Choosing a Package

Getting the Best Deal

Know why you have chosen cremation (cost, convenience, dislike of burial)

Everyone has their reason for choosing which service option suits them best. For some, they believe cremation is less expensive, so they select it for that reason. However, the cost is dependent on the type of service you have with cremation. Some select cremation for the convenience factor. They believe in simplicity and they like the convenience of being able to transport the cremated body as well as gather on their own schedule to honor and memorialize a life lived. Some individuals just don’t like the idea of traditional earth burial. They believe in ashes to ashes and dust to dust and would rather have cremation take place immediately, have a memorial service of remembrance and then have their remains scattered or returned to the family. Whatever the reason, it always important to discuss your choices with your family.

Know your options (before you shop pricing, know what is available and shop for apples-to-apples options which fit your needs):

Ask questions -

It is always good to ask questions that allow you to make informed choices. Not all funeral and cremation providers are the same or offer the same services and merchandise. Ask questions, compare costs, compare facilities, compare staff and company history. Many of the cremation societies and discount service providers that do a lot of advertising promote minimal services at a low price, however, they give you no local hometown value, and usually give you no added personalization options. We know our area and communities and provide many added value and personalization options with all of our service options and packages. We welcome you to sit down with us face to face to discuss options and personalized farewell packages that meet your needs and your budget.

Visualize your idea of a great funeral, communicate that to your provider:

Did you imagine lots of people at your visitation? Did you imagine a meaningful memorial service? Bagpipers? Most people haven’t imagined what their funeral would be like. When it comes time to shop for one, we don’t often know what to look for.

When shopping for services always find out exactly what you get for what you are buying. Funeral homes must provide you with a General Price List as well as an itemized statement of funeral goods and services selected. The old adage “you get what you paid for” can ring true in funeral service as well. Not all funeral homes and crematories are operated the same. We try very hard to separate ourselves from our competitors. We want our families to receive value from selecting us and to not feel like they are just another number.

Explore packages – why fh’s offer them, why this is good for the shopper -

families, especially those who have not previously made funeral arrangements, may be overwhelmed by the entire process. If purchasing on an itemized basis, most families will have to make a dozen or more purchase decisions involving several thousands of dollars in a tight time period under the additional stress of bereavement and grief. To ease this process, funeral directors often look at new price structures and purchase options. One method that many funeral homes use is the funeral package. This is good for the shopper because it simplifies the process and provides them with greater value. In essence, more bang for the buck. It makes the process Simple for families - and for arrangers and that is the most important factor in funeral packaging. Most families do not understand all of the services they must select on an itemized basis. Increasingly, families want to understand the bottom line - what is this funeral going to cost? With funeral packages, arrangers can simply explain that the traditional viewing and funeral services you prefer are $X,XXX, rather than having to explain that Basic Services is $X,XXX, embalming costs $XXX, transfer or remains $XXX and so on through the dozen or more line items required by the FTC.

Shopping guidelines:

For budget shoppers -

We have a service option available for everyone and offer many cremation options with all kinds of budgets in mind. We believe our hometown values, years of experience and excellent service coupled with our competitive price will far outweigh any discount you might receive from any other cremation provider. By keeping services in town you benefit not only your family, but you also benefit many other organizations as we are a proud supporter of many local charities.

For those who want an alternative to burial -

When you consider cremation as opposed to traditional burial, always keep your family in mind and consider their feelings. I always tell our families who prearrange to reverse things and if something happened to one of their children, if they would be alright with the choices they just made for themselves. Some interesting dialogue usually takes place. Make sure to get them involved in your discussions. Cremation, like burial, is another form of disposition. By considering all of your funeral options, you’ll find that cremation can be an important part of the commemoration process. It helps loved ones to share grief, celebrate the life of the person who died and find healing in remembrance.

For mobile families -

Having the ability to have a memorial service at a later date gives mobile families the choice to wait until it is convenient for all family members. Always consider the effects waiting may have on the grieving family and how the healing needs to start soon after the death occurs.