Listed below are some frequently asked questions that can assist you in making the many decisions that need to be made.We hope you’ll find these useful.
Because it is an important question, many things must be considered. What type of memorial do you prefer? How many burials do you expect to take place? Are you arranging for yourself or your family? How much do you want to spend? Answers to these types of questions will assist you to make the right purchase as graves vary by size, location and by price.
Besides ground burial, we offer other interment options, including community mausoleums, private mausoleums, and placement of cremated remains in an Indoor Chapel Niche or columbarium, plus many others choices. Read more here. Call us at (219) 462-3511 to learn about all of your options.
Cremation is always an option. Contrary to some beliefs, cremation allows for as many, or more, memorialization options than the traditional burial and service. Cremation, simply put, is reducing the body to ashes. Once the cremation is complete, the “remains” can be placed in an urn and buried, placed in a vault, or you can customize your cremation in almost any way you choose.
Yes, many families have a traditional service before a cremation takes place. If you wish to have a service, a casket may be open or closed. A closed casket is appropriate for service prior to cremation. If the family wishes an open casket, embalming and other preparation are required.
Cremation offers a wide array of customization options to choose from. A private or public visitation and/or funeral service can be held before cremation is done. If an open casket is desired, embalming and other preparation is required. Once the cremation has been completed a family can do whatever they feel is appropriate to commemorate the event.
As with any important event in life, funerals and burials require planning. You should plan your own service and how you choose to be memorialized, in advance, to spare those close to you from the stress of attempting to make wishes they think would please you. If you take the time to plan your service, those you care about will be allowed to grieve instead of worrying about arrangements. In addition, many pre-arranged services can be financed in ways that freeze today’s price and keep your investment safe.
If you decide to make changes to your pre-arranged service, simply contact us and we will assist you in making any changes you feel are important.
It 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. A “closure” of sorts must occur to help survivors adjust to their loss and recognize that a death has occurred. A funeral service provides the opportunity for friends and family to celebrate the life that was lived and allow the healing process to begin. Graceland Cemetery offers a wide array of options for you to express the unique way you or your loved one lived life.
A memorial service is a service without the deceased present. The deceased is present at a funeral service.
Funeral directors are multi-taskers. They are caregivers, administrators, event planners, and embalmers. They make the arrangements for transportation and preparation of the body, complete all necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the body. 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.
Yes, there are a variety of ways to customize a traditional funeral service. Today, many people see a funeral as a celebration of a life lived. Tradition still exists, and is very important to many and is always an option. Just as tradition is an option, so is personalization. A family can combine their wishes with tradition to whatever extent they choose. With any service selected, there are many ways to personalize and memorialize your loved one. We assist our families in personalizing a funeral service and tailor it to the lifestyle and personality of the life that was lived.
A formal visitation provides a time and place for you to offer the family your expression of sorrow and sympathy. Visitation is typically held at the funeral home, and the deceased is typically present so that you can pay your last respects.
Viewing is part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Many grief specialists believe that viewing aids in the grief process by helping the bereaved recognize the reality of death. Viewing is encouraged for children, as long as the process is explained and the activity voluntary.
Caskets are made of either metal (bronze, copper or steel) or wood. Prices vary, depending on the exterior and interior materials used and the cost to construct it. Bronze, a semi-precious metal, is more expensive than steel. Mahogany, a rare hardwood, is more expensive than the readily available softwood pine.
Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body, retards the decomposition process, and enhances the appearance of a body disfigured by traumatic death or illness. 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. It is not required by law, but is common practice when a viewing is planned.
Funeral costs vary depending on the funeral home and type of service selected. There are two types of costs associated with a funeral: (1) services provided by the funeral home and (2) merchandise such as a casket or urn. Please contact us for a more detailed explanation of your options.
All charges involving the funeral home’s services and merchandise are available from our professional staff. We will provide a general price list with all charges.
Yes. In fact, we will do more than just assist you with securing these benefits. Our staff is trained to complete all necessary paperwork to begin the benefits process and to follow through to ensure that the benefits are secured in a timely manner.
Call our office at (219) 462-3511 or submit your question using the form on our contact page and we will be happy to answer it.
“My husband and I couldn’t be happier having to pre-arrange our burial services for the future with your staff! (Graceland) helped with my husband’s mother’s recent burial and convinced us to pre-arrange ours.”
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