A funeral is the customary way to recognize death and its finality. Funerals are recognized rituals for the living to show respect for the dead and to help survivors begin the grief process.

• Funeral directors are caregivers and administrators. They make the arrangements for transportation of the deceased, complete all necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the deceased.

• Funeral directors are listeners, advisors and supporters. They have experience assisting the bereaved in coping with death. Funeral directors are trained to answer questions about grief, recognize when a person is having difficulty coping, and recommend sources of professional help. Funeral directors also link survivors with support groups at the funeral home or in the community.

Viewing is part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Many grief specialists believe that viewing aids in the grief process by helping the bereaved to recognize the reality of death. Viewing is encouraged for children, as long as the process is explained and the activity voluntary.

Viewing the deceased is a way of honoring the transition from life to death and saying our last farewells. Embalming is a familiar and standard part of funerals in North America today, though it is optional. Embalming the deceased temporarily preserves it so family and friends can say farewell.

• Except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law.  Embalming may be necessary, however, if you select certain funeral arrangements, such as a funeral with a viewing. If you do not want embalming, you usually have the right to choose an arrangement that does not require you to pay for it, such as direct cremation or immediate burial.
No human remains may remain unburied or uncremated in New Jersey for more than 48 hours unless embalmed or refrigerated. (N.J.A.C. 8:9-1.1)

• Embalming makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, thus allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them.

No. Most states, however, require embalming when:

• Death was caused by a reportable contagious disease

• Remains are to be transported from one state to another by common carrier

• If final disposition is not to be made within a prescribed number of hours

While it is true some metropolitan areas have limited available cemetery space, in most areas of the country, there is enough space set aside for the next 50 years without creating new cemeteries. In addition, land available for new cemeteries is more than adequate, especially with the increase in entombment and multi-level grave burial.

Absolutely, through an association with other family owned and independent funeral homes you can have visitations, services, and memorial services at other funeral homes, churches, community centers, and/or other facilities of choice conveniently located to you upon request. Unlike cremation or memorial societies and other alternative funeral operations who offer limited service, is a full service funeral and cremation service, able to meet every need of families we serve.

If you are traveling out of town or to another state when death occurs, your family should contact our funeral home immediately. We will make the necessary arrangements with a well respected firm in that location to assist with the transfer.

No, cremation is an alternative to earth burial or entombment for the deceased's final disposition and often follows a traditional funeral service.

Yes, but not dramatically.

Absolutely. You can have a full traditional service, with viewing, and a funeral service at the funeral home or church. The cremation will then take place the following day. The cremains can be kept by the family or interred in your cemetery plot.

Pre-arranging is a way of making informed decisions ahead of time instead of hasty, emotional choices often made at the time of need. Your true wishes about your funeral can be expressed and made with your family and friends. Pre-arranging your funeral also spares your family stressful decisions at a difficult time by eliminating doubt about what you wanted for your funeral. There are also a wide variety of funding options including life insurance, designed to make pre-payment simple and easy.

These questions should get you thinking:

• How did you and the deceased become close?

• Is there a humorous or touching event that represents the essence of your passed loved one?

• What did you and others love and admire about the deceased?

• What will you miss most about him or her? Some of the simplest thoughts are deeply touching and easy for those congregated to identify with. For example, "I'll miss her smile," or "I'll never forget the way he laughed," are just as good as "I admired her selflessness."

Tips:

• Be honest and focus on the person's positive qualities.

• Humor is acceptable if it fits the personality of the deceased.

• "If you are inclined to be a perfectionist, lower your expectations and just do what you can given the short time-frame and your emotional state," writes Schaeffer in Labor of Love.

• Keep it brief. Five to ten minutes is the norm, but it's a good idea to verify that with the minister or funeral director.

• Interviewing family and friends will give you more ideas.

• Put the eulogy on paper - at least in outline form.