Monthly Archives: March 2021

How to Find Affordable Cremation Services

What’s the best way to plan a cremation service in Silver Spring, MD when you’re on a tight budget? The good news is that by choosing cremation, you’ll already save a lot of money since cremations are less expensive than funerals are.

But if you’d like to save even more money, here are some tips to help you do so without compromising the value of the final service for your loved one.

Consider the Service Provider

The first thing you’ll want to do is to conduct some research so that you find a funeral home that offers competitively priced cremation services options. Again, cremations are the most cost-effective body disposition options. But that’s not the same thing as saying that all funeral homes charge the same prices for cremations or for funerals. That’s why it will be well worth your while to research your options. And avoid the tendency to focus too much on cost and too little on other important criteria. Otherwise, you might end up choosing something that you later regret.

Consider Your Budget

It’s also important to consider how much you’re able to spend on the final service. This means sitting down with family so that you can all discuss how to proceed. You and your loved ones will want to consider how much each can afford to contribute, whether the deceased had preplanned and prepaid, if the deceased had set aside money to be used for their body disposition, what final service package to choose, and things of this nature. Assuming your deceased loved one had not preplanned and prepaid, you and yours will need to agree on a budget and then head into the body disposition planning process with a plan.

Look at General Price List

You can get a general price list from any funeral home you go to. This list is critical if you want to preplan on a budget because. It shows what the funeral home offers and what the costs are. When you see the various cremation services packages and options available, you’ll be able to figure out which one is the most suitable for your family. You can also ask the funeral director what you can do to lower costs even more. They will do their very best to accommodate you.

When you need a reputable funeral home offering cremation services for Silver Spring, MD families, we’re here to help. Allow us to assist you with planning a deceased relative’s funeral service or cremation service. And if you’d like to preplan your own body disposition so that your loved ones don’t have to shoulder that responsibility, we can help you with that too. We’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. This means we have deep roots in the area and a connection to the people here. For the help you require, you can reach us by phone to speak with one of our licensed industry professionals. You can also visit our office to speak to someone face to face.

Why Should You Consider Getting a Burial Vault?

Burial vaults are basically containers that are manufactured to encase the burial casket. They are usually made from concrete. Even so, they can be made from other materials as well such as plastic or metal. If you’re planning a burial with a funeral home in Silver Spring, MD, the funeral director may recommend that you also buy a burial vault for the casket.

Here’s a look at some of the reasons why a burial vault is a good idea if you’re planning a burial.

Cemeteries Might Require it

The majority of cemeteries require an outer container for casket buried on their properties. If a burial vault is not used prior to burying the casket, there could be problems on the cemetery grounds. Specifically, ongoing maintenance performed by heavy equipment could lead to unlevel terrain as the earth above the casket shifts. This can make the terrain dangerous. But this problem is eliminated if the casket is first placed into a burial vault. What this all means is that you may not have a say as to whether or not you buy a burial vault. If you’re not interested in a burial vault, you are going to have to locate a cemetery that gives you a choice. Be forewarned, however, that most funeral homes do require a burial vault prior to burial.

Protects Casket

A burial vault will also protect the casket. If a casket is buried without a burial vault, it will cave in at some point. That’s definitely not something that families want to think about. The good news is that a burial vault will preserve the casket’s structural integrity.

Peace of Mind

It can be a sobering thought to imagine a casket being damaged underground. If your family wants to do everything possible to prevent anything bad from happening, then it might be worthwhile to simply purchase a burial vault. The casket will be protected from the weight of the earth, from insects, and from water. This can really give your grieving family the peace they need.

They’re Competitively Priced

Yet another reason to consider getting a burial vault is that they’re competitively priced. They will only cost a small fraction of what the casket cost. So you won’t have to spend a lot to get a lot of benefit. The funeral director who helps you plan the final disposition will be able to advise you.

If you have more questions about burial vaults, funeral services, cremations services, or anything else, let us know because we have the answers you need. We’re a dependable family owned and operated funeral home serving Silver Spring, MD families. Let us help you with planning a final service for a deceased relative or with preplanning a body disposition for yourself. For the help you need, get in touch by phone. You may also visit our office to speak to someone in person. We’ll be there for you in your hour of need. Let us know how we can help.

Who Should You Contact First After a Loved One Has Passed Away?

If you’re present when a family member passes away, what should you do and who should you call? Knowing who to contact in such a situation makes sense. One of the calls you’ll definitely want to make is to a provider of funeral services and cremation services in Columbia, MD.

Here’s a look at some of the organizations and people who you need to reach out to immediately.

Law Enforcement Organizations

Among the very first things you’ll have to do when a relative has died is to contact the appropriate authorities, like your area police officials. This is especially the case if the person died in your presence with no other people in attendance. Police officials are taught to help in these kinds of situations and can offer guidance as to who to reach out to next.

Doctor

Depending on the circumstances surrounding the death, you will want to contact a physician, a coroner, or a medical examiner. Usually, police officials who arrive on the scene will be the ones who end up calling a medical examiner or a coroner. These officials have the authority to pronounce the time of death. If your loved one passes away in a nursing home or in an assisting living center, the staff working there will handle these matters.

Family

It’s also important that you call close family members. You should also, of course, notify the estate executor since they will have the legal authority to make certain decisions. When contacting close family members, you can delegate to some of them the task of contacting even more people so that news of the passing is disseminated.

Funeral Home

You’ll also want to get started on preparing a funeral service or a cremation service. And doing this means reaching out to the funeral director at a funeral home. When you call a reputable funeral home, you’ll get all the help you need. The funeral director will provide you with all the information you require to make informed choices. Ultimately, you’ll be able to plan a final send-off that honors their memory. It will also provide comfort to you and the rest of your family. One of the things the funeral director will do is arrange to pick up the body and to transport it to the funeral home. They will do everything in their power to make the process as straightforward as possible.

When you need a reputable funeral home offering cremation services for Columbia, MD families, get in touch. We’re here to help you with planning for a deceased relative or with preplanning for yourself. As well, we’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. So you can count on our long track record of helping people who need the help of a professional death care services provider. You can reach us by phone or visit our office to speak to someone in person.

Why Planning a Funeral Service Online is a Good Idea

If you need to arrange a funeral service or cremation service at a funeral home in Columbia, MD, you will first want to find a reputable service provider to patronize. When you find a suitable company, you can make an appointment to meet with the funeral director at the funeral home. But there’s another option. You can, depending on the funeral home you choose, make arrangements online. And when you stop to think about the uncertain times we’re living in, there are specific benefits to planning online. Here’s a closer look at a few of those benefits.

Practice Social Distancing

When you fill out a planning form on a funeral home’s website, you’ll be able to get what you need without having to leave your home. The coronavirus pandemic is far from over. You can, by planning online, practice social distancing. So if you’re worried about the spread of COVID-19 and are wary about how often you leave home or where you go, then online planning will be a godsend. It’s important to note that funeral homes are implementing strict protocols and processes to keep their customers, staff, and suppliers safe and sound. So you’ll be safe if you do wish to plan at a funeral home. But online planning is a great option too.

Plan from Anywhere

Another reason you should consider planning a funeral service or cremation service online is that you can do so from anywhere you are. If you learn of a loved one’s death, you can make final service arrangements even if you’re in another state or country. As long as you can access the Internet, you’ll be able to get down to the business of filling out the online form.

Get it Done Morning, Noon, or Night

Another benefit of planning online is that you’ll be able to fill out the online form during the morning, noon, or night. Put another way, you’ll be able to complete the planning whenever you want. If you’re going to go to the funeral home to plan, you can be sure it won’t be at 4 am. But if you’re an early riser, then you can plan that early…or earlier…or later. It’s completely up to you.

Plan in a Relaxed State of Mind

Chances are that you’ll be more comfortable planning at your own home than at a funeral home. That’s not to say that the funeral director won’t be personable, that the other staff won’t be professional and approachable, and that the premises won’t be clean and inviting. But people will usually be more at ease in their own home than at a place of business.

Do you want to contact a reputable funeral home serving Columbia, MD families? We’re here to help you with planning for a deceased relative or with preplanning for yourself if you’d like. As well, we’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. For the assistance you require, give us a call or pay us a visit.

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