Making Funeral Arrangements
Before you go to the funeral home to make arrangements, we suggest that you gather the following information regarding the decedent:
-Social Security Number
-Date of Birth
-Birth Place
-Father's Name (including Middle Name)
-Mother's Name (including Middle and Maiden Names)
-Marital Status (Yes, this can become a questionable area)
-Spouse's Name (including Middle and Maiden Names)
-Highest Education Completed
-Decedent's Usual Occupation
-Type of Business or Industry
-U.S. Veteran (If YES, do you know where discharge papers are located in the
event you choose a National cemetery)
-Decedent's Address
-Place of Death
-Name of facility where death occurred
-Choice of Cemetery
REMEMBER THAT YOU
-May ask questions about prices, services, merchandise, and other
-You must always be shown the GENERAL PRICE LIST and may take a copy of
this if you choose to do so.
-Don't rush into anything that is still questionable to you.
If you are uncomfortable with the funeral director and/or other staff members, especially if you will be dependent upon county or other funding to pay for the funeral, you are not obligated to use that funeral home. You deserve to be respected no matter what your financial situation might be. If this does not appear to be the case, you may change funeral homes.
Let this underscore our urging that family members check out a number of funeral homes prior to the time of need. You may pick up a copy of the General Price List as well as ask to speak with a funeal director. This will give you an opportunity to evaluate the services as well as the way you were treated.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO SPEND YOUR LIFE'S SAVINGS ON A FUNERAL! A SIMPLE CASKET DOES THE SAME THING AS AN EXPENSIVE CASKET. A CONCRETE OUTER BURIAL CONTAINER (Often referred to as a vault) DOES THE SAME THING AS AN EXPENSIVE ONE.
IN MOST INSTANCES, "LESS IS BEST."
