FAQ | SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS | VETERANS BENEFITS | WHEN DEATH OCCURS | DEATH AWAY FROM HOME

What purpose does a funeral serve?

It is the customary way to recognize death and its finality. Funerals are recognized rituals for the living to show respect for the dead and to help survivors begin the grief process.

What do funeral directors do?

Our funeral directors are caregivers and administrators. They make the arrangements for transportation of the body, complete all necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the body. Our funeral directors are listeners, advisors and supporters. They have experience assisting the bereaved in coping with death. Funeral directors are trained to answer questions about grief, recognize when a person is having difficulty coping, and recommend sources of professional help. Funeral directors also link survivors with support groups at our funeral home or in our community.

Do you have to have a funeral director to bury the dead?

In most states, family members may bury their own dead although regulations vary. However, most people find it very trying to be solely responsible for arranging the details and legal matters surrounding a death.

Why have a public viewing?

Viewing is part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Many grief specialists believe that viewing aids the grief process by helping the bereaved recognize the reality of death. Viewing is encouraged for children, as long as the process is explained and the activity voluntary.

Is it possible to have a traditional funeral if someone dies of AIDS?

Yes, a person who dies of an AIDS-related illness is entitled to the same service options afforded to anyone else. If public viewing is consistent with local or personal customs, that option is encouraged. Because the grief experienced by survivors may include a variety of feelings, survivors may need even more support than survivors of non-AIDS-related deaths.

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What is the purpose of embalming?

Embalming sanitizes and temporarily preserves the body, retards the decomposition process, and enhances the appearance of a body disfigured by traumatic death or illness. Embalming makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, thus allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them.

Does a dead body have to be embalmed, according to law?

No, however, sometimes our funeral home may require embalming when certain types of services are selected.

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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.

Is cremation as a means of disposition increasing?

According to the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), cremation was the disposition of choice in about 27% of all deaths in the United States in the year 2001. It is projected that the percentage will rise to about 39% in 2010 and 47% in 2025. These figures represent the United States as a whole; individual states may have lower or higher rates of cremation. (Source: Cremation Association of North America)

So, I've decided on cremation. Can I still have a funeral or a viewing?

Yes, of course you can. Your funeral home can assist you with the necessary information for a viewing and a funeral with a cremation following or a memorial service.

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Why are funerals so expensive?

When compared to other major life cycle events, like births and weddings, funerals are not as expensive. A funeral home is a 24-hour, labor-intensive business, with extensive facilities (viewing rooms, chapels, limousines, hearses, etc.), these expenses must be factored into the cost of a funeral. Moreover, 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.

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

Funeral service is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission and state licensing boards. In most cases, the consumer should discuss problems with the funeral director first. If the dispute cannot be solved by talking with the funeral director, the consumer may wish to contact the Funeral Service Consumer Assistance Program. FSCAP provides information, mediates 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. The Maryland State Board of Morticians can also be contacted at 410-764-4792. For disputes involving the cemetery, contact the Cemetery Oversight Commission at 410-230-6229.

Do funeral directors take advantage of the bereaved?

Our 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 this community. If we took advantage of bereaved families, we could not stay in business. The fact that the Ambrose Funeral Home has been in business since 1936 shows that we respect the wishes of our bereaved families.

Is it right to make a profit from death?

We look upon our profession as a service, but it is also a business. Like any business, we 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.

Don't funeral directors mark caskets up tremendously, at least 400%?

Some funeral directors may mark up caskets tremendously. But we, here at Ambrose funeral home, do not. We invite you to compare our prices with any other funeral home, cemetery, casket store or Internet web site.

Who pays for funerals for the indigent?

Other than the family, there are veteran, union, and other organizational benefits to pay for funerals, including, in certain instances, a lump sum death payment from Social Security. In most states, some form of public aid allowances are available from either the state, county, or city or a combination. Most funeral directors are aware of the various benefits and know how to obtain them for the indigent.

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

Our funeral directors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Click here for more information.

Will someone come right away?

If you request immediate assistance, yes. We will respond as quickly as possible, usually within an hour from the funeral director being contacted. It's fine with our funeral home if the family wishes to spend as much time as they need with the deceased to say goodbye. We will respond when your time is right.

If a loved one dies out of state , can the Ambrose funeral home still help?

Yes, we can assist you with out-of-state arrangements, either to transfer the remains to another state, or to Maryland from another state. Click here for more information.

Where can I find more information about what to do when a death occurs, as well as veterans and social security benefits?

We have provided all that information for you. Follow these links for more information on what to do when a death occurs and veteran and social secuirty benefits.

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