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Funerals
A funeral is a ceremony that takes place, marking the death of a person. Questions in this category can include things about the ceremony, traditions, and cultural aspects.
1,593 Questions
What does the word undertaker mean?
An undertaker is a British word for Funeral Director. The undertaker is the person that agrees and undertakes to look after a person after their death and make all the arrangements for their funeral and carries out all the duties associated thereto.
Who pays the funeral expense when a soldier is killed in action?
Under the Servicemen's Group Life Insurance program, all members of the armed forces are automatically insured for $250,000 as soon as they enter into active duty, unless they voluntarily reduce or decline coverage.
Service members pay the premiums for the life insurance benefits through automatic deductions from their wages.
The service member can purchase an additional $100,000 in life insurance for his or her spouse for $108 a year until age 34, the premium rising in stages to $660 a year for those 55 and older.
The benefit is paid regardless of whether death occurs in combat, in an accident in the war zone, or even at home on leave, military officials said.
According to a summary of compensation for survivors of U.S. military personnel provided this week by the Pentagon, these are the main categories of death benefits for survivors, regardless of the rank of the person who dies:
* Death gratuity. This amounts to $6,000 of immediate cash to meet the pressing needs of survivors. Under pending legislation, this amount would not be taxed.
* Housing. Either rent-free government housing for 180 days or the military's tax-free allowance for outside housing -- the value of which depends on the service member's rank and the location -- is provided, plus travel and shipment of household goods.
* Burial costs. The government will reimburse up to $6,900 of expenses for a service member's burial. Those who die while on active duty are eligible for burial at Arlington National Cemetery or other national cemeteries.
Under some circumstances, a military spokeswoman said, travel for next-of-kin in conjunction with the burial will be paid. In contrast with World War II, when many U.S. soldiers were buried overseas, she said that now every attempt is made to send the body to a burial site chosen by the family in the United States.
* Unused leave. Wages equivalent to all accrued leave are paid to the survivor.
* Dependency and indemnity compensation. The Department of Veterans Affairs pays a tax-free monthly amount to an unremarried surviving spouse of a service member who dies on active duty or from a service-connected disability. This is a flat-rate annuity of $948 per month, and an additional $237 is paid per dependent child. This is in addition to the life insurance.
The Defense Department estimated that under this program, a surviving 30-year-old spouse with a life expectancy of 50 more years may ultimately receive benefits of nearly $500,000, based on current rates, unless the spouse remarries.
* Uniformed services survivor benefit plan. Spouses and children of service members who are eligible for retirement at the time of their death may also be entitled to monthly payments based on a percentage of retired pay.
* Education benefits. The surviving spouse and dependents may also qualify for full-time education benefits from Veterans Affairs for as long as 45 months, although entitlement is dependent on various qualifying criteria.
In addition, families may be able to use tax-free education savings accounts to pay tuition at the military academies under pending legislation.
* Health care. Surviving spouses and dependents under 18 are eligible for full military active duty health care for three years after the member's death, and dental insurance coverage, as well as health care available to military retirees after the three years pass.
* Commissary and exchange privileges. The surviving spouse and qualified dependents are eligible to shop at military commissaries and exchanges.
* Tax benefits. The next-of-kin of a service member whose death occurs overseas in a terrorist or military action is exempt from paying the decedent's income tax on a joint return for at least the year in which the death occurred.
Funeral directors are responsible for arranging the funerals, but the original decisions would need to be made either by the deceased ahead of time (a very good idea) or by the family of the deceased.
The family/deceased makes the decisions about what kind of service, if it will be a burial or a cremation, graveside or chapel service, etc.
The funeral director takes care of the body, the chapel, communicates with the cemetery (if appropriate) and can often recommend an officiant to perform the service. They also take care of paying people.
Written by Rev. Amy long
Who pays a funeral home for expenses and when do you pay for it?
The funeral expenses should be paid for out of an individual's estate before anything is paid to beneficiaries. This is usual language in wills and trusts. This must be paid for when services are rendered. However if a person is still living they can prearrange their planning with a licensed funeral director prior to this event. Usually if the individual is deceased the Executor and or Trustee will take care of this.
What does the 3 shots at a military funeral mean?
3-volley salute is what it's call symbolic for a return to battle. Look up 3 volley salute
Focus on all the great things the person did in their life.
It really depends on the type of insurance the owner carried on the vehicle. If Liability only was carried then No, there are no benefits. If Full coverage was carried then there usually is a death benefit that can be paid to assist in funeral expenses.
How many funeral homes are there in Indiana?
Nobody knows. My estimate would be in the no more than 1000 since there is probably not that many out in the farmland
What is the name of the booklet handed out at funerals?
Prayer cards or so-called Mass Cards are usually distributed gratis at the funeral parlor and are usually one card- with a commentary on the deceased- life dates, sometimes a picture- and on the back a copy of the 23 Rd Psalm or some similar funerary prayer or passage. actually a Mass card is a certificate for a mass for the dead and is larger, maybe 5X7 or larger. prayer cards are wallet-sized.
When presenting a flag at a funeral do you use a slow salute?
There are all kinds of Flag Customs in the Army and some even require specific music, for example the Presentation of Colors= there was a specific bugle call that was sometimes transliterated- Oh the Concrete is hot and my feet hurt too much- this was slow and dignified- there was a flourish with the trumpet as the flag neared the summit.( of the flagpole) On the other hand the Retreat Flag call was paradoxically more lively, and was repeated three times like some sort of distress signal- the latter call may have been the inspiration for ( Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as this is quite lively. In reference to funerals- of course the Half mast procedure it used. I don"t know if there is a special song or bugle call for this one. the correct term is Half mast. (two-blocked) is commonly used but actually means the opposite- the flag is all the way up as the pulley blocks-and-tackles are touching. still two-blocked does make the press as a synonym for Half mast- maybe because one-half as a fraction is written one over two.
Are artificial flowers good to send to a funeral?
Silk flowers or artificial flowers will be just fine. Not only can they be more expensive than fresh cut flowers or arrangements but will of course last longer.
Do the grandchildren carry the casket in a funeral?
This task is normally performed by employees of the funeral parlor involved. the principal mourner, normally walks right behind the casket as it is led into the church. just over a year ago I performed this sad chore for my Mother. The next of kin is normally the principal mourner. Pallbearers carry the coffin.
Veterans Day is a federal holiday in the United States. As such, federal offices are closed on Veterans Day.
Funeral homes, not being federal offices, are free to either close or remain open as the owners desire; the United States does not have any "mandatory holidays" on which all businesses must close.
Deceased persons at first still feel warm. This is because the most recent blood flowing through the body is still warm through action initiated by the brain (thermal regulation). Some families even swear they can feel a pulse, but this usually is from the living person feeling their own pulse when touching the deceased person's hand. Within hours, the body begins to cool (and the mistaken belief that a pulse was felt is no longer a belief). As well, a specific type of rigidity begins-- but, after some additional hours, that rigidity goes away. Bodies are taken to a morgue or holding area where temperatures are kept very cold to slow decomposition. Therefore, when the body is touched, it feels very cold. The skin looses its elasticity so it feels unmovable. Since there is no respiration, heart beat, or warmth, the body can feel hard or stiff in comparison to what we are accustomed to with a living person. The chest of a deceased person can almost feel like a "box" when a mourner "hugs" the body in the casket. At the funeral home, the body may be embalmed (but this is not required in all US States or in all countries). The body is then washed, dressed, and the hair washed and styled. Make-up is applied to the face, (even males) mostly to hide the paleness of death. Some families ask that perfume be applied to deceased women; or cologne to deceased men.
What is the name for a funeral mass?
In the Catholic church the alternate name for a funeral Mass would be: Requiem Mass or even referred to as an: Ecclesiastical Funeral.
