Frequently Asked Questions for Ironside Funeral Home, Inc : Oneida, New York.

All cultures throughout the world use the funeral to pay tribute to a life that has passed. The funeral allows survivors to pay respect to the deceased and aids in the grieving process. There has been some form of memorialization since the cave man danced around the fire and carved pictures and symbols in the cave.

What do funeral directors do?

Funeral directors provide a variety of services to help the survivor through a difficult time. They can make arrangements for transportation of the body, complete necessary paperwork and help guide the family regarding funeral choices and final disposition of the body. They assist the bereaved in coping with death and are trained to answer questions about grief and can recommend sources of professional help.

Do I have to use a funeral director?

Yes. In New York State you are required by law to use a funeral director to dispose of human remains. Failure to do so is a felony and punishable by law. All funeral home and funeral directors are regulated by the NYS Department of Health, Funeral Directing Division.

Why are funerals so expensive?

There are many factors that go into the total cost of the funeral you select. Every funeral home is required to furnish you a price list where all of the costs are itemized. The Federal Trade Commission is one of the regulating agencies overseeing funerals. You, as a consumer, have the ability to put together a funeral that fits both your emotional and financial needs.

What is the purpose of embalming?

Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body, retards the decomposition process, and enhances the appearance of a body. Embalming makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition. This allows family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them.

Is embalming necessary?

In New York State, law does not require embalming. Embalming may be required by the funeral home if certain funeral arrangements are selected, such as open casket visitation. This will provide disinfection and sanitation of the deceased and protection to the mourners from the public and the staff of the funeral home.

Why have a public viewing?

Many grief specialists believe that viewing aids the grief process by helping the bereaved recognize the reality of death. Viewing is part of many cultural funeral traditions.

Should children be allowed to view the deceased?

Viewing is encouraged for children, as long as the process is explained and the activity is voluntary. Some children may wish to color a picture or write a poem about their memories of the deceased as this will help them with their understanding of the grieving process.

Is cremation becoming more popular?

Cremation is on the rise. The shortage of grave space in many large cities has created a need for cremation as a means of disposition due to the high cost of cemetery space. Cremation is now considered as proper as earth burial.

Is cremation a substitute for a funeral?

No, cremation is an alternative to earth burial or entombment for the body’s final disposition and often follows a traditional funeral service.

Can I still have a viewing and funeral service if I decide on cremation?

Yes. Many people are under the impression that if they select cremation, then there is only a memorial service. This is not true. Many families choose to have an open casket with public viewing or a private viewing followed by the funeral service. The cremation occurs after.

Do I have to buy a casket for a cremation service?

No. The crematory where the cremation takes place does require the deceased to be in some type of container. Many funeral homes today have a specially designed casket that is rented for the service and then the inside of the casket is used for the cremation.

Is it true that more people are pre-planning their own funerals?

Yes. Over the past several years, pre-arrangement has been on an incline. One major reason for this is to relieve the burden put on the survivors in deciding type of funeral, place of funeral, etc. Another reason is price. Some funeral homes will guarantee that if you pre-pay the funeral now, you will NOT be charged an increase in dollars at the time of death. There are basically three types of pre-arranged funerals:

The funeral is all arranged and paid for in advance.

The funeral is all arranged and partly pre-paid.

The funeral is arranged, and no money is transacted until the time of death.

Any of these let your wishes be known and relieve the burden put onto the survivors. For more on Pre-arrangement, click here.

Do funeral directors take advantage of the bereaved?

Funeral directors are caring individuals who help people deal with a very stressful time. They serve the same families 80% of the time and many have spent most of their lives in the same community. If they took advantage of bereaved families, they could not stay in business. The fact that the average funeral home has been in business over 59 years shows that most funeral directors respect the wishes of the bereaved families.

Is it right to make a profit from death?

Funeral directors look upon their profession as a service, but it is also a business. Like any business, funeral homes must make a profit to exist. As long as the profit is reasonable and the services rendered are necessary, complete, and satisfactory to the family, profit is legitimate.

What recourse does a consumer have for poor service or overcharging?

The FTC and state licensing boards regulate funeral service. In most cases, the consumer should discuss problems with funeral director first. If talking with the funeral director cannot solve the dispute, the consumer may wish to contact the Funeral Service Consumer Assistance Program. FSCAP provides information, mediated disputes, provides arbitration, and maintains a consumer guarantee fund for reimbursement of services rendered. (To contact FSCAP, call 708-827-6337 or 800-662-7666)

What happens when a death occurs at home?

A sudden or unexpected death at home or other private residence when a physician is not present should be reported to the local law enforcement authority immediately. Do not disturb the body. When the police arrive, they will notify the proper authorities for removal of the body. Let the police know your preference of funeral home. Depending on the circumstances of death, it may be required that the remains be first transported to and/or released by the County Medical Examiner. When death at home is anticipated normally the patient is under Hospice care. When the death occurs, you should contact your Hospice Care Provider. Hospice will often facilitate many of the procedures listed above, including contact with the funeral home of your choice.

What should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend?

Most funeral directors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If a loved one dies out of state, can the local Funeral Home still help?

Yes, they can assist you with out-of-state arrangements, either to transfer the remains to another state or from another state. Just remember that in almost all cases if you contact multiple funeral home there is the likelihood for multiple charges.

What government agencies help defray final expenses?

Usually, Funeral Directors will help gather the necessary information to apply for financial assistance from Social Security, Veteran’s, retirements and any others. They will also obtain certified copies of the death certificate that will be needed to settle the estate

Ironside Funeral Home, Inc is pleased to accept the following credit cards

VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Discover

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