend service.
Personal
Information
Accurate
biographical information is necessary to organize and place
the obituary and to file with appropriate government authorities.
In preparation, you should review the biographical Record questioner.
If you don’t know some of the answers, please try to find
the information. It will help you, your family in document completion.
Another way to help us serve you is to have the deceased’s
Social Security Number (SSN), and a copy of the discharge if
the deceased was a veteran.
Photographs
It
will be helpful for preparation purposed to have a recent photograph
of the deceased. Please bring the photograph with you, along
with the clothing, and jewelry and glasses, to your appointment.
The photograph will be returned.
Time
of Service
When
the time for the service had been determined and confirmed,
the funeral home will notify its staff, the clergy member or
facilitator performing the service, the chosen cemetery or crematory.
Please note that cemetery requirements can effect the times
available for services. Their hours vary, as well as their charges.
Visitation
The
visitation is a time when family and friends gather to share
their grief and to offer support. Visitations precede the funeral
or memorial service and can take place at the funeral home or
other appropriate venue. The visitation had become an increasingly
important way of expressing sympathy. In some cases, more people
attend the visitation than the funeral service it self. Visitations
are often held during non-working hours, giving friends and
family a flexible time-frame in which to offer their support.
During visitation, the casket may be opened for viewing or closed
(at the family’s discretion).
Holding a visitation is a personal decision that should be made
by you and those involved in planning the service.
DETAILS
Death
Certificate
It
is the funeral home’s responsibility to file the death
certificate with the local registrar of vital statistics where
the death occurred. The funeral home also can obtain copies
of the death certificate on your behalf if needed. Note that
filing and distribution procedures, and the number of certified
copies required by different agencies, can vary from state to
state.
Social
Security/Pension Benefits
The
funeral home will notify the local Social Security Administration
that death has occurred. Through this administration, numerous
benefits, such as Medicare in the U. S., and survivors’
benefits may be available to you. Your local Social Security
Office can provide additional information.
Veteran
Benefits
If
the deceased was a veteran, you may qualify for benefits through
the U. S. Veterans Administration. The Department of Veterans
Affairs will provide guidelines to determine available benefits,
which can include a flag, a grave marker and in some cases an
allowance toward funeral expenses.
Military Honor Guard
An Honor Guard from the deceased brand of service may be provided
to fold the flag and play taps for the honorably discharges
veterans.
Checklist
The following checklist will help you remember the items that
will be needed at the arrangements conference:
Biographical
information
Cemetery/crematory
Clergy/facilitator preference
Clothing
Glasses (if appropriate)
Jewelry
Music preference
Names of pallbearers
Names/relationship of survivors
Recent photograph
Social Security number (U. S.)
VA/DVA discharge (if deceased was a veteran)
STAFF 