Throughout history, funerals have proven to be an important need for those mourning the loss of a loved one. By providing surviving family and friends with an atmosphere of care and support in which they can share thoughts and feelings about death, funerals are the first step in the healing process. A funeral is the traditional way to recognize the finality of death and, in many cultures, celebrate the reality of eternity. Funerals are recognized rituals for the living to show their respect for the dead and help survivors begin the grieving process.

Even those choosing cremation can have a traditional funeral service. Planning a personalized ceremony or service will help begin the healing process. Overcoming the pain is never easy, but the planning and execution of a meaningful tribute will help. As well, funerals are important when death is perceived as a relief for loved ones, such as when one lingers in physical or mental discomfort. Funerals have always been and will continue to be important.

• Pick up the deceased and transport the body to the funeral home (anytime, day or night)
  
• Bathe and embalm the deceased body if necessary, with permission from the family
  
• Meet with the family to determine wishes and confirm arrangements
• Prepare and file death certificates
• Coordinate with physician for medical certification and local registrar for filing
  
• Prepare and submit permit requests for medical examiner and local registrar 
• Provide certified copies of death certificates for insurance and benefit processing
  
• Work with the insurance company and other entities to ensure that necessary paperwork is filed for receipt of benefits
  
• Prepare and submit obituary to the newspapers of your choice
  
• Prepare the deceased body for viewing, including additional care, dressing, hair, and cosmetics 
  
• Secure casket, urn, burial vault, and any other merchandise 
  
• Secure ancillary items, including items of fluff and convenience
• Secure the location of the funeral or memorial service
• Assist family in choosing an appropriate cemetery/plot for casket burial or cremains placement 
• Coordinate the opening and closing of the grave with cemetery personnel
  
• Coordinate with clergy 
  
• Arrange for escorts and transportation to the funeral and/or cemetery
  
• Order funeral sprays and other flower arrangements 
  
• Provide aftercare and grief assistance
  
• Create video tribute to be featured online, at the funeral or memorial service, and as a keepsake offering
• Design memorial programs to be offered to guests at the funeral or memorial service and for keeping
• Identify concerns (psychological, physical, emotional, logistical) which may warrant referral to various professional expertise

• Speak with your funeral director before you contact any banks, life insurance companies, or creditors. We are here to guide you so your journey will be seamless.
• Bring the following information to complete the vital statistic requirements:
  • Birth Date
  • Birthplace
  • Father's Name
  • Mother's Name (Maiden Name)
  • Social Security Number
  • Veteran's Discharge (DD Form 214) 
  • Education Level
  • Marital Status
  • Address
• Contact your clergy. Decide on the time and place of funeral or memorial service. This can also be done at the funeral home with the guidance and in the presence of your funeral director.
• The funeral home will assist you in determining the number of certified death certificates you will need to settle your loved one's personal business. He will order the number you request and call you upon their arrival. Depending on how soon the physician medically certifies the certificate, the DC process typically takes up to ten business days. 
• Make a list of immediate family, close friends and employer or business colleagues that need to be notified. Notify each person or group. Be careful with social media, as you have no viral control upon the posting of a message.
• Decide on an appropriate memorial to which gifts may be made (church, hospice, library, charity or school). We can provide you a list of charitable organizations.
• Gather obituary information you want to include such as age, place of birth, cause of death, occupation, educational certificates and degrees, memberships held, military service, outstanding work, list of survivors in immediate and extended family. Include the times and places of services. Your funeral director will assist you in writing the obituary. He will create your loved one's memorial page and/or submit the obituary to any newspapers. Bring a photo to be submitted to the newspaper and/or posted to your loved one's memorial page. Most newspaper obituaries cost. We offer memorial pages at no cost. 
• Arrange for family and/or close friends to take turns receiving guests at your home, answering phone calls, and keeping careful record of gifts, monetary offerings, floral offerings, and food offerings. You do not need to keeps record of phone calls, texts, emails, cards, or guests who visit your home or attend the visitation and/or service.
• Speak with your funeral director if you have any questions concerning funeral etiquette. We are here to guide you.

If you request immediate assistance, yes. If the family wishes to spend a short time with the deceased to say good-bye, that’s perfectly acceptable. Let us know a certain time you want us to arrive or call us when you are ready for us to come. 

For years, burial in a casket was the most common method of disposing of remains in the United States. Today, cremation is increasingly selected because it can be less expensive and allows for the celebration of life to be held within days after death occurs or weeks later when relatives and friends can come together.

There are many options concerning burial and cremation. A funeral service followed by cremation is chosen by many families. A memorial service with or without the urn present is commonly chosen as well. Many families choose to scatter the cremated remains, mindful of state law, or place the urn in a columbarium niche. Still, some families prefer traditional casket burial following a traditional funeral service. In many cases, cost helps determine which is more comfortable. Let your funeral director assist you in determining if burial or cremation is appropriate for you. We are here to guide you.  

Viewing is a part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. As do the death care professionals at Chamberland, many grief specialists believe that viewing aids the grief process by helping the bereaved recognize the reality of death. In most cases, viewing is encouraged for children, as long as the process is explained and the activity is voluntary and natural. Speak with your funeral director to understand more about viewing. We are here to guide you.

Embalming has three purposes: to disinfect, or sanitize; to preserve; and to restore the deceased body to a natural state. Embalming makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition (preservation), allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them. It is a science to be respected and appreciated, as it allows us to engage in healing through seeing our loved ones for the last time - in a peaceful state. We have over 25 years experience in caring for loved ones.

The Federal Trade Commission says, "Except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law. Embalming may be necessary, however, if you select certain funeral arrangements, such as a funeral with viewing. If you do not want embalming, you usually have the right to choose an arrangement that does not require you to pay for it, such as direct cremation or immediate burial."

When compared to other major life events like births and weddings, funerals are not expensive. A wedding can cost three times as much; but because it is a happy event, wedding costs are rarely criticized. A birthday celebration can cost what a funeral cost; but because it is a happy event, such cost is spent with delight. Like most funeral homes, Chamberland is a 24-hour, labor-intensive business, with extensive facilities and services (viewing room, chapel, care center, arrangement rooms, selection room, fleet, etc.). These expenses must be factored into the cost of a funeral.

Additionally, the cost of a funeral includes not only merchandise, like caskets, but the services of a funeral director in making arrangements; filing appropriate forms; dealing with doctors, ministers, florists, newspapers and others; and seeing to all the necessary details. 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. 

Chamberland is pleased to offer unparalleled excellence at a reasonable cost.   

It really depends entirely on how you wish to commemorate your loved one's life. One of the advantages of cremation is that it provides you with increased flexibility regarding when and how you celebrate your loved one. You might, for example, choose to have a funeral service before the cremation; a memorial service at the time of cremation or after the cremation with the urn present; or a committal service at the final disposition of cremated remains. Funeral and memorial services can be held at Chamberland, your church or synagogue, or a location of your choice. Your funeral director will help you make a decision appropriate for you and your family. 

With cremation, your options are numerous. The cremains can be buried in a cemetery plot,  kept by a family member, scattered on private property, or scattered at a place that was significant to the deceased. (It is always advisable to check for local regulations regarding scattering in a public place.)

Today, there are many different types of memorial options from which you can choose. Memorialization is a time-honored tradition that has been practiced for centuries. A memorial serves as a tribute to a life lived and provides a focal point for remembrance, as well as a record for future generations. The type of memorial you choose is a personal decision.

You might choose ground burial of the urn. Cremation niches in columbariums are also available at many cemeteries. They offer the beauty of a mausoleum setting with the benefits of above ground placement of remains. Many cemeteries also offer scattering gardens. This area of a cemetery offers the peacefulness of a serene garden where family and friends can come and reflect. Speak with your funeral director about the various cemetery options in this area. With more than 20 years experience in cemetery operations, we can inform and guide you thoroughly. 

If you wish to have your ashes scattered somewhere, it is important to discuss your wishes to be scattered ahead of time with the person or persons who will actually have to do the cremation ashes scattering or arrange for the scattering. Communication is the difference between order and chaos. They might want the funeral director to assist. Your funeral director can also be very helpful in creating a meaningful and personal ash scattering ceremony that can be customized to fit your family's specific desires. The service can be as formal or informal as you like. Scattering services can also be public or private. Again, it is advisable to check for local regulations regarding scattering in a public place.

Yes — Depending on the cemetery's policy, you may be able to save a grave space by having the cremains buried on top of the casketed remains of your spouse. You may also be able to use the space provided next to him/her. Many cemeteries allow for multiple cremated remains to be interred in a single grave space. Your funeral director can assist you in determining if this option is possible and appropriate for you. We are here to guide you.

Uncertainty about income tax issues can add to the stress experienced from the death of a spouse. You should meet with your family attorney and/or tax advisor as soon as possible to review your particular tax and estate circumstances. Bring a detailed list of your questions to the meeting. If you do not have an attorney or tax advisor, call the IRS toll-free at 800-829-1040 for answers to specific tax questions.