Finding a funeral home can be time consuming and tricky if your not sure what to look for. Here are some tips on how to choose one from an online or local directory that may make the process a little easier.
The NFDA or National Funeral Directors Association is an organization of licensed funeral directors and funeral facilities dedicated to the highest standards of funeral service. Check to see if the funeral home you’ve chosen is a member of this organization.
The IOGR or International Order of the Golden Rule is an international association of independent funeral facilities in which membership is by invitation only.
The CANA or The Cremation Association of North America is an association of crematories, cemeteries and funeral facilities that offer cremation.
The role of the funeral home assists the bereaved family in many different ways and helps in facilitating the funeral planning process. Look for good funeral directors who are caring people and enjoy working with others.
One of the responsibilities of the staff may be to bring the deceased’s body to the funeral home. They will also handle the local or out of state transportation for the deceased. The necessary information for the death certification and other legal requirements are handled as well.
They meet with the bereaved family and discusses plans for cremation, ground burial, bequeathal of the body and the funeral service. Based on your needs and desires, the funeral home will help you make choices for everything that is involved in the service. Some items they may assist you with is determining the type of funeral service desired, visitation, the vault and the casket, permission to embalm, type of burial, and purchasing a gravesite marker or headstone. The staff will usually go over these items and others in greater detail. They may also attend to the ceremonial and administrative details of the funeral service.
The staff personnel are trained to help families cope with death and can be of great assistance and guidance for the family. Choose a funeral home that you feel comfortable with or one that is recommended. It is a vulnerable time right now so you may want to consider taking a close friend to help you assess the funeral home before making your choice. Since a funeral can require many decisions, often planning ahead can help alleviate additional stress on the family.