When a loved one passes, you may feel overwhelmed with decisions to make. While there are many logistics to think about, one of the first and most important considerations is your choice of funeral home. Selecting the right home will ensure your loved one’s final wishes are respected. To help reach an informed decision, pose these questions to funeral homes as you weigh your options.

5 Questions to Consider When Selecting a Funeral Home

1. Which Burial Options Are Available?

Unless your loved one left a will or pre-planned their arrangements, it’s ultimately up to surviving family members to determine how to care for their remains. Find out what methods of disposition your funeral home offers, such as cremation or traditional casket burials.

2. What Are Your Service Options?

If your loved one was religious, you may choose to have a traditional funeral held inside a church. You can also have a viewing so anyone who wishes to has the opportunity to pay their respects. If you prefer a nontraditional ceremony, find out if your funeral home will accommodate memorial services. These services honor the life of the departed but don’t have to include prayers, scripture readings, or other religious elements.

3. How Long Have You Been in Business?

Arranging and holding funerals requires the utmost level of professionalism, so seek a funeral home with decades of experience and a longstanding history of customer satisfaction. Check reviews online to determine whether previous families have been pleased with the directors’ helpfulness and care, as well as the overall quality of services.

4. Can You Provide a Complete Cost Breakdown?

There are many factors that impact the cost of funeral arrangements, and most families would like to stay within their established budget. Before finalizing plans, request to see a price sheet so you can make decisions that work for you financially. If your loved one had a life insurance policy with funds earmarked for a funeral, the home’s director may be able to work directly with the insurance provider to sort out expenses with your approval.  

5. Will You Assist With Other Logistics?

From obtaining death certificates to finalizing burial details and composing an obituary, there are many additional elements beyond ceremony planning itself that must be seen to. For most families, handling these details is an emotional and challenging process, but assistance at each step will simplify matters. Be sure to ask whether the funeral home will help you with these additional tasks.

When families in Monmouth County, NJ, need a funeral home with a caring, compassionate touch, they turn to Jacqueline M. Ryan Home for Funerals. Their team has been providing poignant services to honor the lives of community members since 1947. From selecting the details of the ceremony to writing the obituary, their sensitive, experienced staff will guide you through the funeral planning process. For more information on funeral or memorial options, call (732) 787-1177 or visit their website.