It is your right, and our desire, that you have as complete an understanding as possible regarding the cost of our services.
The biggest factor is the time element in terms of our personnel and the use of the funeral home facilities. The maintenance of this service is unending; that is, it must be available 24 hours every day of the year. Therefore, ours is a 168-hour week and not the 40 hour week which is the accepted standard.
Many phases of our work are apparent; others are not. The following analysis of some of these details will help you to understand that no two funerals are exactly alike. Traditions, customs, social standing, personal feeling, financial ability and a multitude of other influences affect each funeral. Our services must conform to each individual family's wishes and their personal and religious needs.
Generally, funerals are divided into five categories:
A. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
1. Complete Arrangements, Supervision and Direction of Funeral
a. Meeting with the family to: Secure vital statistic information, obtain obituary information, complete itemized cost agreement, select casket of their choice and to oversee all aspects of the funeral.
b. Coordinate times of the following services as needed: Clergy, necessary automotive equipment for convenience of the family (including the hearse), hairdresser, civic associations, fraternal organizations, cemetery or crematory, vault company, lodges or other organizations and veteran associations.
c. Complete the Death Certificate with vital statistic information.
d. Obtain the signature and medical information from the attending physician or medical examiner (coroner).
e. File completed and signed certificate with Registrar of Vital Statistics in municipality where the death occurred, and obtain a Burial Permit and as many certified copies as necessary, for the family's needs.
f. Call obituary information to all newspapers requested by family.
g. Care for all flowers.
h. Remove all flower cards and sympathy cards for family to acknowledge.
i. Print folders, acknowledgement cards, prayer cards when applicable.
j. Complete all necessary forms such as: Veterans application for flag, Veterans application for allowance, Veterans application. for marker, State and Federal forms required by law, Cemetery or crematory and social security.
k. Answer all telephone calls - give out funeral information to: family, lodge members, business associates, florists and friends with regard to funeral services to be held.
2. Preparation and Care of the Deceased, Including Embalming When Necessary
a. Hygienically prepared to insure protection to personnel and the public. A deceased who has a contagious or infectious disease requires special care and treatment in excess of the regular preparation.
b. Embalming
c. Shampooing and shaving
d. Dressing and casketing
e. Applying cosmetics. Extra care is necessary with regards to bruises, cuts, abrasions and burns.
f. Hairdressing
3. Professional Personnel and Non Professional Assistants.
a. Assist in all of above items
b. Arrange flowers for best appearance
c. Have door attendant during all visitations
d. Assist in conducting the funeral service according to the family's wishes.
The above services require an average of 80 man-hours per funeral. The Licensed Funeral Director is available following the funeral services to assist the family in filing all types of insurance and government forms. In addition to all of the above, there are Licensed Funeral Directors and Embalmers, competent and understanding persons to answer the telephone, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A funeral home does not close on weekends and holidays!
B. USE OF FACILITIES
1. Fixed Overhead
This item is our monthly bills totaled for the year and divided by the number of services that were held last year. Included in fixed overhead: Taxes, Specialized continuing education required for license, Surgical instruments, Inventory of caskets, Maintenance of automobiles, Stationary supplies, Advertising and promotions, Utilities - light, heat, telephone, air conditioning, Insurance - fire, theft, liability, automotive, casualty, workmen's comp., unemployment comp., Cleaning, House cleaning and supplies, Building maintenance (complete), and Yard maintenance.
2. Funeral Home Facilities & Equipment
This charge is made for time during arrangements, visitation period(s) and the day of the service. It is used for Capital Improvements: replacing carpeting, drapes, chairs, furniture, funeral equipment and any other item not covered in the fixed overhead. No allowance for Church Service.
3. Preparation Room for:
Embalming, disinfection and sanitization, medical examiner examinations, applying cosmetics, dressing, placing in casket, Necessary fluid and supplies.
1. Merchandise Includes:
a. The casket of your choice
b. The outside receptacle (vault) of your choice. (Most cemeteries require concrete receptacles.)
c. Any clothing the family may choose. (Our Funeral Homes prefer to use the person's own clothing if at all possible, but a wide selection is always available.)
d. The Register book
e. The Funeral Folders
f. Acknowledgement cards.
D. CASH DISBURSEMENTS
This represents all of the monies that must be advanced prior to the service, such as cemetery or crematory charges, clergy honorariums, air transportation, newspaper charges, church offerings, singers, organists, certified copies of the death certificate, etc.
These items must be paid in advance, therefore, as a convenience to the family we will make sure the checks written are delivered to the appropriate payees. We do reserve the right to ask you for appropriate checks when services are rendered.
E. TRANSPORTATION
1. This Item Includes:
Complete cost and depreciation of the service car and its operation, our hearse, limousines, flower car and lead car for the families we serve.
If you have any questions on this information or any other aspect of the funeral, feel free to call or Email us.
(518) 664-3731 or (518) 753-4511
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