First is the purchase price of the "right to use" the burial plot (unlike a real estate purchase, where you buy the land and all the structures on it; here you are only purchasing what is called the "interment rights" to the land). In addition, there are fees for the "opening" and "closing" of the gravesite; and any fees required to obtain the necessary permits and to maintain cemetery files and records. In addition, there's the fee for the use of any special equipment (such as a casket-lowering device); as well as the costs for any other services or items purchased. There may also be the headstone or grave marker installation fee, and a one-time "perpetual care" (sometimes called "endowment care") fee paid to ensure your loved one's burial site is well-maintained.
This is a question we hear a lot. Many funeral homes suggest (and may even go so far as to require) embalming if you're planning a viewing or visitation. That is because they want the experience to be as good as it can be for those in attendance, and proper embalming can ensure the deceased looks as good as possible. But as a general rule, embalming is not necessary or legally required if the body is cared for in a relatively short amount of time. Please contact us for specific state or local requirements.
How much will a casket cost? The Federal Trade Commission states that average casket costs around $2,000. If you are concerned about casket costs, speak with your funeral director who can advise you on the most appropriate casket for your situation and your budget.
Item Link List Item 3What is a burial vault, and why do I need to buy one? Today, modern cemetery grounds are well-groomed, with vast expanses of green grass. A burial vault protects this pristine view, ensuring there is no sign of burial plots "settling". Certainly the vault also protects the casket; but the primary role of a burial vault is to protect the beauty of the cemetery environment.
Item Link List Item 4If your loved one has not made previous arrangements for their burial, leaving you to pick the location of their interment, the first thing you'll need to do involves the selection of the cemetery and burial location within the grounds. You'll also choose the most suitable casket and burial vault, and provide us with the clothing you'd like your loved one to wear (and any 'special items' you'd like us to place in the casket) . Once the date and time of interment is agreed upon, the cemetery grounds keepers will take care of the "opening" and "closing" of the grave and the proper placement of the casket in the burial vault. The cemetery will require payment at the time services are held.
Some funeral homes offer a temporary identification marker on your loved one's grave, but it is only intended as a placeholder until a permanent headstone or grave marker is set in place. Without one, your loved one's burial site will, when this temporary marker becomes illegible or is somehow removed, appear "unmarked".
We, and the cemetery where your loved one will be interred, have strong working relationships with trusted monument companies. When you are ready to order a monument or marker, we will be happy to recommend some reputable companies for you to contact. Speak with your funeral director to get the details.
When we make arrangements for the direct burial (sometimes referred to as "Immediate Burial") of an individual, we are expediting their interment. There will be no funeral, memorial service or celebration-of-life; instead, we provide the physical care of the deceased (perhaps embalming their body, but certainly dressing and casketing) and then escort the casket to the cemetery for immediate burial, scheduled at the convenience of the funeral home staff.
Is direct burial right for our situation? It's very hard to know without having the opportunity to speak with you. Direct burial works well when there are few mourners or if your loved one's wishes were for a simple interment. It's done quickly and professionally, without ceremony of any kind. With that said, what do you think? Does direct burial feel like the right course of action for you? Speak with a funeral professional to further explore the idea.
Item LinkYour funeral director will complete and file the death certificate, obtain signatures on any required permits or authorizations, confirm the burial space with the cemetery in which you intend to inter your loved one, as well as assist you in selecting a casket and burial vault. He or she will oversee the physical care of the deceased: they will be dressed in clothes you have provided, casketed, and then escorted to the cemetery for immediate burial. A member of our staff will witness the burial and provide you with copies of all pertinent papers for safekeeping.
Rather than having a service in a church or funeral home chapel and then adjourning to the cemetery for the burial; some families choose to gather solely at the cemetery. There, they are led through a ceremony prepared by a clergy person, celebrant or even a family member. If the family chooses to, they may be allowed to witness the in-ground committal of their loved one's casket. If the idea of a graveside service appeals to you, speak with your funeral director about your options.
Some of the things you'll discuss with your funeral director involve purchases made from outside vendors. One of the most common is the fee charged by a newspaper to print your loved one's obituary. Additional cash advance charges might be for permits, certified copies of death certificates, clergy or musician's fees, floral arrangements, hairdresser, and crematory charges (if applicable). Your funeral director will provide you with a detailed invoice for all cash advance items.
The exact answer to this question largely depends upon the services, products and cemetery you've selected; but a good rule of thumb is to expect to pay at the time the service contract is signed (at the time of the arrangement conference, or by the time services are completed). Speak with your funeral director to learn more.
We're tempted to answer this with another question: who would you like to write it? Perhaps you'd like to ask a friend or family member to do so; maybe you're thinking it's something you would like to do. Or perhaps you'd rather turn the duty over to your funeral director. He or she is experienced in obituary writing, and would be delighted to relieve you of the task; so don't hesitate to ask them to craft a suitable obituary. Here at Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, we are honored to begin the process for you and provide you with a draft that you may then edit and finalize to your liking.
Should we request memorial donations instead of flowers? We don't like to use the word "should" when we speak to families about this issue. So the question becomes one of assessing your heart's desire: what do you really want? Then there's the question of your deceased loved one's wishes; exactly what would he or she think or feel? Most commonly we advise families to offer their community as many caring options as possible; some will send flowers, some will send donations; and some will even do both.
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