Monthly Archives: October 2018

Having a Funeral on a Budget

A funeral service can be expensive, especially when you have already spent money purchasing or renting a casket, buying a cemetery plot, and many other services that are necessary to lay a loved one to rest. Even with a limited budget, however, you can have a great funeral service that honors your loved one. An experienced funeral staff can provide you with recommendations and tips that can make it much easier to plan a funeral service without spending a fortune.

One of the costliest parts of a funeral service is the flower arrangements. Wreaths and funerary bouquets can cost thousands of dollars. To avoid this expense, you can ask the guests to bring their own favorite arrangements or anything that reminds them of the departed. Even wildflowers can be beautiful when arranged in vases.

It is important to know that you are not required to embalm a loved one for the funeral service. Funeral homes do tend to suggest embalming, especially if the funeral services is a few days after the death, but you can choose not to have it done. This saves money and allows you to spend it on perhaps a better casket or other things for the service.

Hiring musicians can also add up, so many people these days choose to put together a playlist of their loved one’s favorite music to play during the service. All funeral homes have audio and video equipment, so you do not have to worry about this. You can choose favorite hymns, classical music, or even pop music that fits the occasion or that your loved one would have enjoyed. Not only can it save you money but it can also be a much more personal option.

Another option that people are turning these days is asking for donations for the service. This is easily done through sites that allow for people to donate funds, showing them exactly what you will be spending them on. Every little bit counts when you are dealing with the expenses of a funeral service.

Even if you cannot afford a fancy casket, you can rent one for the funeral service. Some people feel self-conscious about a simple wooden casket, so they choose to rent one of the larger options for the actual service. This can be a great idea that will not drain your finances, since caskets can be quite expensive.

All of these tips can make it much easier for you to have the kind of funeral service you want for your loved one without overspending. Choose to involve the people you invite, and suggest that they bring flower arrangements with which to decorate the space. A funeral home in New Carlisle, IN welcome these options and can even suggest more of them to help you save as much money as possible. Reach out to a company like Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, which you can find at 2900 Monroe St La Porte, IN 46350. Learn more by calling them at (219) 362-2828.

Questions to Ask a Funeral Home Director or Cremation Provider

A good way of knowing if you are choosing the right funeral home or crematorium in the area is to speak with those in charge. In a funeral home, this means the funeral home director and in a crematorium this can mean a cremations provider. Cremation providers always suggest asking a few questions before making a decision, since this can help you narrow down whether the person is the right one to provide you with funerary arrangements for a loved one.

What are Your Qualifications?

A funeral home director or cremation provider has to have the right qualifications to be able to offer funerary services. This can mean certificates, degrees, and much more. It is important to know that different states have different guidelines, so taking the time to research the requirements in the state in which you live is vital if you want to find someone qualified.

What Services do You Provide?

Not all cremation providers or funeral home directors offer all services. Some crematoriums cannot offer bio cremation, while others can, so if this is an option that you are interested in, you will want to make sure it is available. Ask also about the items that the company offers, like caskets or urns, if you would rather purchase from them instead of from a third party.

Are Costs Standard?

The last thing you want is to be overcharged for funerary services. You can avoid this by doing some research before even speaking with the funeral home or crematorium. You can find the costs of most services online. You should then request a full price list so you are ready to compare rates. If you are being overcharged, it is better to choose another facility. It is also important to know that if the company asks for prices that are much lower than standard rates, this is also not a good choice. It can mean they cut corners in their services.

Have You Been in the Business a Long Time?

The person who arranges and performs the funerary services you need has to be someone who has years of experience. Although amateurs might mean well, they will end up complicating the process. If any issues arise, only people with experience will be able to resolve things in an orderly manner. This should definitely be something you ask the person you are considering after a loved one’s death.

When choosing a funeral home or cremations provider, it is vital that you take the time to ask questions. You do not want to run into any issues later on that could have been easily resolved at the start of the process. Ask lots of questions and do a good amount of research to ensure that you have chosen a quality company like Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center. Visit them right now at 2900 Monroe St La Porte, IN 46350 or give them a call at (219) 362-2828.

How to Choose a Funeral Home

Making funerary arrangements for a loved one is never easy. You are dealing with grief and loss, which can make everything feel much more difficult. It is always a good idea to have people on your side who can make this process easier and this includes choosing the right funeral home, as well. When you start your search for funeral homes, look for a few things to ensure you are choosing the right people.

One very important thing to consider when choosing a funeral home is if they provide the services you need. If you are looking for less traditional services, like “green” burials, you will want to take the time to read up about the company to make certain they offer it. Not all of them do. If you are looking to arrange a bio cremation, this can also be a concern, so reach out to the company to see if they can provide it. This can save you lots of time in the future since it will help you narrow down your choices.

Look for a funeral home that has been in the business for a long time. You do not want amateurs to help you during this difficult time. The best thing you can do is look for a company that has been in business in the area for years and that has a funeral home director who is highly trained and has all of the right licenses and certifications to provide the services you want.

If you can, ask people you trust for recommendations. It is likely that you know someone who has had a loss recently and who has hired a funeral home in the area. By asking someone whose opinion you trust, you will know that the recommendation is one you should seriously consider. Of course, you still need to do some research on the funeral home yourself, but you will have a better starting place.

Take the time to read reviews about the funeral home online. There are lots of forums where you can read reviews and even find ratings for different businesses. It is normal to see a couple of negative ones, but if the majority are negative, you will want to find another funeral home to help you with your arrangements.

When searching for the right funeral home near South Bend, IN, you need to take your time and do some research. Look for a company that can provide the services you need for average rates and a company that has been in the business for a substantial amount of time. The funeral home director needs to be someone you feel comfortable with and someone who has years of experience, and the reviews of the company have to be mostly favorable. You can get started by contacting Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, we’re located at 2900 Monroe St La Porte, IN 46350. Give us a call right now at (219) 362-2828 to hear about our services.

Is Cremation the Right Choice for Your Loved One?

Deciding whether to have a traditional burial or a cremation for someone who has passed away can be a complicated choice to make. It can take time and it requires having the right information about each option. If you are facing that situation now and you are considering cremations, there are some things to keep in mind so that you can make the best possible decision.

One of the reasons why so many people opt for cremation services is that they are more affordable than traditional burial. Cremations do not require the purchase of a casket, the purchase of a plot at a cemetery, or even embalming services. This can end up saving you lots of money. Even if you buy an urn or a niche in a columbarium, you will still be paying less for a cremation than for a burial. If you are someone with a limited budget but you still want to offer your loved one the respect they deserve, this is a good option.

Another reason to consider cremation services is that they are better for the environment than most traditional burials. With a burial, embalming is usually involved. This means that chemicals will seep into the ground once the body starts breaking down. Many caskets also contain metal parts that will remain in the ground forever. With cremation, all of this is avoided. If you want to avoid even a release of carbon from the burning process, choose bio cremation, which uses water instead of fire to break the body down. A loved one who was concerned about the environment will have preferred cremation.

Cremation also allows you to plan the memorial service with more time. When dealing with traditional burial, there is always a rush to ensure that the burial takes place quickly. This can mean that you cannot have the kind of funeral service that you want for your loved one. With cremation, you can have the ashes present at the service, which means that you can plan it carefully. For many people, a memorial service allows for others who may live in different countries or states to be able to travel and attend the service since they will know in advance. None of this is really possible with a burial, since there is an urgency to inter the body.

These are just some of the reasons why cremation services may be the right choice for you and your loved one. Not only will you be doing what is better for the environment, but you will also be saving yourself money and stress. If you are still not sure about which option to choose, the best thing you can do is speak to a cremation provider near you to hear about their services.

To find out more about our services, you may contact Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center at 2900 Monroe St La Porte, IN 46350. Learn about the possible options by calling (219) 362-2828 today.