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 We have provided some of the answers to the common questions relating to a funeral, a funeral service and funeral homes. If you have further questions related to funerals, please contact us and we will endeavor to find out the information from our contacts with local funeral directors.
Click on the question to see the answer.
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What is a funeral?
- What type of service should I have?
- Can I personalize my funeral service?
- Why have a public viewing?
- Why have an obituary notice?
- What do funeral directors do?
- What should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend?
- Will someone come right away?
- If a loved one dies out of state, can the local Funeral Home still help?
- What should I do if a death occurs while away from home?
- What is the purpose of embalming?
- Is embalming mandatory by law?
- Is cremation a substitute for a funeral?
- Can I have a visitation period and a funeral service if cremation is chosen?
- Is cremation as a means of disposition increasing?
- Is it possible to have a traditional funeral if someone dies of AIDS?
- How much does a funeral cost?
- Has this cost increased significantly?
- Why are funerals so expensive?
What is a funeral?
The funeral is a ceremony of proven worth and value for those who mourn. It provides an opportunity for the survivors and others who share in the loss to express their love, respect and grief. It permits facing openly and realistically the crisis that death may present. through the funeral, the bereaved take that first step towards emotional adjustment to their loss.
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What type of service should I have?
The type of service conducted for the deceased is specified by the family. Funeral directors are trained to help families arrange the type of service they desire. The service is usually held at a place of worship or at the funeral home. The service may vary in ritual according to religious denomination or the wishes of the family. The presence of friends at this time is an acknowledgement of friendship and support. A private service is by invitation only where selected relatives and a few close friends attend the funeral service. A memorial service is usually a service without the body present and can vary in ceremony and procedures according to the family's community and religious affiliations.
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Can I personalize my funeral service?
Absolutely. The funeral is a celebration of life. Funeral directors are happy to discuss all options and ensure your funeral is tailored to your wishes. It may be personalized by playing favorite music, by donations in lieu of flowers, or by having close friends say a few words during the funeral service.
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Why have a public viewing?
Viewing is part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Many grief specialists believe that viewing aids the grief process by helping the bereaved recognize the reality of death. Viewing is encouraged for children, as long as the process is explained and the activity voluntary.
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Why have an obituary notice?
It is helpful to friends and the community to have an obituary notice published announcing the death and type of service to be held. A notice can be placed in a local newspaper or on the Internet.
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What do funeral directors do?
Funeral directors are caregivers and administrators. They make the arrangements for transportation of the body, complete all necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the body.
Funeral directors are listeners, advisors and supporters. They have experience assisting the bereaved in coping with death. Funeral directors are trained to answer questions about grief, recognize when a person is having difficulty coping, and recommend sources of professional help. Funeral directors also link survivors with support groups at the funeral home or in the community.
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What should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend?
Most Funeral Directors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Will someone come right away?
If you request immediate assistance, yes. If the family wishes to spend a short time with the deceased to say good bye, it's acceptable. They will come when your time is right.
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If a loved one dies out of state, can the local Funeral Home still help?
Yes, they can assist you with out-of-province arrangements, either to transfer the remains to another province or from another province.
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What should I do if a death occurs while away from home?
Your funeral director can assist you if a death occurs anywhere on the globe. Contact your hometown funeral director of choice immediately. They will assume responsibility and coordinate the arrangements for the return of the deceased person to their community. They may engage the services of a funeral director in the place of death who will act as their agent.
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What is the purpose of embalming?
Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body, retards the decomposition process, and enhances the appearance of a body disfigured by traumatic death or illness. Embalming makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, thus allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them. Please note that embalming may be required if the deceased is being transported by air to another country where local laws need be observed.
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Is embalming mandatory by law?
No. But, the factors of time, health and possible legal requirements might make embalming either appropriate or necessary. The law requires embalming when the body is shipped into or out of Ontario or by public carrier. Embalming the body enables mourners to view the deceased if they wish. The emotional benefits of viewing the deceased are enormous, particularly to those having difficulty dealing with the death.
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Is cremation a substitute for a funeral?
No, cremation is an alternative to earth burial or entombment for the body's final disposition and often follows a traditional funeral service. Your Funeral Home can assist you with the necessary information for a funeral with a cremation following or a memorial service.
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Can I have a visitation period and a funeral service if cremation is chosen?
Yes. Cremation does not preclude having a visitation period and a funeral service. Cremation is simply one option for final disposition of the body.
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Is cremation as a means of disposition increasing?
Yes, but not dramatically.
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Is it possible to have a traditional funeral if someone dies of AIDS?
Yes, A person who dies of an AIDS-related illness is entitled to the same service options afforded to anyone else. If public viewing is consistent with local or personal customs, that option is encouraged. Touching the deceased's face or hands is perfectly safe. Because the grief experienced by survivors may include a variety of feelings, survivors may need even more support than survivors of non-AIDS-related deaths.
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How much does a funeral cost?
Funerals can cost as little as $1000 for a direct disposition.(Direct disposition includes registering the death, a basic casket or container, and transporting the deceased to a cemetery or crematorium)
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Has this cost increased significantly?
Funeral costs have increased no faster than the consumer price index for other consumer items.
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Why are funerals so expensive?
In some respects, funerals are a lot like weddings or birthday celebrations. The type and cost will vary according to the tastes and budget of the consumer. A funeral home is a 24-hour, labor-intensive business, with extensive facilities (viewing rooms, chapels, limousines, hearses, etc.), these expenses must be factored into the cost of a funeral. Moreover, the cost of a funeral includes not only merchandise, like caskets, but the services of a funeral director in making arrangements; filing appropriate forms; dealing with doctors, ministers, florists, newspapers and others; and seeing to all the necessary details. Contrary to popular belief, funeral homes are largely family-owned with a modest profit margin.
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We would like to thank the following for their contribution to this page:
Mike Stone, Lynn-Stone Funeral Home, Elmvale, ON
The Ontario Funeral Service Association
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