Frequently Asked Questions

While it is very thoughtful to give flowers to express your sympathy, many times after a family has seen their loved one struggle from an illness they would like to bring focus or give back to a charity that helped them. For example, if the loved one received hospice care in their home, when the family acknowledges the hospice to receive donations, it is a way of supporting the organization and thanking them for their support through a difficult time. You may also see requests for donations in someone’s memory to support an organization they were active in such as their church or to support a specific organization to cure an illness.

Ceremony marks every transition in life; weddings, baptisms, graduation, and funerals. The funeral or memorial service is a way to recognize the importance of the life that has been lived. Through music, poetry, and often scriptures, friends and family can face the reality of the death and begin to cope with grief. The family draws comfort from the gathering of all those people whose lives have been touched by the person who has died.

Choosing a casket is a very personal decision. To many people, it is important to select a casket made of very durable steel or semi-precious metal. They feel peace of mind knowing the selection they made protects against the outside elements. Often, families will want to select a casket that seems fitting for their loved one. For example, interiors with quilted patterns, hardwoods with tree designs, religious symbols such as the Last Supper or praying hands and sometimes floral designs, which may represent their family member’s favorite color or flower. We believe finding exactly what is right for you is so important; we offer many choices in caskets.

Many people falsely believe that everyone has to have a “traditional” funeral. However, we believe every service should be personalized in order to honor the person who has died and be meaningful to the survivors. We offer alternatives such as Celebration of Life services instead of religious services, visitations with or without viewing, and unique ceremonies to honor the person who has died. We try to be creative in helping the family make funeral arrangements so the decisions truly reflect their personal preferences and the life that has been lived.

A funeral provides a special tribute for the loved one and their unique life. Planning and preparing for a loved ones funeral is also the first step in overcoming grief. The visitation or funeral service allows family and friends an opportunity to share a story, express their love and appreciation for someone who was important to them. The bereaved family members can see how much someone cares which gives them strength and psychological help to adjust for their loss.

Our funeral directors and staff members are experienced professionals who can guide you through the funeral arrangement process and provide emotional support. You will have many questions or concerns during the pre-planning or at-need arrangements about death notifications, customary procedures and how we will be able to assist you in providing a memorable service for your loved one.

In all cases, it depends on the child and the circumstance. If a child has just experienced the loss of a grandparent or other family member, it may be necessary to discuss death earlier than usual. Some children mature faster than others and will often ask questions about life and death themselves. Most parents find that even in the preschool years, children want answers about why their pet died or what happens when you die. The important issue is not “when” you tell your children about death, but rather “how” you tell them. It is important to be honest and not resort to false stories such as “God picks the prettiest flowers” or “Grandma is asleep”.

Cremation is a very personal decision. Everyone should research what is involved in cremation and discuss the choice with other family members so they are comfortable with the decision to cremate. Whether you choose to be buried in the ground, entombed in a mausoleum or scattered, the most important decision is to have a memorial service. Some people think if they are cremated they cannot have a funeral. A funeral is such a help in recognizing the importance of the life that has been lived. The funeral begins the grieving and healing process for friends and family.

In the State of Ohio, a family may scatter the cremated remains of their loved one on privately-owned property with the consent of the property owner. Always be sure to check your local, state and federal laws concerning scattering cremains. While families scatter remains, please take in consideration it may be a very traumatic experience for some family members to scatter pulverized bone fragments of their loved ones. In addition, current and later generations of the family may not have a place to go to pay tribute. Only a cemetery provides a permanent record and memorialization of the loved one.

The funeral cost will vary depending on the type of services that are selected.

It is difficult to give an average cost because funeral services vary so much. The total cost depends on three main areas: the services selected, the casket and vault chosen and the cash advance items such as flowers, death certificates and newspaper charges. While the national average for funeral costs would be from $7,000 to $10,000, in actuality it depends on what you select. We encourage people to ask questions and find out about the costs so they can make informed choices. Our firm is affordable because we offer so many different options, all with dignified service.

Our state laws do not require an outer burial container for burial. However, most cemeteries do require a grave liner for the casket. The purpose of the vault is to provide protection to the casket to help keep outside elements away from the casket. There are many types of outer burial containers and we would be happy to show you the differences.

There are many thoughtful reasons why individuals pre-arrange their funerals. Pre-arranging your own funeral is a tool to make your final wishes known to your family. At the time of death it relieves your loved ones of the burden to make decisions while they are grieving and relieves them of the financial responsibility to cover the cost of your funeral. Another consideration to pre-arrange a funeral would protect your assets for funeral expenses from Medicaid requirements.

100% of the money paid for pre-arranged services is placed into an insurance product that will be used when services are provided.

When a death occurs at home, a family member or friend should contact emergency personnel and the person’s physician if he or she was under a doctor’s care. However, if the death occurs in the decedent’s home and no one was present at the time of death, the police will need to be notified and respond to the residence before the deceased is removed from their home.

In any case, if you are not sure who to notify or what to do, you may call 614.873.8013, and we will be able to assist you in notifying the proper agencies.

When a death occurs in a hospital or care facility, the professional staff will notify you and the necessary authorities. If the name of the funeral home has been left with the care facility, they will notify the funeral home at the time of the death.

If your loved one is in the care of a hospice program, a hospice nurse or representative will give family members instructions or procedures to follow. Following their release from the hospice care, the hospice nurse or representative will contact the funeral home.