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Sure, you can store ashes in an urn or scatter them somewhere special, but nowadays you can also have them crushed into a real diamond, integrated into an underwater coral reef, or blasted into space.
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It’s usually less expensive if the body is not present for the funeral.
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If the deceased’s favorite outfit is a size too small or a size too big, bring it to us anyway. Part of our job is making the clothes lie perfectly.
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If I ask you for a photograph of the deceased to help me prepare the body, I don’t mean her honeymoon picture from decades ago.
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That may be real gold in your loved one’s dental fillings or crowns, but don’t ask me to remove them for you.
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You don’t need to spend money to have a meaningful service. Consider a potluck at the widow’s home or an informal ceremony at a favorite park, and ask survivors to tell stories or read poetry.
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Never trust a funeral director who says, “This is the last thing you can do for your loved one.”
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Always bring another person when you meet with me, ideally someone who’s not as emotionally attached to the deceased.
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It might be wise to check out just who owns your local funeral home. Corporate chains have bought out hundreds of family-owned funeral homes in recent years, but they often keep the original name, appearance, and even some employees after a buyout. The one thing they usually do change? The prices.
