Can women be casket bearers?

Yes, women can be. Grandchildren can be. Anyone you designate can be a casket bearer. What’s cool is it involves the family. Even though it’s very difficult emotionally for people to carry their grandpa or their father, or whomever, to the grave it’s also something they can do that nobody else can do for them. [...]

Funeral Procession

When I see a funeral procession coming down the road, while I’m driving, should I pull over to the side of the road? Yes, out of respect for the person who has died and also for their family, pull over. It means a lot to them to know that the community cares enough to stop [...]

No Soliciting

Why am I receiving postcards in the mail and solicitations to make funeral arrangements from funeral homes that I am not familiar with? Some funeral homes have prearranged funeral counselors on staff. It is their job to go out and contact people through mail, telephone or in person and solicit future business. Some funeral homes [...]

Rescheduled funeral

Has it ever happened that you’ve had to reschedule a funeral due to weather? In light of today’s snow storm everyone thinks of school getting cancelled and I wondered if it ever affected planned funerals. I have. Five times in my 32 years as a licensed funeral director. It has to be really, really bad, [...]

Burial with wedding ring

My mother was married to my father for 61 years and never took off her wedding band. Can we bury her with it or do we have to take it off before burial? You can remove any jewelry you want from the deceased before the burial. You may choose to have it on during the [...]

Evening Funeral Service

We recently attended an evening funeral service at your funeral home and appreciated the atmosphere surrounding the service. Is this something new? Yes. More families are finding that they like the option of having services in the evening. It allows more people to be in attendance for the services. They don’t have to alter their [...]

What if death occurs away from home?

Always call your local funeral home. Always. They will make all of the arrangements no matter where the death occurs. Overall, it’s less trouble and imparts fewer burdens on the family. It is also less expense if you involve one funeral home from the onset and let them make all the contacts.   Click here [...]

Do you offer reception facilities for families?

Yes, we do. We have facilities here that can comfortably accommodate 75 people. We work with all the local caterers and have them come in and cater for us. It simply allows families to have a reception if they don’t want to go someplace else they can do everything here at the funeral home.   [...]

Ask

The funeral home industry is a bit of a mystery for most people. We don’t think it should be. In this column Dan Ciha, funeral director and owner, answers your questions. Look, if you’re thinking of it chances are someone else is too. Most people only get one chance to ask questions of a funeral [...]

Children’s questions about funeral services

We recently attended a funeral service with our 10-year-old son. After viewing the deceased in the casket our son asked the question, “Does the man have his pants on since we can’t see his legs?” Whenever you are talking with children, be honest with them. If you don’t know the answers, it’s okay to say, [...]