113 Church Street, Alexandria Bay, New York, 13607-0052 
Phone (315) 482-5840 
E-mail:  jjcostello@verizon.net

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q:           “My wishes concerning my funeral are stated in my will.  Will this suffice?” 

A:            “No.  Many times, a will is not read until after the funeral.  It is important for you to express your wishes to your family or close friend that would be responsible for handling your funeral arrangements after your death.  The best way to assure your arrangements are handled according to your wishes, is to plan with your funeral director in advance.”

Q:           “Is there any financial advantage to pre-arranging my funeral?”   

A:            “If a pre-arranged funeral is paid in full at the time the arrangements are made, most funeral homes will guarantee that there will be no further costs to your family at the time of your death.  We invest the funds in PrePlanÒ, a unique, secured trust fund holding monies set aside for individuals’ burial expenses.  It is a FDIC insured, interest-bearing account administered by the New York State Funeral Directors Association.  At the time of death, the funeral home collects the principle and interest, which should cover the cost of inflation as the account ages.”

Q:           "A number of years ago,  I pre-arranged my funeral with another funeral home.
            Is it possible to switch it to your funeral home?"

A:            “Absolutely.  New York State law mandates that pre-paid funeral accounts remain the property of the consumer.  Meaning that the individual has the right to change funeral homes or close the account at any time.  There is no charge for this transaction.  The funeral director will prepare the appropriate paperwork for you.  This practice is common for reasons such as: consumer relocation; funeral business changing ownership; or most commonly, personal preference.”

Q:           "My final wish is to be cremated, but my family would like to have calling hours
            and a traditional funeral. Can this be done?"

A:            “Certainly.  Cremation can be the final step of the service, just as burial would be.  Many people have opted to have full service funerals with calling hours and services at the funeral home or church.  The cremation would be done following the funeral as opposed to earth burial.  The ashes would be either returned to the family or a graveside service would be planned at a later date.”

Q:           “I know that many of the small, rural cemeteries are closed during the winter months.  If the death occurs during the winter months, will my family be allowed to attend the burial in the spring of the year?” 

A:            “Yes.  Without question, it is the right of the family to attend the spring burial, and say their final good-byes.  Our funeral home will coordinate with family members to plan a time that is convenient for all parties.”

Q:           “What should I do if a death occurs out of town? 

A:            “Our funeral home is capable of caring for a death anywhere in the world.  Call us first.  We can make arrangements for you with a reputable funeral home in the city or town where the death has occurred.  Dealing exclusively with the funeral home that will handle final disposition, is definitely more cost effective for the consumer, as this will save them from getting duplicate charges from two different funeral homes.  This also eases some of the burden on the family at a time when difficult decisions are being made.”