
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.”