Our Commitment to Service
We are dedicated to providing the best services at the most reasonable cost. The cost of a funeral is comprised of many individual charges. These charges can be broken down into three main categories; the first is the charges for the use of the funeral home facilities and equipment and for the services of the funeral home staff; the second charge is for the merchandise that is selected; and the third charge is all of the outside expenses that need to be taken care of at the time of the services, such as cemetery charges, clergy honoraria, flowers, death certificate transcripts, newspaper notices, etc. To help you understand what each item entails, we would like to explain more fully the funeral home charges:

Arrangements and Supervision:
The charge for this item enables us to recover a proportionate share of the salaries paid our Licensed Funeral Directors and Assistants. We are thereby able to maintain a skilled staff for the personal and professional services rendered to you and your family at the time they are required. It includes the arrangement, supervision and direction of the funeral, the coordination of various details, administrative personnel and all necessary attendants.

Use of Establishment for Visitation and/or Ceremonial Purposes:
The charge for this item enables us to recover a proportionate share of the costs of building and operating these specialized facilities for your use and comfort. The amount charged varies according to the length of time they are used in fulfilling the arrangements you have made. Some of the specific costs covered are building maintenance and repairs; furnishings; funeral equipment; insurance; real estate taxes; air-conditioning; light, heat and power utilities; and cleaning.

Preparation of Remains:
This charge enables us to recover a proportionate share of the expense for our licensed staff associated with the preparation of the body, and for the specialized facilities, professional equipment and supplies required for the custodial care of the body. These meet State and Municipal standards for the proper sanitary care of the deceased.
While embalming is not usually required by law, common sense dictates that it is necessary in most instances. We require embalming when we have custody of the body in our funeral home for more than a limited time, for public viewing of the body, and in other circumstances under which normal decomposition of the body would present us with a practical problem.

The Basic Arrangements Fee is the largest single cost item we charge. Following a death there are many arrangements that must be supervised by a licensed funeral director. The maintenance of this service is continuous. By that, we mean that the cost incurred enables us to maintain and staff our facility 24 hours every day of the year. Therefore, ours is a 168 hour week and not the 40 hour week which is the accepted standard. Many phases of our work are apparent; others are not. Traditions, customs, social standing, personal feeling, financial ability, and a multitude of other influences affect each funeral. Our services must conform to each individual family's wishes and their personal and religious needs. The following items are included in this fee:

Professional Services – Complete Arrangements, Supervision and Direction of all Services.

1. Meeting with the family to:
   
   
   
   • Secure vital statistics information
     
   • Obtaining obituary information
     
   • Complete itemized cost agreement
     
   • Oversee all aspects of services
     
   
   
2. Coordinate times of the following services as needed:
   
   
   
   • Clergy
     
   • Fraternal Organizations
     
   • Necessary automotive equipment
     
   • Cemetery or Crematory
     
   • Civic or other organizations
     
   • Veterans Association
     
   
   
3. Complete Death Certificate Vital Statistic information.
   
4. Obtain the signature and medical information from attending physician, or other medical authority.
   
5. File completed and signed certificate with Registrar of Vital Statistics in municipality
   where death occurred, obtain Burial Permit and as many certified copies as requested by the family.
   
6. Provide obituary information to all newspapers as requested by family.
   
7. Complete all necessary forms such as:
   
   
   
   • VA for Flag
     
   • Cemetery or Crematory
     
   • VA for Allowance
     
   • Social Security
     
   • VA for Marker
     
   • State & Federal forms required by law
     
   
   
8. Answer all telephone calls – give out funeral information & directions to family, friends, lodge members, business associates, and florists with regard to the funeral arrangements selected.