Frequently Asked Questions
In an effort to help our families understand more about funerals and the funeral planning process, we have compiled some of the most common questions we're asked. If you have any questions that are not addressed in the pages below, please do not hesitate to give us a call and speak with a funeral professional.
- What is a funeral?
The funeral is a ceremony of
proven worth and value for those who mourn. It provides an opportunity
for the survivors and others who share in the loss to express their
love, respect and grief. It permits facing openly and realistically the
crisis that death may present. Through the funeral, the bereaved take
that first step towards emotional adjustment to their loss.
- What type of service should I have?
Only you can answer that question. The type of service conducted for the deceased, if not noted in a pre-plan,
is decided by the family. The service is usually held at a place of
worship or at the funeral home. The service may vary in ritual according
to religious denomination or the wishes of the family. The presence of
friends at this time is an acknowledgment of friendship and support. A
private service is by invitation only where selected relatives and a few
close friends attend the funeral service. A memorial service is usually
a service without the body present and can vary in ceremony and
procedures according to the family's community and religious
affiliations.
- Can I personalize my funeral service?
Absolutely, in fact, we recommend it. After all, the funeral is a celebration of life. Funeral directors are happy to discuss all options and ensure your funeral is tailored to your wishes. It may be personalized in many unique ways. Contact us at (860) 521-4400 to discuss options. You may wish to explore possibilities using our unique planning tool in the What We Do section of this Web site (scroll to bottom of page).
- What is a viewing/visitation/wake?
Depending on the area of the country in which you live or your religious tradition, viewing, visitation, and wake are generally synonymous terms for an informal gathering that precedes the funeral. Traditionally, it takes place the day before the funeral. Often, the deceased is embalmed and in an open casket, but the casket may be closed or not present at all. This ceremony is an informal time for family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased to stop by and offer condolences to the bereaved and socialize with others. A visitation typically lasts for several hours, allowing people more flexibility on when they may pay their respects to the family. It is not necessary to remain for the entire time, and guests may feel comfortable leaving after offering words of support to the bereaved.
- Why do we need an obituary notice?
It is
helpful to friends and the community to have an obituary notice
published announcing the death and type of service to be held. A notice
can be placed in a local newspaper or on the Internet. Taylor &
Modeen provides families with a Memorial Website, a permanent place for your loved one's obituary, in addition to photos and videos.
- What do funeral directors do?
Funeral directors are both caregivers and administrators. In their administrative duties, 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. As caregivers, 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.
- What should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend?
We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If the death occurs in a medical facility a
representative of the facility will call us when your loved one is ready to be
released into our care. If your loved
one is a hospice patient, you will call hospice if you believe they have passed
away. The hospice nurse will call us
when they are ready to release the decedent to us. If, however, the death occurs at home and
unexpectedly you should call 911 for emergency service.
- What should I do if a death occurs while away from home?
Our funeral home staff will arrange with another funeral home or mortuary where the death occurred to have preparation and transportation made back to our funeral home. We can also help you if you are planning to have a service prior to having the family member returned to your home area. Visit the When a Death Occurs section of this Web site for more information.
Who should come with me to the arrangement conference?
If
you are the only next-of-kin, do not feel like you need to make all the
arrangements alone. Families often come to the arrangement conference
in groups for moral support and to participate in the funeral
experience.
What if there was a pre-arrangement?
If
your loved one made a pre-arrangement with our funeral home, we'll have
that information on file here for you. We will use the time in the
arrangement conference to go over any details that were not yet planned
for.
If your loved one pre-arranged their funeral with another funeral home and you wish to transfer that arrangement to us, please let us know as soon as possible. If the funeral has been pre-paid at another funeral home, you can request that the funds be transferred to our funeral home for final disposition.
What if there is no will?
Dying intestate – dying
without a will – means that the law of the state controls the
distribution of a decedent's assets upon death. A probate judge will
appoint an administrator (known as a personal representative in Florida)
of the deceased's estate. If you are chosen as the
administrator/personal representative, your responsibilities will be
similar to those of an executor/personal representative of a will:
distributing assets, notifying paying creditors and balancing the
estate.
Many people assume that upon a person's death without a will, all assets will immediately go to the spouse. If there is no will, this is not always the case. Most states will divide assets between the surviving spouse and any children, regardless of the ages of the children. It is important to remember that state probate laws vary, and individual situations may be taken into account in probate court when decisions are made to distribute the deceased's assets. If you have any questions or concerns, you may want to consult an attorney that is experienced in end-of-life planning and probate.
- My loved one was a veteran. What benefits can he or she receive?
Benefits are available to veterans whether they are interred in a national cemetery or a private cemetery. Visit the Veteran's Services section on our Web site to learn more.
- Does my religion allow
cremation?
Most religions today accept the practice of cremation,
with the exception of Orthodox Judaism and Islam. In some
traditions, such as Hinduism, it is the preferred method of
disposition. If you aren't sure whether cremation is acceptable in
your own religious tradition, the funeral home staff would be happy
to help you find the answer to this question.
- Are traditional services and
cremation services different?
No, they don't have to be. If your preference is cremation, you may
be surprised to learn that choosing cremation does not mean that
you cannot also hold traditional services such as a viewing and a
funeral. Whether you choose cremation or burial, the same services
are available to you, including formal services that include music,
prayers, and other rites. A viewing with an open casket may precede
the cremation. In fact, it is important to still hold some kind of
special service to assist the bereaved in the grieving process.
It is important to remember that the cremation process is not an end in itself. As cremation grows in popularity, so does the memorial service, a special service that takes place after cremation has occurred. The body is not present during a memorial service, but the cremated remains in a urn could be included. A memorial service allows family and friends to come together to remember the deceased, just as a visitation does.
Can I have a visitation period and a funeral service if cremation is chosen?
Absolutely. Choosing cremation does not limit the types of
services you may choose. If you choose to have a visitation/viewing
or a funeral, the cremation process will take place after these
ceremonies have concluded. You can choose to have an open casket at
the funeral. Nearly every wooden casket can be cremated, and we
offer several attractive wooden caskets that are designed
specifically for cremation. Ask your funeral director to see a
selection of cremation caskets from which to choose.
How can we personalize a
cremation?
Even if your preference is cremation, you can choose to
hold many different types of services – a visitation, funeral service,
witness cremation, graveside service, or a memorial service. Any of
these can be personalized in a number of ways. Each
ceremony should be as unique as the life being celebrated. Ideas
for a special service are always welcome in our funeral home.
Many families add a personal touch to funeral services by incorporating memorabilia that represent a loved one's hobbies or passions. For the avid sports fan, a few of his or her collector's items could be displayed. For the artist, a display of recent works or even the artist's tools can provide a personal touch. These unique touches can help family and friends remember the deceased's personality and relive the traditions that meant so much. Photo albums and memorial tribute DVDs are also great ways to remember the past.
Personalized merchandise is also popular. Some caskets include interchangeable corners, and you may choose corners that represent the life of your loved one. Caskets can also be personalized with an embroidered panel. Cremation urns and keepsakes can be engraved. The funeral home also offers a wide variety of other merchandise such as keepsake jewelry and stationery products that can reflect the life of your loved one.
Today, it is becoming more popular to hold unique services outside of the funeral home. This is especially true for families choosing cremation. After the cremation takes place, memorial services can take place nearly anywhere. Whatever your preferences or ideas may be, we can work to help you create a memorable and meaningful tribute.
- Can we
visit the crematory?
Taylor
& Modeen owns and operates Oak Hammock Crematory in Indiantown,
Florida. Your funeral director will provide the details of our witnessed
cremation service.
- Can I plan for cremation in advance?
Yes. For more information about planning cremation and other funeral services in
advance, please visit the Plan Ahead section of this Web site.
- How can we be sure that we receive
the correct cremated remains back?
Many families are concerned that they will not receive the
correct cremated remains back from the crematory. This stress
arises from the simple fact that cremation is an irreversible
process, and cremation destroys all DNA evidence in the remains.
Our crematory places the utmost importance on our identification
process. This ensures that you will receive the cremated remains of
your loved one. Additionally we offer the ability to witness the
body being placed in the cremation chamber. This can help ease
anxieties about whose remains are returned to the family. If you
are concerned, ask your funeral director for more information.
- Can two cremations be performed at once?
Never.
Not only is it illegal to do so, most modern cremation chambers are
not of sufficient size to accommodate more than one adult. Thus it
would be a practical impossibility to conduct multiple cremations
simultaneously.
- Is a casket required for cremation?
Most crematories require that the body be encased in a
combustible, rigid container. Any wood casket will satisfy this
requirement. Some wood caskets are designed specifically for
cremation. You can also choose to use alternative containers of
cardboard, particle board, etc. Generally speaking, a cremation
container must be strong enough to assure the safety of the
crematory operator as well as provide proper covering and meet
reasonable standards of respect and dignity of the deceased. Ask
your funeral director what options are available.
- Can we take cremated
remains on a plane?
Yes, you can carry cremated remains with you on an airline. Some airlines do not accept cremated remains as checked luggage. You must contact the airline directly to verify this. If you plan to transport an urn as a carry-on item, the urn must be able to pass through the x-ray scanner. You'll also need to carry proper documentation with you (certified death certificate, certificate of cremation, etc.). If the urn cannot be scanned, it will not be permitted on the flight. Under no circumstances will a TSA employee open an urn to inspect its contents, even if the family insists. Click here for the TSA's official guidelines regarding the transport of cremated remains.
- 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. It 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. Embalming
the body enables mourners to view the deceased if they wish. The
emotional benefits of viewing the deceased are enormous, particularly to
those having difficulty dealing with the death.
- Is embalming mandatory by law?
No. Embalming preserves the body, often allowing more time for arrangements. If the deceased is to be directly buried or cremated, embalming is not necessary. However, Florida law mandates that the deceased be either refrigerated or embalmed if final disposition isn't made within 24 hours.
Cemetery Common Questions
The answers below are here because these are the most commonly-asked questions. If yours isn't listed, we invite you to contact us. We're here to provide the information you need, when you need it.
- Are cemeteries running out of space?
Just
like other open spaces, cemeteries are impacted by increased
population density in both urban and rural areas. Cemetery spaces are a
finite resource, and as such, are at a premium in some regions.
- What is Perpetual Care?
"Perpetual
Care" usually refers to the correct terms Permanent Care or Endowment
Care. These Care funds are collected with each Interment Space sale to
maintain the grounds, roads, and buildings of the cemetery.
- Can the vault be personalized?
Yes, we can show you the wide range of personalization choices, including customized nameplates and military insignias.
- Are there vaults for cremated remains?
Yes, we offer urn vaults, designed for in-ground burial of cremated remains.
- Does a body have to be embalmed before it is buried?
No,
embalming is not required for burial. It is always your choice. Your
decision may depend on such factors as whether the family selected a
service with a public viewing of the body with an open casket; or to
enhance the deceased's appearance for a private family viewing; or if
the body is going to be transported by air or rail, or because of the
length of time prior to the burial.
- Must I purchase a burial vault?
In
most areas of the country, state or local laws do not require that you
buy a container to surround the casket in the grave. However, many
cemeteries require that you have such a container so that the ground
will not sink. Either a grave liner or a burial vault will satisfy
these requirements.
- What are the advantages of a mausoleum burial?
Mausoleum
crypts are both clean and dry. They offer a viable alternative for
those who simply have an aversion of being interred in the ground.
Furthermore, with the growing shortage of available land for cemetery
use, mausoleums will allow for a maximum number of entombments in a
minimum amount of space.
- What is a columbarium?
A columbarium, often located within a mausoleum, chapel or in a garden setting, is constructed with numerous small compartments (niches) designed to hold urns containing cremated remains.