Funeral Services

FUNERAL SERVICES

Here you will find frequently asked questions and answers about funeral services.

1.	What is the purpose of a funeral?

2.	What role does the funeral director fill?

3.	Is is possible to plan a funeral service in advance?

4.	Can I still have a funeral service if I choose cremation?

5.	What are service options for cremation?

6.	What determines the cost of a funeral?

Question #1	What is the purpose of a funeral?
Answer:	Funerals are an important step in the grieving process, as well as an opportunity to honor a life lived. They offer surviving family members and friends a caring, supportive environment in which to share thoughts and feelings about the death. Often funerals are the first step in the healing process.

Question #2	What role does the funeral director fill?
Answer:	We are there to help you through a very difficult time in your life. They are listeners and counselors, tribute planners and crisis mangers. Through discussions with you, based on information you share about your wishes and details about your loved one, they are able to offer guidance and help you coordinate a very personal tribute that honors the life of your loved one. The staff at Alderson and Slater Funeral Homes can guide you through planning the service; complete necessary paperwork; and coordinate doctors, ministers, florists, newspapers to make your funeral experience as seamless as possible. But they also listen to your stories about your loved one, answer your questions on grief, link you to support groups and recommend sources of professional help. We can provide you with relief during one of your greatest times of need.

Question #3	Is is possible to plan a funeral service in advance?
Answer:	The staff at Alderson and Slater Funeral Homes recommend that everyone pre-plan his or her own funeral. Doing so can offer emotional and financial security for both you and your family. By pre-planning a funeral you will get the kind of service you want and your family will be unburdened from making decisions at a stressful time. If you are considering pre-planning your funeral, please contact the funeral home for more information.

Question #4	Can I still have a funeral service if I choose cremation?
Answer:	Yes. Cremation opens the doors to a number of different funeral options. From traditional services to contemporary celebrations, cremation gives you the flexibility to personalize the services for yourself or a loved one. To learn more about cremation, please contact the knowledgeable funeral home staff.

Question #5	What are service options for cremation?
Answer:	Cremation is becoming increasingly popular, especially amongst the baby boomer generation. Among the many reasons for this growing trend is the breadth of options cremation provides for a final memorial service. Cremation gives people the flexibility to search for types of tributes that reflect the life being honored. But this doesn’t mean that aspects of traditional funeral services have to be discarded. Even with cremation, a meaningful memorial that is personalized to reflect the life of the deceased could include: - A visitation prior to the service - An open or closed casket - Special music - A ceremony at the funeral chapel, your place of worship or other special location - Participation by friends and family. Commonly, cremated remains are placed in an urn and committed to an indoor or outdoor mausoleum or columbarium; interred in a family burial plot; or included in a special urn garden. Cremation also gives families the option to scatter the remains. This can be done in a designated cemetery garden or at a place that was special to the person. Today, cremated remains can even become part of an ocean reef or made into diamonds. What ever you choose, cremation or burial, traditional services or contemporary celebrations, your Funeral Director is there to help you.

Question #6	What determines the cost of a funeral?
Answer:	You and your family do. A funeral can be as extravagant or as simple as you desire. Pre-planning your funeral can help control costs. By making decisions ahead of time, you avoid making choices at a time when your emotions are heightened. It also provides an opportunity to to set aside funds that can be used to pay for part or all of the future service. The funeral home staff can work with you to design a personalized tribute.