The Most Important Questions to Ask Your Funeral Home

Daniel Campo

It can be devastating and challenging to deal with the loss of a loved one. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a family member, a relative, or a friend; the goal is to make sure their funeral goes as smoothly as possible.

You will want to choose a funeral home based on various factors including location, prices, package options, the venue, and more.

What are some questions to ask your funeral cremation arrangement director? You will want to ask about pricing to ensure that you can afford the service. However, what other things should you be asking them about? Here are some questions to ask a funeral home. If you need more guidance around dealing with a funeral home, check out blog on dealing with funeral homes.

Financials

During a funeral, you may want to take care of the financial aspects as soon as possible. No one wants to hold a funeral only to find that there are outstanding charges or disputes later. One way to make things run smoother is to ask whether it is possible to make a down payment with the funeral home. Your funeral cremation arrangement director should be able to answer this. Some funeral homes will offer up a bill detailing all outside expenses. If they don’t, ask to see one.

It helps to ask as many questions as you have about funeral cost. Consider also doing some research to ensure that you are being charged fairly. Your funeral cremation arrangement director should also be able to tell you the cost of a death certificate. The fee may vary from state to state or even county to county.

At Eirene, we have partnered with Affirm payments to ensure every family has access to affordable death care. Once approved, Affirm allows you to make time payments for your desired services with no hidden fees or late fees. Even if you are not eligible for Affirm’s payment plan, we will work with you to ensure you get the support you need.

Arrangement Questions

There are a lot of logistical questions that you should ask your funeral cremation arrangement director. First, you may want to ask to meet the individual dealing with your loved one’s body. This is natural, given that they will be responsible for how your loved one looks during the funeral.

There is also the chance that family members and friends may want to add their own personal touch to the funeral service. In this case, it is best if you asked the funeral cremation arrangement director whether specific photos, video, or music can be added to the service.

Also, can they arrange an offsite memorial of some kind? This might be a determining factor regarding what funeral home that you choose. You may also be contacting a funeral home on behalf of someone who is terminally ill. If this is the case, find out what the process will be to contact the funeral cremation arrangement director immediately after their death.

Logistics

If you plan to transport the body over a long distance, you should ask whether that can be arranged. You may also want to figure out whether another venue can be used, or whether the funeral has to occur at the specific facility.

If the funeral is a large one, then there are other logistics to consider. Will the funeral cremation arrangement director be able to provide transportation for mourners? If not, you will need to figure out how to transport attendees as quickly and efficiently to and/or from the venue.

Navigating can be tough. But asking the right questions can help.

Loss is hard. No matter who you have said goodbye to, it’s important to ensure that you are giving them the funeral arrangements they requested.

By choosing the right funeral home, with the questions and considerations that we have shared above, you’ll be well poised to ensure that you can take care of anything that comes your way.

Still need guidance? We can help. Contact Eirene today to see how we can make the process simpler, more accessible and transparent for you.