FAQS

The funeral director's job is to assist the bereaved in various ways to help them through the loss of a loved one. A funeral director provides bereavement and consolation services for the living, in addition to making arrangements for the cremation, burial, and memorial services for the deceased. He fulfills the role of funeral arranger, funeral director, funeral attendant, and embalmer.

The following list is not all-inclusive, but describes some of the major tasks of a funeral director: 

•     Removal and transfer of the deceased from the place of death to the funeral home
•     Professional care of the deceased, including embalming, casketing, and cosmetology
•     Consulting with family to make arrangements for the funeral service
•     Filing certificates, permits, and other required forms
•     Obtaining copies of the death certificate
•     Arrangements with the cemetery, crematory, or other places of final disposition
•     Creates and publishes the obituary
•     Arrangements for clergy, music, flowers, transportation, pallbearers, and special fraternal or military services
•     Directs and manages the funeral service and the funeral procession
•     Assists the family with death-related claims, including Social Security, VA insurance, grief counseling

A traditional funeral involves a number of services which add to the total cost. Besides a non-declinable basic services fee, other charges may include removal/transfer of the body to the funeral home; embalming; other preparation of the body; use of facilities and staff for viewing; use of facilities and staff for the funeral ceremony; use of a hearse, service car, or van; a basic memorial printed package; metal casket, a vault or grave liner, and purchase of a cemetery plot.

A funeral or memorial service provides an opportunity for the living to show respect for the deceased and pay tribute to their life. It provides a framework to freely and openly express our beliefs, feelings, and thoughts about the death of our loved one. It gives us permission to grieve our loss, share in solidarity, and gain strength from others who are experiencing the same loss.

The four main types of funeral services include the traditional funeral service, the memorial service, the committal service, and the affirmation or celebration of life service.

Yes, cremation or burial is merely the disposition of the body. Funeral services are to honor and remember your loved one, regardless of disposition.

Pre-arranging funeral services can be done regardless of the final disposition. Pre-arranging is simply recording your wishes with the funeral home and prefunding if you choose to do so.

• Advance Directives - If the deceased left any written advance directives concerning the disposition of his remains and memorialization, you need to bring them with you. These instructions may be found in a will, or there may be a formally witnessed disposition directive, funeral pre-arrangements, or a pre-need contract.
• Military Discharge Papers
• Details on any cemetery property owned by the deceased or the family (grave plot, columbarium space, etc.)
• Recent photograph of the deceased and any personal effects that you wish to be included in the viewing or burial
• Specific information on the deceased: 
•     Full legal name
•     Address
•     Marital status
•     Social Security number
•     Date of birth
•     Place of birth (city and state)
•     Educational history (number of years of schooling)
•     Armed Forces service dates and serial number
•     Occupation or profession
•     Parent's names, including mother's maiden name
•     Next of kin and other survivors

1. Does the price you are quoting include everything, or are there add on fees that I need to be aware of? 

2. Where is my loved one going to be taken and held prior to the cremation? At Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home we offer a No-Hidden Fee Guarantee, the price we quote is the price, no surprises. Prior to the cremation, your loved one will held in our climate controlled holding area.

The cremation takes place at a licensed crematory in Indiana.

Your loved one will be sheltered in a climate controlled environment at our facility at 1100 N. Michigan Street, Plymouth, Indiana 46563, USA.

Witnessing a cremation may occur if the Green Cremation or Honor and Remember Packages is selected. The cremation witnessing will take place at the Swan Point Cemetery’s viewing room.

No. The cremation takes place at a licensed crematory in Indiana. This ensures that a third party checks the identification, cremation authorizations, and permits before the cremation is performed. For this reason, many states do not allow funeral homes to own a crematory or cemetery.

No, embalming is not required. However if you choose to have a public viewing or funeral service prior to the cremation… embalming may be required.

No, we have found that many families prefer to make arrangements in the comfort of their own homes. The arrangements can be handled online, by email, fax, or mail.

No. While almost every funeral home offers cremation, only a small percentage of cremation service providers have their own cremation units.

Ask your Funeral Director about suitable options and traditions of different faiths, cultures and nationalities.

A deceased may be identified at the funeral home facility before the cremation is performed.

 To arrange for a cremation, the authorization must be signed by the next-of-kin. Our staff will prepare the death certificate to be signed by the primary care physician. In all cremations, the State Medical Examiner must review the certificate and issue a cremation certificate to the funeral home before the cremation can take place. The certificate, once reviewed by the Examiner will be filed in the City or Town where the death occurred. Once the necessary forms and authorizations are complete, the cremation takes place.

Our goal is to complete the cremation as quickly as possible; however, the process is dependent on several different agencies and the doctor who is responsible for signing the death certificate. For 90% of the families we serve the average turnaround is 3 to 5 business days.

Yes. You are always welcome at our arrangement office, please just make an appointment prior to your visit. We are also available to come to your home, or meet you at your convenience.

Yes. We will be happy to assist you with placing an obituary in the newspaper of your choice. In addition, we will place the obituary on our website, where friends and family can leave condolences online.

No! We do offer other services; however, there are no hidden fees in our packages.

At the funeral home, a memory table may be used to display personal items of the deceased. A memory board would have a collection of family photographs attached and can be displayed on an easel at the funeral home for visitors to reminisce about their life experiences with the deceased.

We publish the obituary notice on our website free of charge and there is no limit to the length of the online obituary. The publication of an obituary notice in a newspaper is a matter of your personal choice. While most newspapers control the editorial format, you have the right to limit the amount of information, if any, provided to them.

There is a choice of very affordable cremation caskets that are completely combustible. The selection includes options from a plain cardboard container to a hardwood casket.

Yes. The remains are normally placed in an urn. Most families select an urn that is suitable for placement on a mantle or shelf. Urns are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials.

No. It is your choice. It may depend on if the family selected a service with a public viewing of the body with an open casket, if they want the deceased’s appearance enhanced for a private family viewing, if the body is going to be transported by air or rail, or because of the length of time prior to the cremation.

To arrange for a cremation, the authorization must be signed by the next-of-kin. Our staff will prepare the death certificate to be signed by the primary care physician. In all cremations, the State Medical Examiner must review the certificate and issue a cremation certificate to the funeral home before the cremation can take place. The certificate, once reviewed by the Examiner will be filed in the City or Town where the death occurred. Once the necessary forms and authorizations are complete, the cremation takes place.

Children grieve just as adults do. Any child old enough to form a relationship will experience some form of grief when a relationship is severed. Adults may not view a child behavior as grief as it is often demonstrated in behavioral patterns which we misunderstand and do not appear to us to be grief such as “moody,” “cranky,” or “withdrawn.” When a death occurs, children need to be surrounded by feelings of warmth, acceptance, and understanding. This may be a tall order to expect of the adults who are experiencing their own grief and are upset. Caring adults can guide children through this time when the child is experiencing feelings for which they have no words and thus cannot identify. In a very real way, this time can be a growth experience for the child, teaching about love and relationships. The first task is to create an atmosphere in which the child’s thoughts, fears, and wishes are recognized. This means that they should be allowed to participate in any of the arrangements, ceremonies, and gatherings which are comfortable for them. First, explain what will be happening and why it is happening at a level the child can understand. A child may not be able to speak at a grandparent’s funeral but would benefit greatly from the opportunity to draw a picture to be placed in the casket or displayed at the service. Be aware that children will probably have short attention spans and may need to leave a service or gathering before the adults are ready. Many families provide a non-family attendant to care for the children in this event. The key is to allow the participation, not to force it. Forced participation can be harmful. Children instinctively have a good sense of how involved they wish to be. They should be listened to carefully.