1.  Why have a Funeral ?

Funerals fill an important role for those mourning the loss of a loved one. A funeral provides surviving family members and friends a caring, supportive environment in which to share thoughts and feelings about the death. Funerals are the first step in the healing process.
The ritual of attending a funeral service provides many benefits including:
• Providing a social support system for the bereaved.
• Helping the bereaved understand death is final and that death is part of life.
• Integrating the bereaved back into the community.
• Easing the transition to a new life after the death of a loved one.
• Providing a safe haven for embracing and expressing pain.
• Reaffirming one’s relationship with the person who died.
• Providing a time to say good-bye.
It is possible to have a full funeral service even for those choosing cremation. The importance of the ritual is in providing a social gathering to help the bereaved begin the healing process.

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 2. Why use a Funeral Home ?  

At some time in our lives, most of us will make or assist in making funeral arrangements. This can mean making many decisions at a very difficult and emotional time. Funeral directors are there to offer help and guidance during one of life’s most difficult times, but there are things you can do to help yourself:
1. Be an informed consumer. Don’t be reluctant to ask questions.
2. Today there are a variety of options to meet your financial needs and wishes. Be sure to discuss all available options before making a decision.
3. When selecting a funeral director, choose one who is licensed and has a good reputation in the community. NFDA’s member directory is a good place to start.
4. Be prepared! Avoid the burden of making decisions while under emotional stress by organizing details with your funeral director ahead of time. Remember…preplanning doesn’t necessarily mean prepaying.
5. Plan a personalized ceremony or service to help you begin the healing process. Getting through grief is never easy but having a meaningful funeral or tribute will help.

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 3. What kind of Funeral should I plan ?

 A funeral is so much more than a way to say goodbye; it’s an opportunity to celebrate the life of someone special.
Today, a funeral can be as unique as the individual who is being honored. From simple touches like displaying personal photographs, to events created around a favorite pastime, funerals can reflect any aspect of a person’s life and personality.
Following are questions you can use to help you decide how to personalize a service:
• What did the person like to do?
• What was the person like as an individual?
• What was the person like as a professional?
• Was the person spiritual?
• Was the person proud of their heritage?

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 4. What about Cremation ? 

Cremation  is an alternative to earth burial or entombment. It can be used in the traditional funeral, with a memorial service or without any type of service.

As more people are choosing cremation, funeral service professionals are striving to give consumers a true sense of what their many options are for a funeral service. Often funeral directors find that people have a preconception that they have fewer choices for a ceremony when selecting cremation for themselves or a loved one. Therefore, they request direct cremation and deny the surviving family and friends an opportunity to honor them with a memorial service. Actually, cremation is only one part of the commemorative experience. In fact, cremation can actually increase your options when planning a funeral. The following information is meant to help you build an understanding of what cremation is, allowing you to make an informed decision when arranging a funeral for yourself or a loved one.
Cremation is becoming increasingly popular, especially amongst the baby boomer generation. Among the many reasons for this growing trend is the breadth of options cremation provides for a final service.
Cremation gives people the flexibility to search for types of tributes that reflect the life being honored. But this doesn’t mean that aspects of traditional funeral services have to be discarded. Even with cremation, a meaningful memorial that is personalized to reflect the life of the deceased could include:
• A visitation prior to the service;
• An open or closed casket;
• Special music;
• A ceremony at the funeral chapel, your place of worship or other special location; and
• Participation by friends and family.
Commonly, cremated remains are placed in an urn and committed to an indoor or outdoor mausoleum or columbarium; interred in a family burial plot; or included in a special urn garden.

Cremation also gives families the option to scatter the remains. This can be done in a designated cemetery garden or at a place that was special to the person. Today, cremated remains can even become part of an ocean reef or made into diamonds.

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 Notify the Funeral Home of choice. From that point on they will help coordinate the removal, preparation of the deceased, collection of data for the required documents that must be completed and help make arrangements for the tpye of funeral you want. This may include contacting clergy, the cemetery, musicians, florists and others as each individual case may require.

If a death occurs away from home, contact your local funeral home first. We have the resources to make all out-of-town arrangements for you. This lets you deal with only one funeral home. You consolidate communications, scheduling needs and even the billing process. It can even save you money.

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 The following is some information that we will need in order to complete the State of Wisconsin vital statistic requirements:

CLICK FOR FORM YOU CAN PRINT

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Lump-Sum Death Benefits: 
It is required that you contact Social Security to apply for the lump sum benefits if there is a eligible recipient. Call 1-800-772-1213 to make an appointment. 
As of September 1, 1981, this benefit was limited.  It is now payable to:  the Surviving spouse a minor or dependant children of the deceased wage earner.
Adjustment of Spouse's Monthly Check: 
It will usually increase if the deceased spouse's check was greater. 

Dependant Benefits:
Special monthly benefits for minor or dependant children maybe available.
It is best that you contact the nearest Social Security Office for help with the application.
Sources of Help: 

Social Security advises that your initial contact be made by telephone, as most matters can be handled in this way.    1-800-772-1213 

For MORE INFORMATION goto:

Social Securitys Web Page at:        http://www.socialsecurity.gov/

or we have complied some of their information here:    More on Social Security

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The funeral home, using the discharge papers you provide, will complete and submit the claims for you. 

IF ELIGIBLE , A VETERAN MAY RECEIVE: a Flag, Interment in a Veteran Cemetery, a Grave Marker, Military Honors and possibily reimbursement of a portion of the burial expenses.

Veteran Administration WEB PAGE:   http://www.cem.va.gov/

or we have complied some of their information here:    More on Veteran Benifits

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Locate the will and notify the lawyer and executor. 

Notify insurance companies, banks, pension plans, or any other source of income.
Check promptly on all debts, including credit cards. Some may carry insurance clauses that may cover existing charges . If there is to be a delay in meeting payments, consult with creditors and ask for more time before the payments are due. 
If deceased was living alone, notify utilities and landlord and tell post office where to send mail.

Save all documentation for filing of Tax Returns.
These are some, but not all of the most common concerns that you may have to deal with.

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