During this time, you, no doubt have many questions. Below, we have assembled some of the more common questions. If at any time you need further information, do not hesitate to contact us. The questions have been placed in the following three categories:
- Pre-Arrangement
- Cremation
- General
Pre-Arrangement...
Do I have to make my funeral pre-arrangements through a funeral home?
The Wiedeman Funeral Home and Fackler-Wiedeman Funeral Home, has four licensed funeral directors that would be happy to meet with you (free of charge) to discuss the options available to you. Currently, in Pennsylvania there are unlicensed (salespeople) calling on families to update their records when their real intent is to sell pre-arrangements. This is illegal in Pennsylvania.
Do I need to pre-pay for my pre-arrangements?
No, you do not have to pre-pay for your pre-arrangements. You may choose to have your wishes on record and pay for them at a later date. However, by choosing to pre-pay your funeral expenses, you can lock in your costs in at today's prices.
What happens if I move, relocate or desire another funeral home?
If you move, or wish to change funeral homes, your pre-arrangement – through SecurChoice is 100% transferable. When considering funeral plans, other than SecurChoice, it is important to check to see if their plan is transferable.
Does every funeral home offer the same funding options?
No, each individual funeral home may choose to offer their own funding options. Some funeral homes sell insurance policies in which the funeral home receives a portion of the commission from the sale of the policy. When considering your options, be sure to ask about the type of funding that the funeral home uses.
Cremation...
Is cremation less expensive than a traditional funeral?
It depends on the selection one makes. Costs will vary accordingly to the final disposition choices; the services associated with those choices, and the cremation merchandise selected (i.e. urn, vault, cremation container, etc.)
Can we still have a viewing with Cremation?
What are my options if I choose Cremation?
How does a Cremation happen?
General Topics...
- Vital Statistic information (i.e. birthdate, parents names, spouse name, children names, list of memberships)
- Social Security Number
- Church information
- Veterans Discharge Papers (where applicable)
- Cemetery Lot information (where applicable)
- Insurance Information
- Recent Photo
- Clothing (where applicable)
- Jewelry (if desired)
6. What options do I have if my family chooses your funeral home?
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7. What if I want to donate my body to sciece?
Some people may choose to donate all or part of their body to medicine. Certainly, it is generous gesture. Because there are several different types of anatomical gifts, it is important for the donor and family to understand more about them before decisions are made.
The two types of donation are:
- Body Donations - used for medical research
- Organ and Tissue Donation - used for transplants
BODY DONATION
Thousands of bodies are needed each year for medical research, yet most institutions have little trouble obtaining them.
If you plan to donate your body to medical research after death, it is important to plan in advance by contacting the Humanity Gifts Registry or the institution that the gift is intended. Their web site is currently in development.
Humanity Gift Registry
P.O. Box 835
Philadelphia, PA 19105
p. 215 922.4440
There are certain criteria for acceptance of the body. Even though arrangements are made in advance, the institution may reject the donation at that time.
It is forbidden to pay for bodies, but there may be a reimbursement for transportation of the body.
Ask what the final disposition of the body will be. More often than not, the remains will be cremated. In some cases, with advanced arrangements, the remains may be returned to the family for final memorialization.
ORGAN DONATION
Unlike whole bodies for research, organs and tissues for transplant are in short supply. Organs are in short supply partly because they can only be donated under certain conditions.
- Major organs donated include: heart, kidney, liver, lung or pancreas.
- Tissue donations include: corneas, long bones, skin, and inner ears.
- If you are considering these donations, it is important to review all the information and criteria for this type of donation.
In Pennsylvania, you may designate that you are a donor on your Pennsylvania Drivers License. If indeed you do this, it is important to discuss this decision with your family. Sometimes, your family may have difficulty with your decision.
Organ donation will not prevent the family from having a viewing or funeral. There have been some misconceptions that the body will not be presentable, this is simply not true.
By making the donations, the funeral may be delayed, but this should not be a major concern.
In short, anyone who is inclined to donate any or all of his or her body after death should not hesitate to do so. This precious gift of life, donated by you, even when your life has ended.
Please contact our funeral home by phone or email us for further details, to answer any questions, or assist you to make arrangements for the donation.
- How much does a funeral cost?
The average funeral costs about $4800.00 for basic "traditional" type service. This amount includes the services, facilities and equipment of the funeral home, an average priced casket and burial vault. This amount does not include cash advanced items such as grave openings, cemetery equipment, clergy honorariums and flowers. Funeral costs can also vary depending on the types of services that are selected. We are pleased to offer, through our web site, a list of ranges for our services and merchandise. For further information, please click here.
- What do I do when a loved one dies?
When a loved one dies in a hospital or nursing home, the facility will contact the funeral home of choice or will ask the family to do so. It is important that you ask if they will contact the funeral home or if it is the responsibilty of your family. When a death occurs at home, the family may call the funeral home first, but in some cases a doctor or county coroner must also be notified.
- What happens to the body after the funeral home removes it from the place of death?
After being contacted, our funeral home will immediately go to the place of death and take your loved one to the funeral home and proceed with the family's wishes. This may include embalming, preparation for public viewing and funeral. The funeral director will then contact your family to arrange a time to discuss the funeral arrangements. If you would like further information on embalming, please click here.
- Why should I choose a family owned firm?
A family owned and operated funeral home can provide personal service to the families that they serve. As a family owned firm, our staff is active in their communities and knows the families that they serve, sometimes on a personal level. When working with a corporate conglomerate-owned firm, you may meet with several funeral directors during the entire course of the funeral. We are more interested in serving the needs of our families than the needs of stockholders, like you may find in a corporate conglomerate owned firm. We treat your family as if they were part of ours. If you would like further information on why you should choose a family owned firm, please here.
- What information should I bring with me to the arrangements conference?
You should bring (if available):
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