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Frequently
Asked Questions
- Is
embalming required by law?
No, law only in rare circumstances requires embalming. But most funeral
homes do not allow public viewing without embalming. In many instances
we are able to offer families the opportunity for a private viewing
prior to burial with minimal preparation not involving embalming.
- Is a casket required for cremation?
No, a casket is not required by law for cremation. The law requires a
minimal alternative container (usually cardboard). Families always have
the option to use a casket if they so desire and there are many
reasonably priced caskets made specifically for cremation. Many
families
choose to have a visitation and/or service prior to cremation and would
like to select a suitable casket
- Is a casket required for burial?
The law does not require a casket for burial. In cases where direct
burial is chosen, families may use an alternative container that is the
least expensive alternative. We also have many reasonably priced
caskets starting at $395.
- Do you have to buy the casket at the funeral home?
No. Today there are several alternatives to buying a casket at a
funeral home. In 1994 the Federal Trade Commission extended the Funeral
Rule by prohibiting funeral homes from charging a surcharge for
handling a casket bought elsewhere. You may buy a casket at a casket
store and even some cemeteries sell caskets. One thing to remember,
however, is that FTC regulations do not presently cover cemeteries and
casket stores. Covenant Funeral Service features caskets from several
major companies in the casket industry at reasonable prices. While our
purpose in maintaining a casket selection room is to meet the needs of
the clients for whom we provide services, we cannot, legally, refuse to
sell a casket for use at a different funeral provider.
- Is there a legal way to protect family assets when a
person
is going on Medicaid?
Yes. With nursing home costs averaging $3000-4000 per month, many
individuals outlive their assets and need to go on Medicaid. It is in
the best interest of the resident and his/her family to make funeral
pre-arrangements and pre-fund them during the so-called 'spend down'
process prior to going on Medicaid This allows the funeral expenses to
be pre-paid and not become a burden for the surviving family. It is
imperative that this be done in a way that complies with Medicaid
regulations. You may wish to review our section on PRE-ARRANGEMENT . For
more information click
here (please include shipping
address) or phone (423) 485-0911 TODAY.
- Are there environmentally
friendly options for funerals and cremation?
Some people consider cremation to be environmentally friendly since the
cremains do not take up as much space as a burial would. There are
biodegradable urns that can be used for burial at sea or for burial in
the ground. The urn is made of special clay that disintegrates rapidly
when in contact with water. Many caskets today are made out of
corrugated paper products or a variety of woods that will eventually
return to the elements.
- What are some ways to make
a funeral really commemorate the person's life?
The key to commemorating a person's life is to highlight what was
unique about that person somewhere within the funeral process. Was the
person a gardener? His favorite types of flowers could be incorporated
into the funeral flowers. A grouping of favorite plants, even shrubs,
could be arranged as a miniature garden during the visitation and later
planted in his memory. Music can also evoke memories of the person or
her heritage. For people of Scottish or Irish heritage, the bagpipes
can provide a poignant touch to the ceremony. Choosing a favorite place
for the visitation or memorial service can be comforting for family and
friends. Many places other than funeral homes are available, such as
the individual's home, place of worship, a favorite park or stream.
More and more people are spending their last years in retirement
villages or assisted living centers. These locations usually have a
community room or chapel that quite often is available for a memorial
service or even a visitation. There are as many other ways to
commemorate a person's life as there are people; but giving thought to
this in advance is the best way to assure that the plans are carried
out well.
- What are some alternatives
to having a visitation in a funeral home?
In most countries of the world, except the United States, visitations
are not held in funeral homes. Today in this country, more people are
looking for alternatives to the sometimes sterile or unfamiliar funeral
home setting. Visitations can be held in almost any location. Many
people today prefer to have a visitation in their church. With an
increasing number of people living in retirement or assisted living
homes, many of these have begun allowing visitations for residents.
There are also a number of community or historic facilities that
provide
a very comfortable homelike setting for visitations. And of course a
person's own home is still a perfectly appropriate option.
- Aren't funeral and
cremation prices pretty much the same everywhere?
Not at all. Prices vary a lot from funeral home to funeral home, even
in the same town. Variations of hundreds- even thousands- of dollars
are
not uncommon. We advise people to check with several funeral providers
in their area before making a decision. By law funeral homes must give
complete information over the phone, and callers need not even identify
themselves. It's important to get the true 'bottom line' for the entire
funeral cost. Some firms may have lower service charges but higher
casket prices. Recently some firms have raised their service charges
and lowered their casket prices in an attempt to compete with
alternative providers. Beware of one tactic: some funeral directors
have raised their itemized service charges to outrageous levels, but
give you a significant 'discount' if you buy the casket from them. This
is a practice that is being investigated by the FTC since it conflicts
with the spirit of the policy that funeral homes may not levy a
surcharge on caskets bought elsewhere.
- How do I get straight
information about funeral and cremation prices?
You can call, or better yet, visit several funeral homes. Be sure to
ask for a General Price List. Also ask for a Casket Price List. They
are
not required by law to give the Casket Price List to you, but many
reputable firms will.
- What are the pros and cons
of buying cemetery lots in advance?
On the plus side, some people want the assurance of knowing their
graves will be close to other family members. Obviously, the longer one
puts off the purchase, the more likelihood that adjoining graves will
be
sold to someone else, and prices generally tend to increase as time
goes by. On the other hand, there may be many years between the
purchase
of graves and the person's death. They may move to another city and
want to be buried there. They may decide later to be cremated. The
cemetery could change ownership and maintenance may become shoddy. The
neighborhood where the cemetery is located may become less desirable.
Once a person buys a lot it is very difficult to sell.
- Is funeral pre-planning
always a good idea?
Funeral pre-planning really doesn't have any downside, provided a
person does a little homework beforehand. Pre-planning is the process
of
gathering information on the more than 50 decisions that need to be
made at the time of a death. These typically include the disposition
arrangements (burial, cremation, anatomical gift), decisions about
visitation, funeral or memorial services, and merchandise (casket, urn,
burial vault, etc). These are the basic decisions that determine the
major portion of the cost of funeral arrangements. Some people may
desire to go further and make decisions about flowers, music, scripture
or readings for the service, and so on. In either case these decisions
should be written down and communicated to a trusted friend or relative
who may be in charge of carrying out the wishes. Funeral providers
generally have forms that can be used for this purpose and will
maintain the decisions in their files if you wish. Completing these
decisions removes a large emotional burden from families at the time of
death. You may wish to review our section on PRE-ARRANGEMENT . For
more information click
here (please include shipping
address) or phone (423) 485-0911 TODAY.
- What questions should I ask before pre-paying for a funeral?
Pre-paying funeral expenses can be a good way to complete the planning
process. Most pre-payment plans guarantee that the planner will not
have
to pay extra at the time of the funeral since the earnings on the
funding product offset any inflationary increases. It is always a good
idea to first make sure all the prices for the services to be rendered
are a good value. You should find out where the funds are being held if
it is in trust; if an insurance product in being used, make sure the
company is reputable and has a good record of claims payment. Also
determine if there are any tax consequences to you. And make sure you
understand completely what is guaranteed and what is not. You may wish
to review our section on
PRE-ARRANGEMENT . For more information click here (please include shipping address) or phone
(423) 485-0911 TODAY.
- What's the best way to go
about selecting a funeral or cremation firm?
First determine what your needs and desires are for a funeral service.
If you are not having a wake/visitation, then selecting a funeral home
with beautiful rooms and extensive parking may result in your paying a
lot for facilities you are not using. Personal rapport with the staff
is
obviously very important. Do they answer all your questions willingly
and honestly? Do they offer concrete suggestions consistent with your
desires or do they try to fit you into their mold? Above all, do they
seem like caring people?
- Where can I get books or
pamphlets on grief-related subjects, hospice, and the like?
Libraries and larger bookstores usually have a small selection of books
on these subjects. A number of Internet sources also have a variety of
titles on these subjects; some of the web sites are named in our
section on LINKS .
- How can I get funeral and
cremation information without having to go to a funeral home?
Web sites like the Federal Trade Commission, AARP, NFDA, an Funeral
Consumers Alliance have good general information on funerals and
cremation. These Web sites and others may be found in our LINKS section.
The Tennessee and Georgia
Funeral Directors Associations also have useful pamphlets and
information.
- What are the rules for
Catholics and cremation?
In 1963 an Instruction from the Holy Office lifted the ban on cremation
for Roman Catholics, but it was not until 1997 that the Vatican allowed
funeral Masses with the cremated remains present. The Church still
prefers that the cremation follow the Mass, but this is no longer a
requirement. The sanctity of the body requires that the body be placed
in a 'worthy vessel' and not be scattered. The cremated remains should
be buried in a grave, placed in a mausoleum or columbarium, or buried
at sea. Since the application of these guidelines may vary from parish
to parish, it is always best to check with the priest to get his views.
- Why is cremation becoming so
popular?
While we know that cremation has increased dramatically in the past 10
years, the reasons why are not quite as obvious. The easing of
restrictions by the Catholic Church has certainly had an effect.
Cremation can be a lower-cost alternative than burial. Options for
scattering or burying cremains in a place which had significance for
the
individual may be a factor. Some see cremation as a simpler, quicker
way to go from 'ashes to ashes, dust to dust'. Others cite
environmental reasons. And some simply don't like the idea of being
placed in the ground.
- Is cremation less expensive
than burial?
That really depends on the type of services one has prior to the final
disposition. If a person selects a casket, has a visitation and funeral
service followed by cremation and chooses a cremation urn, the cost may
be equivalent to a traditional funeral service followed by burial. On
the other hand, direct cremation with no embalming, viewing or services
is usually the least expensive alternative. It is important to shop
around because even prices for the simplest services can vary
considerably among funeral and cremation firms.
- What's the purpose of a burial
vault and what do they cost?
Outer burial containers, also commonly known as burial vaults, are
typically required by all perpetual care cemeteries in the metropolitan
Chattanooga area to shore up the earth above the casket. The weight of
cemetery equipment such as trucks and backhoes would crush the casket
if an outer container were not used. Many outer containers have special
seals and linings which prevent water and other substances from
entering the vault. Prices range from about $400 for the simplest to
$6000-9000 for the most elaborate.
- What is the first thing to do
if a loved one dies out of town?
If a person dies out of town and is to be returned to the home
location, it usually is best to contact the hometown funeral provider
first. Usually the hometown director can handle all arrangements in the
out-of- town location and typically it is far less expensive to make
arrangements this way rather than for the family to contact an
out-of-town funeral home directly.
- Where do I get information on
donating my body to science?
Arrangements for the donation of one's body to science must be made in
advance and evidenced by authorization forms from the anatomical
agency.
- What exactly is embalming and
how long does it last?
Embalming is a process of injecting preservative fluid through the
arterial system to achieve temporary preservation of the body, usually
for the purpose of having a visitation and/or funeral service. The
duration of this preservation is difficult to predict since it is
affected by many factors such as the cause of death, weight of the
person, drug and other therapies they may have had, and burial
conditions.
- What is the bottom line on
total funeral costs? What do I need to know to get the total price?
Funeral costs are divided into three main areas. The first includes the
funeral provider's service charges for the type of service desired.
These are contained in the General Price List. The second is composed
of merchandise items such as caskets, vaults, printed materials,
cremation urns and so on. Finally, there are 'outside expenses'--items
such as cemetery or crematory charges, newspaper notices, flowers,
clergy honoraria, and copies of the death certificate. To get an
accurate idea of the funeral home's charges, it is necessary to total
up the service and merchandise charges. Some firms may have higher
service charges and lower casket prices; some may be just the opposite.
The totals can vary anywhere from 10-40%. In the Chattanooga area, the
average cost of the service and merchandise charges is about
$5200-5500. Outside expenses can range from $500 to $5000 depending on
whether the person already owns cemetery property.
- What information does the law
require funeral directors to give consumers?
The Federal Trade Commission Funeral Rule requires funeral providers to
give information from their price lists to consumers who call on the
telephone. Callers need not identify themselves. Most funeral firms
will mail the General Price List if requested. If a consumer personally
visits the provider, the representative must give the consumer a copy
of the General Price List when a discussion of funeral pricing takes
place. If caskets and outer burial containers are discussed, the
consumer must be shown a copy of the Casket Price List and Outer Burial
Container Price List. The latter two lists do not by law have to be
given to the consumer, only shown to them. Most reputable firms will
provide copies of the list if asked.
- What makes one casket better
than another?
All caskets serve the purpose of containing the remains for burial or
cremation purposes. Whether one is 'better' than another is a highly
personal and subjective decision. Casket prices, however, vary
depending
on the outer materials used. The major difference is either metal or
wood. Within each of these categories there are a variety of price
points. With wood there are simple fiberboard caskets, pines, hardwood
veneers, solid hardwoods of increasing beauty such as oak, pecan,
cherry and mahogany. Within the metal caskets there are lightweight
steel, medium weight steel, stainless steel, solid copper, and solid
bronze. As the basic materials increase in cost, the casket finishes,
hardware, and interior fabrics typically increase in quality and cost
as well.
- Why do I need to prepay
funeral expenses if I already have a lot of insurance?
If a person's financial portfolio is extensive or there is ample
insurance coverage, prepaying for funeral expenses may not be in the
person's best interest. There may be reasons other than financial,
however, for a person to prepay funeral expenses. This may be a way of
insuring that the funeral plans are carried out exactly as specified or
it may be a way of completing the circle of planning.
- Is it a good idea to put your
funeral plans in your will?
Since wills are not usually read until after the funeral, it may not be
effective to rely on this to make sure funeral plans are carried out. A
better way is to execute a preplanning document and distribute copies
to the parties who are likely to be involved, such as the funeral
provider and a trusted family member or friend.
- What are some ways families
can participate in the funeral process that can be therapeutic?
Having some type of funeral service or memorial service is very useful
for family and friends. This ceremony may be religious or a simple
gathering of friends. In either case it should acknowledge the fact
that
a person has died, but should also celebrate the person's life. Family
members and friends can help personalize the service by helping select
special readings or music. Sharing favorite stories or memories during
the visitation or service is a wonderful way to celebrate a life. Those
in attendance can be given an opportunity to share their memories at a
special place in the service or by writing them down and giving them to
the family later. Creating a 'memory board' with pictures and captions
of the deceased brings all these family events to life. Children can be
encouraged to participate by writing or drawing something for 'grandma'
that can then be displayed and/or placed in the casket. Choosing the
clothing, hairstyle, and jewelry the deceased will wear can be
therapeutic.
- Should children be allowed to
participate in the funeral process?
To the extent they are able, yes. It is important to explain the
funeral process to a child so he can understand what to anticipate. It
is best to keep the explanation simple but factual and avoid words that
might frighten a child. Saying that grandma 'slept away' might cause
fear that he might suffer the same fate when he goes to bed. Giving a
child a choice to participate or not is better than forcing a decision
on the child. For those who wish to be present, it may be helpful to
give them ways to express their feelings; even if they don't know what
to say, they can draw a picture or be given some small task as part of
the funeral process.
- What are the legal
requirements for the disposition of ashes after cremation?
From a public health standpoint, once a person is cremated there are no
further requirements. Local, state, or federal zoning or environmental
regulations may affect the way in which ashes/cremains may be disposed
of.
- How do I go about choosing a
monument dealer?
There are many reputable monument/marker dealers in the metropolitan
Chattanooga area. Covenant Funeral Service offers for sale monuments
and
markers at reasonable prices. Most of the products are granite or
bronze, highly durable materials, so problems in the future are not
usually an issue. The most important factors are 1.) locating the style
and material you want and 2.) good value. Since the purchase of a
marker is not an urgent decision, the best advice is to shop around.
- What important benefits are
now available to veterans in the Chattanooga area?
With the Chattanooga National Cemetery, veterans, their spouses and
dependent children are entitled to burial or cremation spaces, the
opening and closing of the grave, grave marker, outer burial container
(or reimbursement for the cemetery's outer burial container cost)and
interment fees at no cost to the family. The cost of these items in
another cemetery could easily total $2000-4000 each. Graves may not be
selected in advance and are selected by the cemetery at the time of
need.
- Can veterans be buried at sea?
Who arranges that?
Yes! Burial at sea is not just an ancient tradition practiced by
mariners of old. It is a means of final disposition of cremains and
intact remains that is offered to and still utilized by active duty
members, retirees, and honorably discharged veterans of all branches of
the United States Military. The person who would arrange that service
would be the funeral provider however many funeral providers do not
know the information or the procedures to arrange for burial at sea.
Covenant Funeral Service can arrange for burial at sea. Although the
burial at sea is performed at no charge to those persons who qualify,
there are charges that will be incurred to reach the port of
embarkation.
- If a person has no relatives,
how can they make sure their funeral plans will be carried out the way
they wish?
A person with no relatives can be sure his funeral plans will be
carried out by making pre-paid pre-arrangements with a funeral provider
of his choice. After doing so it is imperative a copy of the
pre-arrangement documents be given to the person's attorney, close
friend and/ or the retirement facility where they live. He may also
carry a wallet card indicating that he has made pre-arrangements.
- Why do I need a funeral
director when I really want to handle all the funeral details myself?
The States of Tennessee and Georgia permit burial by friends and
family. Only a licensed funeral director may charge for these services.
Embalming, when requested, must be done by a licensed embalmer. The
deceased's next of kin and other family members can carry out most
other
aspects of the funeral. Even here they may want the assistance of a
funeral director to guide them through the many tasks that need to be
accomplished upon the death of a loved one.
- Are there any WEB sites that
are helpful to consumers who need to plan a funeral or cremation?
Informational sites include AARP. http://www.aarp.org, the Federal
Trade Commission, http://www.ftc.gov, and the Funeral Consumers
Alliance, http://www.funerals.org. In our LINKS section , we list many other helpful sites.
- Can a person who has had an
autopsy or donated organs still be embalmed?
Yes.
- Can I change funeral homes
after they have the body?
Yes, there is no obligation for you to stay with the mortuary that
removed the body.
- Am I stuck at the mortuary
where I prepaid for services?
NO. In Tennessee and Georgia the next of kin always has the right to
change. You may be charged a removal fee from the initial mortuary
which
would then in turn show up in the new mortuaries billing. If the new
funeral provider's prices are less than those of the prearranged
provider, the additional savings may be used to satisfy other expenses
such as opening and closing the grave, etc.
- Can existing burial policies
and pre-arranged funeral plans with other funeral homes be transferred
to Covenant Funeral Service?
Yes, Covenant Funeral Service accepts burial policies and pre-arranged
funeral plans issued by other funeral providers. We will be happy to
assist you-at no cost-in transferring your existing pre-arranged
funeral
plan to Covenant Funeral Service. Savings are likely and may be applied
to other costs such as opening and closing the grave.
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