 |
F.A.Q. |
What is the purpose of a
funeral?
What
do funeral directors do?
Can I pre-plan my funeral?
What is cremation?
Can the body be viewed
before cremation?
Does the body
have to be embalmed before cremation?
Is a casket required for
cremation?
What is a vault and do I need one?
Do I need an urn?
Where can I scatter cremains?
What is the purpose of a funeral?
A funeral is the customary way to recognize death and its finality, and a way
for the living to show respect for the dead and to help survivors begin the
grief process. A funeral service is a tribute to the deceased and a way for
survivors to celebrate the life of their loved one, acknowledge the
contributions the deceased made to their lives and prepare for going on with
life following the death of their friend or family member.
What do funeral directors do?
Funeral directors are caregivers and
administrators. They make the arrangements for transportation of the body,
complete necessary paperwork, and implement choices made by the family regarding
the funeral and final disposition of the body. Funeral directors are listeners,
advisors and supporters. At Whitted Funeral Chapel we take pride in serving
families as our own.
Can I pre-plan my funeral?
Yes. Pre-planning can give you emotional
and financial peace of mind by allowing you to make major decisions and
financial arrangements in advance. Many people feel this reduces the burden
placed on their surviving family members and provides them with the opportunity
to organize important information and make unhurried, well-informed decisions.
What is cremation?
Cremation is a process in which
intense heat is used to transform the body back to its basic elements. The body,
enclosed in a container approved for cremation, is placed in a cremation
chamber. The soft tissue is vaporized. The remains, called cremains, are not
ashes, but bone fragments weighing from three to nine pounds on average. The
cremains can be kept by the survivors in a cremation urn or container, stored in
a columbarium, buried or scattered, depending on local laws and regulations.
Can the body be viewed before
cremation?
Finding closure is important when
losing a loved one and viewing the individual can often be helpful. Bodies can
be viewed briefly before cremation, or traditional viewing is possible if the
body is embalmed. Many families are choosing to have a traditional funeral with
the body present using a rental casket with cremation taking place following
services.
Does the body have
to be embalmed before cremation?
No, state law states only that a body
must be embalmed or refrigerated if not cremated within 48 hours of death. State
law also states that a body may not be cremated until 24 hours after death.
Is a casket required for
cremation?
The cremation process can be done with
or without a casket. All that is required is some type of container made of wood
or cardboard which can be burned with the body.
What is a
vault and do I need one?
A vault is an outer burial container that
encompasses and protects a casket or urn when buried. Caskets over time will
not be able to support the weight of the earth and cemetery equipment which will
result in continuous settling and sinking of the grave. As a result, most if
not all, cemeteries require a vault to ease their maintenance duties. All
cemeteries in the Toole County Cemetery District require a vault.
Do I need an urn?
If the cremains will be buried, some cemeteries require them to be received
in a permanent container such as an urn. An urn vault may be required if the
urn is made of a degradable or fragile material such as wood or porcelain. All
cemeteries in the Toole County Cemetery District require a permanent,
non-degradable container.
Where can I
scatter cremains?
Virtually anywhere one desires assuming permission is granted to do so on
private property. It is best to check with local laws in some areas regarding
this issue. Whitted Funeral Chapel will scatter cremains for families if they
wish. Being pilots, we also offer aerial scattering of ashes in the local area.
How do I get to Whitted Funeral Chapel?
(Please
click here)