Consumer Information

Many factors determine the cost of a funeral. Just as with other life rituals such as weddings, funeral charges depend on how elaborate or how simple a ceremony the family or the individual chooses. The funeral director will provide a price list and a description of the many available options during the first family meeting, or when an individual is preplanning a funeral. 

It is entirely up to the family or individual to make the funeral selections that will best meet their expectations. Nowadays, funerals are becoming more personalized to celebrate the life and memorialize the loved one in very special ways. 

In addition to the basic elements of removing the deceased from the place of death at all times of the day or night and caring for the body, the funeral director arranges all details of the funeral which may include: 

• helping families tailor the services to meet their emotional and economic needs
• contacting clergy and arranging an appropriate time and place for the services
• writing and distributing obituaries
• contacting the cemetery/crematory, sexton, florists, fraternal organizations, memorial gift organizations
• working cooperatively with organ donation teams
• preparing all legal documents (death certificates, burial transit/cremation permits, medical examiner certificates, reports of death for Social Security and Veterans Administration benefits, and in some instance filing insurance paperwork)
• providing an emotionally and spiritually comforting environment for visitation and life celebration services
• transporting family and friends in a funeral procession to the place of final disposition
• referring families to local grief counseling services such as Hospice

When a family is grieving, it would be difficult for them to accomplish all the details of the funeral service and end-of-life matters that are taken care of by the funeral director. The funeral director, who is licensed and specially trained, provides quiet support to the family during a time of great emotional stress, and attends to all aspects of the funeral service in a professional and caring way. 

From: "Transitions: A Consumer Guide to End-Of-Life Issues and Funerals" 

Copyright © 2001 New York State Funeral Directors Association

The following are questions most frequently asked by people who want to know more about funerals and funeral service. Your local funeral director will be happy to supply you with any additional information, or answer specific questions relating to funeral service, preplanning and end-of-life issues. 

What purpose does a funeral serve? 

A funeral is the customary way to acknowledge death and its finality. Funerals are recognized rituals for the living to show respect for the dead, and to help survivors begin the grieving process. Funerals in one form or another have been conducted to honor the dead in most cultures since as early as 35,000 B.C. when Cro-Magnon man practice ritual funerals. 

Why have a public viewing? 

Viewing is a part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Many grief specialists believe that viewing aids the grieving process by helping the bereaved recognize the reality of death. Viewing is encouraged for children, as long as the ritual is explained and the activity is voluntary. 

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 have the experience to help the bereaved in coping with the death of a loved one. They are trained to recognize when a person is having difficulty with the grief process, and can recommend sources of professional help or link grieving family members to support groups at the funeral home or in the community. 

Must you have a funeral director to bury the dead? 

Yes. In New York State, a licensed funeral director or undertaker must be present and personally supervise the burial or cremation, or the transfer of the deceased from or delivery to a common carrier i.e. airlines, railroads, etc. A licensed funeral director must sign and file a certificate of death in the district where the death occurred. 

Who pays for funerals for the poor? 

There are veteran, union and other organizational benefits to pay for funerals including, in certain instances, a lump sum of death benefit payment from Social Security in the amount of $255 payable only to the surviving spouse or dependent child. In most states, some form of public aid allowances are available from the state. 

Most funeral directors are aware of the various benefits and know how to obtain them for poor families. However, funeral directors often absorb costs above and beyond what is provided by public assistance to insure a respectable funeral for the dead 

From: "Transitions: A Consumer Guide to End-Of-Life Issues and Funerals" 

Copyright © 2001 New York State Funeral Directors Association

Consumers are Protected When Prearranging or Arranging Funerals

In keeping with their long-standing tradition of caring, funeral directors remain dedicated to helping families cope with end-of-life matters with quiet professionalism and attention to detail. They undergo a rigorous regimen of college-level study in mortuary arts and sciences, and funeral service. Before being licensed by the New York State Department of Health to operate as a funeral director, the aspiring funeral director must pass examinations on funeral directing and the laws, rules and regulations governing funeral directing. 

As with many other suppliers of consumer goods and services, the funeral industry is subject to both Federal and State laws. One important regulation to protect consumers is the Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule which requires funeral homes to make available a general price list which details the cost of all funeral products and services being considered. Unfortunately, this requirement does not now extend to other providers of funeral goods and/or services such as casket stores, cemeteries, and companies selling on the Internet. However, the rule may soon be amended to include these other providers in giving consumers useful information and the appropriate protection, no matter where or how consumers purchase funeral products. 

Thanks to legislation passed in New York State in 1993, all funds paid in advance for a funeral must be deposited in an investment back by the United States government such as FDIC insured certificates of deposit (or a New York State bank). Account statements showing interest earned must be reported annually to the consumer, or within 30 days after the consumer's request. All funds are completely portable to any funeral home anywhere at any time; all funds must be repaid to consumer upon their request (with the exception of Medicaid recipients). The law also requires that there be no commission, fee or other monetary consideration of any kind paid to a funeral firm or funeral director as a result of where the consumer's dollars are placed in trust. 

Although preneed insurance which would allow funeral firms to be named as beneficiaries of dedicated preneed life insurance policies exists in some other states, New York State does not allow this form of payment for funerals -- and for good reason. This type of insurance is usually expensive; does not keep pace with inflation and has few if any protections for the consumer's money. For instance, if the purchaser stops paying premiums for preneed insurance, they lose all benefits. 

Even though arranging a funeral occurs at a stressful time, the wise consumer should remember to ask question. Funeral directors expect questions, and are always ready to consult with families as partners to ensure a dignified and appropriate remembrance of a loved one's life. 

From: "Transitions: A Consumer Guide to End-Of-Life Issues and Funerals" 

Copyright © 2001 New York State Funeral Directors Association 

Perkins Funeral Home, Inc. encourages one to prearrange his or her funeral services.