What type of services do you offer?
Is embalming necessary?
What are vaults and graveliners?
Are vaults always required for Earth burial?
Must I be a member of a church in order for a Mass of Christian Burial to be offered?
What benefits are available to Veterans?
What if the death occurs out of the state or country?
What can be done with the remains if a cremation is chosen?
Do you have rental caskets available for viewings before a cremation?
I live all by myself, who will take care of me when I die?
Why should I make pre-arrangements?
What about Social Security Benefits?
What type of services do you offer?
Although you will be able to arrange any type of funeral service to suit your personal preferences, the following types of services are those which would be considered traditional:
Viewing, next day church service, followed by burial, entombment or cremation.
Viewing, next day service at the funeral home, followed by burial, entombment or cremation.
Viewing, service at the funeral home, followed by burial, entombment or cremation, all occurring on the same day.
Viewing, church service followed by burial, entombment or cremation, all occurring, on the same day.
Direct Burials with graveside services.
Direct Cremations with memorial services held either at church or at the funeral home.
New Jersey State Law requires a body to be embalmed if disposition does not take place within 48 hours after removal from refrigeration. It is strongly recommended that a body be embalmed if a public viewing is going to take place.
What are vaults and graveliners?
Vaults are lined and sealed concrete outer burial containers which prevent the grave from caving in due to the weight of the Earth and cemetery equipment. They are designed to protect the casket by reducing the risk of intrusion of exterior elements. Concrete graveliners are outer burial containers designed to withstand the weight of the Earth to prevent the grave from collapsing. This gives the minimal protection and is not lined or sealed. We have a variety of outer burial containers for you to choose from. Our funeral directors can explain any further questions you may have.
Are vaults always required for Earth burial?
No. Each cemetery determines its own vault requirements. Some cemeteries do require vaults while others do not. Our funeral directors will inform you about whether or not a vault purchase is needed for the particular cemetery chosen.
Must I be a church member in order for a Mass of Christian Burial?
You do not need to be a member of a church in order for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated.
What benefits are available to Veterans?
Veterans are entitled to a burial free of charge for themselves, their spouse, and one dependant child. The burial will be in the Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arnytown, NJ.
We contact the cemetery, but they dictate to us when the burial will take place. We can only request a date and time. The cemetery has the final say as to when the burial will occur. The gravesite will be marked with a headstone supplied by the Veterans Cemetery. The funeral director can discuss all other benefits that veterans are entitled to receive at the arrangement conference. You also have the option of preregistering with the cemetery so that all necessary paperwork can be completed ahead of time. For more information see our Veterans Benefits page.
What if the death occurs out of the state or country?
We will call a reliable funeral home in the place where the death occurred and make the necessary arrangements to transport the deceased back home where the remaining services can take place.
What can be done with the remains if a cremation is chosen?
Cremated remains can be put in an urn and kept at home, they can be buried in a cemetery, they can be placed in a niche in a cemetery, or they can be scattered at sea. We have a large variety of urns on display at the funeral home for you to choose from.
Do you have rental caskets available for viewings before a cremation?
Yes. We have one casket specifically for this purpose.
I live all by myself, who will take care of me when I die?
You can include your funeral wishes in your will and name an executor or executrix to ensure your wishes are carried out. If you do not name a person, the state will assign an administrator to handle your estate. To ease your worries, you can make pre-arrangements with the funeral home so you can be sure everything is in order and will take place smoothly when the event occurs.
Why should I make pre-arrangements?
Advanced planning allows families to consider options available to them without the burden of emotional stress, which accompanies death. The planning of a funeral can be overwhelming if not given forethought. You can take full control of your own funeral when planned ahead, relieving the pressure on your loved one in their time of grief.
The Social Security Administration pays a $255 death benefit upon the death of a person who has worked long enough to qualify for Social Security benefits, even if the deceased was not receiving benefits at the time of death. SSA will only pay the benefit to an eligible spouse or child. To file call 1.800.772.1213 FREE and ask for an appointment with your local office. For more information, visit
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10008.html
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a funeral?
A funeral is a ceremony for a deceased person prior to burial or cremation. A funeral gives the opportunity for family and friends of the deceased to gather and mourn the passing of their loved one, to share cherished memories and celebrate their life. A funeral is a vital first step to help the bereaved heal after the loss of someone special.
What type of service should I have?
If no pre-arrangements have been made, the type of service is entirely up to you. Services are usually held at a funeral home or a place of worship. There is a wealth of different services, ranging from a traditional religious or military service to something a little more non-traditional. Our funeral directors are more than happy to work with you to figure out what would be the most appropriate.
Can I personalize a funeral?
Of course you can, in fact more and more people are opting for a more non-traditional personalized service. There is no right or wrong way to celebrate somebody’s life. There are many unique ways to celebrate life, let the funeral director know exactly what your desires are and they will honor your wishes.
Do we need to have an obituary notice and what is included in one?
It is highly recommended to have an obituary notice that’s either placed in a local newspaper, or placed online. An obituary lets the public know that a death has occurred, and gives them information about the service. Obituaries generally include the deceased’s full name, age, city and date of birth and the city they were living in when they died. It also includes the name of the deceased’s spouse, along with the names of anyone else significant in their lives, such as parents, children or grandchildren. Space may be limited in a newspaper obituary, but you may include a little blurb on the life and legacy of the deceased. An online obituary or memorial website offers you the chance to add a lot more about the deceased.
Who are funeral directors and what do they do?
Funeral directors are in charge of all the logistics following a death. They complete all the necessary paperwork, make arrangements for the transportation of the body, and put into action the choices made by the family in regards to the funeral service and the final resting place of the body. Beyond the logistics, funeral directors are there to provide moral support and guidance for someone coping with death.
What happens if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend?
We are here to help, funeral directors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.
What if a death occurs away from my home town?
We are here to help, we can arrange to have the remains transported home from anywhere in the world. We will assume responsibility and make the proper arrangements to have the remains return to the community.
Do I need to have an embalming?
No. In fact some religions forbid embalming. However, some countries require embalming by law in order for remains to leave or enter the country. If it is not against your religious custom, embalming is recommended, especially if there is an extended gap between death and burial or cremation.
How much does a funeral cost?
The cost of the funeral varies depending on the wishes you have. The average cost of a funeral is between $8,000-$12,000, however, the most basic of services can cost as little as $3,500. The cost includes all professional services including transportation, embalming and other preparations, the use of a facility for the ceremony, and the purchase of a casket or urn.
Why are funerals so expensive?
Funerals are labor intensive and require a lot of work from a lot of people. The cost of a funeral goes beyond merchandise such as caskets, it includes the services of a funeral director in making the necessary arrangements, filling out forms, and dealing with all the other people involved in the death (doctors, lawyers, insurance companies). Funeral directors work an average of 40 hours per funeral. The cost of operating a funeral home is factored into the cost as well. Funeral homes are a 24 hour operation, with extensive facilities that need to be maintained and secured.
What do I do if I am not satisfied with the way a funeral was handled?
Funeral Services in the United States is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission, they can be reached by telephone at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) or you can fill out a form online at www.ftc.gov.
Phone: (609) 924-0242