Funerals

Lenny Mayes and Ron Banks

It depends on the precise details of the case. If the siblings paid for the funeral arrangements made by the deceased or the policy beneficiary with the understanding that they would be paid back, then the answer is probably yes.

If the siblings decided to hold an elaborate funeral without consulting you, and no representations were ever made regarding reimbursing them (including those formerly made by the deceased along the lines of "when I die, I want a 92-piece marching band to lead the funeral procession, I've got enough insurance to cover it"), then probably not.

Most likely this is going to require a civil case to sort out, and you should contact an attorney.

in the UK this charge is set by the local authority (councils) and the cost varies from council area to council area, costs are over £100

Embalming

As funerals are of course a solemn and spiritual function there are obvious angles similar to church etiquette. In many churches- though it is no longer enforced, it was customary for all Women to wear some sort of head covering in the House of God- whether this would extend to a funeral parlor is well, at least analogous- the transfer point for other worlds- spiritually! Men of course, doff their hats indoors and especially in church. The female headgear custom has been somewhat relaxed in recent years but one is reminded of the quote that after death there is or brings- a Formal Feelilng-and formal mannerisms are advised- nobody is going to trot into a Funeral parlor with, say a T-shirt and Jeans, even in the summer time.

A committal service is a brief service that involves a prayer at the graveside followed by a funeral.

a catafalque or a casket bier

As soon as the husband begins collecting it, but the ex wife can only collect it if there is a standing court order pertaining to to.

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In most countries the funeral industry is wholly unregulated. This leaves the bereaved vulnerable to manipulation and abuse. In some countries, such as america, some states have reasonably strict 'guidelines' regarding the industry, especially in relation to quotations of costs. However, there's a great deal of anecdotal evidence of those laws being circumvented.

In numerous countries, such as Denmark, the funeral services are indeed set by the government. In the United Kingdom, whilst the funeral and services are under the guidance of a funeral director, the cremation and crematory chapel is often owned and run by the local council. However, there are still some independent crematories and cemeteries.

There are countless stories of the larger organisations hiding behind former family owned and trusted names, where no reference is made to suggest they're now part of a national or international group. In these circumstances, the employees are forced to participate in courses on 'up-selling' pressure selling, option selling, and ancillary services, some of which pay hefty commissions to the funeral arranger. Another big revenue producer is the pre-paid funeral, where an individual pays for their entire funeral up-front. Sadly, when a number of years pass and the time arises to use the pre-paid funeral, the funeral service tells the family that there are not enough funds to cover the cost of the funeral and therefore must be paid by the family.

Similar to the airline industry fifty years ago, adept businessmen who understand the benefits of entertainment, and honorariums continue to court local and state officials, thus preventing tangible action upon the corrupt funeral industry leaders.

Thankfully, there are more kind, sincere, honest, and trustworthy funeral directors than there are corrupt ones. However, it's a thin line of reality of what goes on behind the scenes and what the bereaved believes.

Some corporate funeral groups buy up literally every single funeral home in an area, plus the buy outright the cemeteries, and then they buy the limo services and even the florists in a 50 mile radius. When that happens, despite the fact all materials, documents, and contracts reflect an independent business, the contracts are the same and the pricing is the same throughout every outlet. And when this happens, they can control what everyone pays.

One of the most distressing 'truths' when dealing with these 'façade' funeral services is what happens to a loved one. Rather than being provided safe-harbouring, care, and attention by the home you believed they were being taken to, the deceased is shipped away - sometimes up to 70 miles away, to a 'processing' centre. There is nothing personal, whatsoever, by that end of the business. No one knows, nor cares, about the life of the flesh before them. They know nothing, nor care about the life-stories, or families left behind. It's all so personal that distraught employees who quit their jobs, describe the places as similar to an abattoir!

There needs to be regulation and there needs to be compelled honesty. And many countries are now stating there needs to be criminal records searches and licensing for all employees of the industry.

Funerals in the United Kingdom cost on average seventy-to-eighty percent less than they do in america. However, the average cost of a funeral in the UK has almost doubled in the past 36 months. This is directly attributable to US originating firms who bought up numerous independents across the country, and used the same strategy as used in the states. They quickly learned that Britons have little interest in being over-sold items which are simply unnecessary in the arranging of a funeral. Britons remain quite practical when it comes to arranging a funeral. A simple particulate board coffin, no embalming, no make-up sessions, pink track lights, or frilly linen coffins and pillows for the deceased, no posh steel-gauge caskets, where the sales person promotes daft things such as 'perpetual preservation, moisture-proofing, 800 weave linens, spring mattresses, porcelain lined caskets to guarantee not only no moisture, but insuring no vermin. And finally, no locks and keys, concrete vaults, etc.. It's Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust, as simple as that.

The time is coming when this industry will be regulated, if not to protect families, then to protect the environment from toxic chemical pollution of subterranean water tables from embalming fluids, plastics, and waste materials.

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A large chunk of the cost of cremation in the UK is not fees to American firms, but high fuel costs pushed up further by mixture of EU and UK rules. These enforce higher than necessary temperatures and pre-heating hence much greater gas consumption; and the fitting of more sophisticated flue-gas filters etc. (I learnt this from a relative in the 'trade', but a local-council not commercial-company employee.)

Two other funeral methods are used now in the UK. "Woodland burials", not necessarily in a forest but using a lined wicker coffin, are popular now. A maritime equivalent is used but rarely as there is only one licenced area for it in UK waters. This uses a special, porous and non-preserved plywood coffin weighted with concrete, lowered gently into the water from a boat; and as in the woodland burial it allows decent, respectful and sensitive disposal of the body without then obstructing Nature's part in things.

I have know three people - one a relative - given a woodland funeral but not the sea version. I gather there is another, new, method called Racematising, which synthesises the alkaline reactions used by bacteria naturally. The residue is similar to cremation ash, so can be scattered in the same symbolic way. I have not heard of it being used in this country though.

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Setting up an Irrevocable Funeral Trust Final Expense plan can now be done by attorneys, financial planners, insurance agents and funeral consultants.

With the funeral trust being offered by the attorney, financial planner, insurance agent or funeral consultant, the senior doesn't have to go to the funeral home. In the comfort of their own homes, they can sign an irrevocable funeral trust that is funded with a single payment life policy.

Arrangements are made with families in a conference room. Bodies are embalmed. Bodies are cosmetized, dressed, and casketed and placed in the chapel for visitation or funeral service. Some bodies that are going for cremation are brought in and transferred to a cot and placed in a cooler for when the director or transporter is able to remove the body to a crematory. If there are no viewings, services, or memorial services going on and there's no bodies, or the bodies are ready for whatever will be happening, there's a ton of paperwork to do such as notifying social security, getting death certificates done and back, getting cremation authorizations, any necessary permits etc. After that, it's pretty much just sitting and looking at one another until a death call comes in, lol.

Arkansas

personal service

I cant see why not. Saying that though, if I pass away before my ex wife I would not like her to turn up at my funeral as we had a bad divorce, not long after we separated she started taking drugs and she is now an alcoholic. If I were you I would get hold of one of his family members and talk to them, preferably one you got on best with. Hope it goes ok.

If it is not against the protocol of the cemetery the grave is in, then yes.

10 thousand a week

Customs often vary by country regarding display of military memorabilia during a funeral. When there is a military funeral within a military cemetery, such as America's renown Arlington Cemetery, a strict protocol is followed, including a pall over the coffin, consisting of the US flag. In this setting nothing may be placed atop the US flag, out of respect.

However, if the funeral is being held in a country such as the United Kingdom, whether it's a burial or cremation, a memorial, such as a flight helmet, framed photo, etc., may be placed centre-point atop the coffin. Coffins are sealed at the Funeral Director's prior to being taken to a crematory or cemetery.

As it's often the custom in the US to have either an open coffin/casket service, or a wake, where the deceased is present, it is acceptable to place the helmet, either at the bottom part of the unopened half of the casket. Or if it's a single lid, then it's appropriate either to place the helmet to the left of the deceased, approximately at hand level, or alternatively, (if space permits), at the top of the left shoulder of the deceased.

There have been instances when a single lid coffin/casket is used where a military hat, or other appropriate memorialisations are placed at the foot of the deceased.

Provided it's not obstructing the flag, there is a degree of flexibility.

During these considerations, it is essential to determine from the family whether the helmet is to be committed with the coffin, either in burial or cremation. Some local and/or national laws prohibit metallic items from going into the cremator.

This is due to the risk of environmental contamination, or in some cases, due to the possibility of the cremator being damaged by the foreign item.

this would be proper, however, when people are grieving it may take some time before Thank-you notes are sent. If it is at all possible, a friend or neighbour may be able to write these for the family.

It is a kind expression at the end of the note.

Yes.

Getting the organs out, and preserving the body properly is a skill which takes a lot of practise to learn.

In a simple word, No. A mortician may be a contractor who travels between funeral homes to do embalming and prep work. In the United Kingdom it is very rare for someone to be embalmed. Therefore, when it is specifically requested, an embalmer or mortician will be booked to complete the service. This saves the funeral home from the cost of maintaining expensive equipment and chemicals, thus providing less costly services to families.

The word mortician can also represent a catch-all term for an undertaker, funeral director, or anyone directly involved in the funeral industry, such as embalmers.

In these modern times the title mortician would most probably represent an individual who works within the industry. It is far easier to say that to someone in the public that other phrases or terminologies.

Additionally, wherever the mortician may be, they may either be a student or an employee of a funeral home, a medical centre, a medical examiner's office, etc. In each case a mortician would be assigned specific tasks to complete under the heading of mortuary sciences.