What do Funeral Directors do?
Funeral directors are caregivers and administrators. They make the arrangements for transportation 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 can link survivors with support groups at the funeral home or in the community
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What is the purpose of embalming?
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.
Does a dead body have to be embalmed, according to law?
No. Most states, however, require embalming when death was caused by a reportable contagious disease or when remains are to be transported from one state to another by common carrier or if final disposition is not to be made within a prescribed number of hours
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Funeral Cost Questions
Why do funerals cost what they do?
When compared to other major life cycle events, like births and weddings, funerals are not expensive. A wedding costs at least three times as much; but because it is a happy event, wedding costs are rarely criticized. A funeral home is a 24-hour, labor-intensive business, with extensive facilities (viewing rooms, chapels, hearses, etc.), these expenses must be factored into the cost of a funeral. Moreover, the cost of a funeral includes not only merchandise, like caskets, but the services of a funeral director in making arrangements; filing appropriate forms; dealing with doctors, ministers, florists, newspapers and others; and seeing to all the necessary details. Contrary to popular belief, funeral homes are largely family-owned with a modest profit margin.
What recourse does a consumer have for poor service or overcharging?
Funeral service is regulated by the FTC and state licensing boards. In most cases, the consumer should discuss problems with the funeral director first. If the dispute cannot be solved by talking with the funeral director, the consumer may wish to contact the Funeral Service Consumer Assistance Program. FSCAP provides information, mediates disputes, provides arbitration, and maintains a consumer guarantee fund for reimbursement of services rendered. (To contact FSCAP, call 708-827-6337 or 800-662-7666).
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Social Security Benefits
Lump Sum Death Payment
If you're a surviving widow or widower, you may be eligible to receive a special death benefit payment of $255 on the worker's record. This payment can be made only to a spouse or minor children who meet certain requirements. If you think you may be eligible, ask your funeral director or contact your local Social Security Office.
Applying for benefit qualification and or additional information:
You must apply in order to receive benefits. You may apply at any Social Security office or, if you wish, you may apply by telephone at: -1-800-772-1213 and the operator will schedule an appointment for you or arrange for the local Social Security office to take your claim by telephone. Additional questions regarding benefits can be answered by visiting www.ssa.gov or at a local office.
Local Social Security Office Information:
York County, PA: 1-888-329-5732
Office location: 950 Borom Road, York, PA 17404
Harford County, MD: 1-410-569-3349
Office location: 3435-A Box Hill Corporate Center Drive, Abingdon, MD 21009
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Veteran Benefit Questions
Please note military documentation must be provided to receive any of the following benefits.
Burial Flags
The Veterans Administration (VA) provides an American flag to drape the casket of a veteran and to a person entitled to retired military pay. After the funeral service, the flag may be given to the next of kin or a close associate. VA also will issue a flag on behalf of a service member who was missing in action and later presumed dead. Your funeral director will make arrangements to obtain the American flag for your loved one.
Military Honors
Military honors can be arranged by your funeral director to be held at graveside or as a part of a service. Military honors should be arranged at the time of the original appointment with your funeral director to secure the service time with the local military honor guards.
Headstones and Markers
VA provides headstones and markers for the graves of veterans anywhere in the world and for eligible dependents of veterans buried in national, state veteran or military cemeteries.
Flat bronze, flat granite, flat marble, upright granite and upright marble types are available to mark the grave in a style consistent with the place of burial. Niche markers also are available to mark columbaria used for inurnment of cremated remains. The marker must be applied for within one year from the date of death and is shipped at government expense. The VA, however, does not pay the cost of placing the headstone or marker on the grave. Your funeral director can assist in obtaining the marker for your loved one.
Presidential Memorial Certificates
The Presidential Memorial Certificate is a parchment certificate with a calligraphic inscription expressing the nation's recognition of the veteran's service. The veteran's name is inscribed and the certificate bears the signature of the President. Certificates are issued in the name of honorably discharged, deceased veterans. Eligible recipients include next of kin, other relatives and friends. Your funeral director will provide information for obtaining these certificates at time of your loved one's death.
Burial in VA National Cemeteries
Burial benefits in a VA national cemetery include the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave and perpetual care. Many national cemeteries have columbaria for the inurnment of cremated remains or special gravesites for the burial of cremated remains. Headstones and markers and their placement are provided at the government's expense. For information regarding eligibility, ask your funeral director or contact the VA Administration at the following:
Reimbursement of Burial Expenses
The VA will pay a burial allowance to qualifying veterans that may include a burial space and transportation costs. Eligibility is reviewed by the VA Administration and this process may take up to one year from the date of death. Applications may be made at a local VA office or by your funeral director. All applications must be submitted within 2 years of the date of death.
To obtain any additional information regarding any of the above, please contact the VA Administration:
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs -
810 Vermont Avenue, NW - Washington, DC 2042
www.va.gov or 800-827-1000
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Obtaining Additional Certified Copies of the Death Certificate:
Pennsylvania-
Be sure to complete all required information on the application form. Applications may be obtained from Harkins Funeral Home or from the Pennsylvania Vital Records
Office: 724-656-3100
To obtain a certified copy of a death certificate, select from the following:
Order online at: www.health.state.pa.us/vitalrecords (form not necessary)
Request by mail at: Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records
PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103
**contact vital records office for necessary information: 724-656-3100
In person at a public office (see 6 locations below):
- Erie - (814) 451-6258
- Harrisburg (717) 772-3480
- New Castle (724) 656-3100
- Philadelphia (215) 560-3054
- Pittsburgh (412) 565-5113
- Scranton (570) 963-4595
Maryland-
To obtain a certified copy of a death certificate, select from the following:
Order online at: http://vsa.maryland.gov Select Application for Death Certificates link
Request by mail at: Maryland Department of Vital Records, 6550 Reisterstown Road, Reisterstown Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21215. Contact for additional information at 410- 764-3038 or toll free at 800-832-3277
In person at a public office 6550 Reisterstown Road, (The Plaza) Baltimore, Maryland. Contact for additional information at 410-764-3038 or toll free at 800-832-3277
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