faq's
Frequently Asked Questions about the Funeral Ceremony.
The primary reason that we created this Web site was to help people who have questions or want information about funerals and cemeteries. We have created a list of some Frequently Asked Questions for your review.
If you have a question that is not listed, please feel free to contact us. As with all other matters within our organization, your confidentiality will be respected. Simply click on the question that interests you and your answer will appear.
* For funeral pricing or to receive a General Price List, please feel free to call and speak to one of our funeral directors or you may e-mail us. Thank you.
What is the
purpose of a funeral?
Who regulates funeral homes?
What is the purpose of a
cemetery?
Why
does our society view the deceased in an open casket?
What is embalming?
Is embalming required?
What is cremation?
Can
you have cremation with an open casket visitation?
Where does the cremation
take place?
Isn't direct cremation easier?
What is entombment?
What is a lawn crypt?
What do you do with
cremated remains?
Are funerals expensive?
Can cremated remains be
scattered?
Do Catholics allow cremation?
I am a veteran, what
am I entitled to?
How
much does the Social Security Administration pay for funeral expenses?
Q) What is the purpose of a
funeral?
A) The funeral fills important needs in our society. It provides for the
dignified and respectful care of the deceased. It is a special tribute
to a unique life. The funeral service helps the survivors face the
reality of death—the first step in overcoming grief. It affords those
friends and relatives an opportunity to express the love and respect
they feel for someone who was important to them. Seeing how much someone
cares can be a tremendous psychological help to a bereaved family
adjusting to their loss.
Q) Who regulates funeral homes?
A) Although laws vary from state to state, the Federal
Trade Commission is currently one of the regulating agencies
overseeing funeral homes. Funeral homes are required to itemize their
funeral service charges and you, as the consumer, then have the ability
to tailor-make your funeral arrangements. We encourage families to
gather as much information as possible. An informed consumer is a wise
consumer.
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Q) What is the purpose of a
cemetery?
A) Lives are commemorated, deaths are recorded, families are united,
memories are made tangible and love is eternal...this is the purpose of
a cemetery. A cemetery is a history of people and the community they
lived in. A cemetery is a perpetual record of yesterday and a sanctuary
of peace and quiet today.
Q) Why
does our society view the deceased in an open casket?
A) Viewing is part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Many grief
specialists affirm that viewing the body aids tremendously in the grief
process by helping the survivors recognize the reality of the death.
This is the first step in the healing process.
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Q) What is embalming?
A) Embalming is the surgical process of replacing body fluids with
formaldehyde-based fluids. It provides for the dignified dis-infection
and preservation of the body. Embalming allows for higher public health
standards. It also allows the survivors an opportunity to view their
loved one so that they may face the reality of the death and begin the
healing process.
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Q) Is embalming required?
A) Embalming is not required by law. Embalming may be required if you
select funeral arrangements with open casket visitation. Also, if the
final disposition is not determined within 48 hours after death, the
funeral director may, at his/her discretion, embalm the body. Embalming
is not required if you select a cremation service without a casket
visitation.
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Q) What is cremation?
A) Cremation is simply a form of disposition. The "crematable"
casket is placed in a cremation chamber where, through a process of heat
and evaporation, the body is reduced to its original elements--bone
fragments, not ashes.
Q) Can
you have cremation with an open casket visitation?
A) Yes, most families select an appropriate funeral service to take
place before the cremation or after. You may still have a traditional
funeral with visitation, with the cremation disposition taking place
after the service. The psychological benefits of viewing our loved ones
and having the opportunity to say good-bye are well documented and are
available with cremation.
Q) Where does the
cremation take place?
A) Contact the Director
at S.W. Brown & Son Funeral Home for this information
Q) Isn't direct cremation
easier?
A) Direct cremation usually means cremation with no visitation or
services. Some people choose direct cremation believing that the
quickest, simplest option is best. However, all cultures recognize the
need to come together to share and grieve at the time of death. Most
people require something more than only to dispose of their loved one.
Grief shared is grief diminished.
Q) What is entombment?
A) Entombment is the dignified act of resting the casket within a
special structure called a tomb or crypt. Two types of entombment are
available:
(1) Above ground.
(2) Below ground entombment in a lawn crypt.
Q) What is a lawn crypt?
A) A lawn crypt is essentially an "underground mausoleum."
Each crypt houses two caskets so husband and wife may be entombed in
their own private crypt. The crypts are placed over an extensive drain
tile system which provides the driest form of earth entombment ever
developed. Lawn crypts save families thousands of dollars over
traditional burial because less space is used and the bronze and granite
memorial is included.
Q) What do you do with
cremated remains?
A) Most families select a form of memorialization with their cemetery of
choice. At S.W. Brown Funeral Home we view the inurnment as
the dignified act of memorializing cremated remains within a place of
permanent rest.
Q) Are funerals expensive?
A) When compared to other major life cycle events, like births and
weddings, funerals are not expensive. A wedding can cost 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 that cost money to maintain. When determining if a
funeral home is expensive or not, compare prices with other funeral
homes. All funeral homes are required to give you, for retention, a
General Price List. Also assess whether the value of the products and
services received are in line with the prices paid. The cost of a
funeral is always a matter of personal choice.
Q) Can cremated remains be
scattered?
A) A family may, if they wish, scatter the cremated remains of their
loved one on privately-owned property with the consent of the property
owner. Currently there are no Iowa laws with regard to scattering on
public lands such as rivers, lakes and forests. If you select
scattering, always be sure to check your local, state and federal laws
concerning scattering of "cremains". Scattering, however, is
neither practical nor considerate of all concerned. It may be very
traumatic for family members to scatter fragmented, yet recognizable
bone fragments of their loved one. In addition, later generations of the
family may not have a place to go to pay tribute, if that private
property has been sold or developed into something else. Only a cemetery
provides for the dignified, permanent record and memorialization of
cremated remains.
Q) Do Catholics allow cremation?
A) The Vatican now permits in the U.S. funeral Masses with cremated
remains present. It will be the decision of each bishop to determine if
this is pastorally appropriate in his diocese.
The introductory material from the Vatican reiterated that the church
prefers "that the body of the deceased be present for the funeral
rites" and stresses that cremated remains be treated with respect
and should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or
columbarium. Scattering at sea, from the air or ground, or kept at home
are not reverent disposition.
President of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Anthony
M. Pilla of Cleveland, decreed that Masses with cremated remains present
can be performed.
When cremated remains are present, they must be contained in a
"worthy vessel" placed on a table or in the place normally
occupied by the casket, and must be covered with a pall. The Easter
Candle may be present. The urn may be carried to its place in the
entrance procession or placed on a table before service begins. The
words in the blessing and the dismissal will be changed for cremation.
The prayer of committal will read "earthly remains" in place
of "body." This new Vatican decision does not effect
"Eastern" churches.
Q) I am a veteran, What
am I entitled to?
A) The Veterans Administration (VA) will pay a burial allowance up to
$1500 if the veteran's death is service-connected. All veterans must be
honorably discharged to receive any benefits. VA will also pay the cost
of transporting the remains of a service-disabled veteran to the
national cemetery nearest the home of the deceased that has available
grave sites. VA will pay a $300 burial and funeral expense allowance for
veterans who, at the time of their death, were entitled to receive
pension or compensation. Eligibility also is established when death
occurs in a VA facility or a nursing home with which VA is contracted.
Additional costs of transportation of the remains may be reimbursed. VA
will pay a $150 plot allowance when a veteran is not buried in a
cemetery that is under U.S. government jurisdiction if the veteran has a
service-related disability, was receiving compensation or pension or if
the veteran died while hospitalized by VA. The plot allowance is not
payable solely on wartime service. All honorably discharged veteran are
entitled to an American flag and a grave marker. The grave marker does
not include installation, foundation and perpetual care charges that a
cemetery may charge.
Q) How
much does the Social Security Administration pay for funeral expenses?
A) Social Security has cut back the benefits payable for funeral
expenses. Social Security will pay a lump sum death benefit of $255 to a
surviving spouse or dependent children only. No benefit is paid to
survivors upon the second spouse's death.