FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT FUNERALS
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FUNERAL PLANNING
Most people who find themselves with the responsibility of planning a funeral have many important questions. Find the answers to some of the most common questions here, and contact John F. Pfleger Funeral Home for personalized guidance.
Funeral Planning FAQs
What is a funeral?
A funeral is a ceremony held in honor of someone who has recently passed on before they are laid to rest, whether by burial or cremation. At a funeral, friends, loved ones, and members of the community gather to mourn, remember their loved ones, and provide support.
Who is the first person to call when a loved one dies?
If your loved one died at home, call emergency services first. Call their physician if they were under supervised medical care or on medication. Obtain a medical certificate and other necessary paperwork. Find out whether they had made any pre-planned arrangements. Contact a trusted funeral home that can guide you through the next steps. More information on where to start is available here.
Can I personalize the funeral I am planning?
Although there are certain aspects of a funeral service program that are traditionally retained, you are free to personalize the service and ceremony as you wish. In fact, more and more people are opting for non-traditional ceremonies, and some don’t even call this service a funeral. There is no right or wrong way to honor the life of a loved one. How you choose to say goodbye depends on your family, your loved one, and the way you think you can best honor their memory.
Should I choose burial or cremation?
You can choose to bury or cremate your loved one. To help make your decision, find out whether they had communicated a preference while they were alive. If your loved one was passionate about the environment, you could also opt for a green burial. Consider a special veteran service if you want to remember your loved one for serving the country. We offer all of these service options and more.
How much does it cost to bury a person in a cemetery?
Although the details of your cemetery burial will depend on specific factors, you should be prepared to pay certain charges, including fees for:
- The right to use the cemetery
- Opening and closing the gravesite
- Permits
- Endowment/maintaining the burial site
- Headstone marker installation
- Any special equipment used during the burial
- Other incidentals
Why are funerals so expensive?
Funeral expenses add up to thousands of dollars, which can be overwhelming for families to handle. In addition to efforts made by the family, funeral directors spend time, effort, and resources on making the necessary arrangements. Funeral homes also factor into their fees the costs of storing the body, operational costs, facility maintenance, and other costs. We understand that funeral expenses can be overwhelming, so we provide a variety of payment options for you to choose from. We also help with paperwork related to insurance and other financial matters.
Contact Us for Compassionate Funeral Planning
We know you will have questions specific to your circumstances. Please reach out to John F. Pfleger Funeral Home to speak with a representative who can answer your questions about funeral planning and tell you more about our services.