Planning Ahead: Talking with a Director About Funeral Plans

When your family suffers the unfortunate luck of experiencing a death, the stress of planning for the funeral can seem like it will be overwhelming. For those that have never been through the process of arranging a funeral, it is easy to believe a couple of misconceptions that can make it difficult for you to make the best choices for your family's needs.

Myth: If You Will Be Using Cremation, You Will Never Need To Use Embalming Services

Cremation is a popular alternative to traditional burials, but there are many people that are not well-informed about this option. As a result, they may assume that cremation will always allow them to avoid the costs of embalming the body, but this may not always be the case.

While the exact laws governing embalming requirements vary from state to state, there are a few instances where it is fairly common for embalming to be required. For example, if the body will be transported a long distance or if it must be kept for an extended period of time, it is common for embalming to be required in these instances. Also, it is common for some funeral homes to require embalming when a viewing will be held.

Myth: It Is Exceedingly Difficult To Transport A Deceased Body To Another City For A Funeral

It is an unfortunate fact that it is common for individuals to die far from their homes. When this happens, the family may assume that it will be difficult or exceedingly expensive to have the body returned home. However, it should be noted that the funeral director will be able to help you have the body transported.

Often, they will provide this as a complimentary service, and they will handle all of the paperwork associated with transported a deceased body. While you will still be responsible for the costs of transporting the body, the funeral director will help you find the most affordable transportation service for your budget.

Arranging for a funeral of a deceased loved one can be one of the more stressful experiences that you will ever experience. This can be compounded by the fact that you may not have accurate information about what to expect from this process. By knowing that embalming may be required even if you are cremating the body as well as the fact that funeral directors can help you arrange to have a body transported from a distant city, you will be better positioned to make sure your funeral planning experience is as stress-free as possible.

For more information, contact a local funeral home like Thomas Funeral Chapels Inc.