Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the questions that we, as funeral directors are asked regularly. It is our hope that this section may provide you with the answers you may seek from us on certain topics. If you would like more complete information on these and other topics in relation to the service we provide, or if you should have any other questions that we can assist in answering for you, please feel free to call us anytime. We will be glad to help you.

• What purpose does a funeral serve?
• What do funeral directors do?
• Do you have to have a funeral director to bury the dead?
• Why have a public viewing?
• Isn't burial space becoming scarce?
• Is cremation a substitute for a funeral?
• So, I've decided on cremation. Can I still have a funeral or a viewing?
• Why are funerals so expensive?
• What recourse does a consumer have for poor service or overcharging?
• Who pays for funerals for the indigent?
• What should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend?

What purpose does a funeral serve?
It is the customary way to recognize death and its finality. Funerals are recognized rituals for the living to show respect for the dead and to help survivors begin the grief process. 

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. 

Do you have to have a funeral director to bury the dead?
In most states, family members may bury their own dead although regulations vary. However, most people find it very trying to be solely responsible for arranging the details and legal matters surrounding a death. 

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. 

Isn't burial space becoming scarce?
While it is true some metropolitan areas have limited available cemetery space, in most areas of the country, there is enough space set aside for the next 50 years without creating new cemeteries. In addition, land available for new cemeteries is more than adequate, especially with the increase in entombment and multi-level grave burial. back to top 

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. 

So, I've decided on cremation. Can I still have a funeral or a viewing?
Yes, quite often some sort of viewing precedes the actual cremation. We can assist you with the necessary information for a funeral with a cremation following or a memorial service. 

Why are funerals so expensive?
When compared to other major life cycle events, like births and weddings, funerals are not expensive. A wedding costs at least three times as much; but because it is a happy event, wedding costs are rarely criticized. 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. 

What recourse does a consumer have for poor service or overcharging?
The FTC and state licensing boards regulate funeral service. In most cases, the consumer should discuss problems with the funeral director first. If talking with the funeral director cannot solve the dispute, the consumer may wish to contact the Funeral Service Consumer Assistance Program. FSCAP provides information, mediates disputes, provides arbitration, and maintains a consumer guarantee fund for reimbursement of services rendered. (To contact FSCAP, call 708-827-6337 or 800-662-7666). 

Who pays for funerals for the indigent?
Other than the family, there are veteran, union, and other organizational benefits to pay for funerals, including, in certain instances, a lump sum death payment from Social Security. In most states, some form of public aid allowances is available from the state, county, or city or a combination. Most funeral directors are aware of the various benefits and know how to obtain them for the indigent. However, funeral directors often absorb costs above and beyond what is provided by agencies to insure the deceased a respectable burial.

What should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend?
Our Funeral Directors at Bellows - Falso are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Click here for more information. Will someone come right away? If you require immediate assistance, we will send staff to you right away. Our funeral directors encourages family members to spend a short time with the deceased to say good-bye, it's acceptable. They will come when your time is right. For more information, please see What To Do When Death Occurs.

If a loved one dies out of state, can the local Funeral Home still help?
Yes, our staff of funeral directors can assist you with out-of-state arrangements, either to transfer the remains to another state or from another state. As a member of Selected Independent Funeral Homes, our firm is associated with over 1,500 funeral homes worldwide. If a death were to occur outside the Southern New England area, we can contact any number of these firms to assist in taking care of the necessary procedures at the location of death. For more information, please see Death Away From Home.