| | IT IS YOUR RIGHT, and our desire, that you have as complete an understanding as possible regarding the cost of our services. The biggest factor is the time element in the terms of our personnel and the use of the funeral home facilities. The maintenance of the service is unending: that is, it must be available 24 hours every day of the year. Therefore, ours is a 168 hour week and not the 40 hour week which is accepted standard. Many phases of our work are apparent, others are not. The following analysis of some of these details will help you understand that no two funerals are alike. Traditions, customs, social standing, personal feeling, financial ability and service must conform to each individual famiily's wishes and their personal and religious needs. Generally, funerals are divided into five categories.
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A. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
1. Complete Arrangements, Supervision and Direction of Funeral
a.- Meeting with the family to:
Secure vital statistic information
Obtain obituary information
Complete itemized cost arrangement
Select casket of their choice
Oversee all aspects of funeral service
b.-Coordinate times of the following services as needed:
Clergy
Fraternal Orginization
Hair dresser
Cemetery or Crematory
Vault Company
Lodges or other organizations
Veteran Association
c.-Complete Death Certificate with vital statistic information
d.- Obtain the signature and medical information from the attending physician or medical examiner
(coroner)
e.- Files completed and signed certificate with Registrar of Vital Statitics in municipality where the death occured and obtain as many certified copies as necessary for the family's needs.
f.- Call obituary information to all newspapers requested by family
g.- Care for all flowers (deliver to home or cemetery)
h.- Remove all flower cards and sympathy cards for family to acknowledge
i.- Complete all necessary forms such as:
V.A. for flag
V.A. for allowance
V.A. for marker
Cemetery or Crematory
Social Security
State and Federal forms required by law
j.- Answer all telephone calls- give out funeral information to family, friends,lodge members, buisness associates, and florist with reguard to funeral services to be held.
2.Preparation and Care of Deceased, Including Embalming When Necessary
a.- Hygenically prepared to insure protection to personnel and the public
b.- Embalming
c.- Shampooing and Shaving
d.- Dressing and Casketing
e.- Applying cosmetics. Extra care is necessary with reguard to bruises, cuts, abrasions and burns.
f.- Hairdressing (professional hairdresser may be requested at additional charge)
3. Professional Personnel
a.- Assist in all of the above items
b.- Arrange flowers for best appearance
c.- Have door attendant during all visitations
d.- Assist in conducting the funeral service according to the family's wishes.
The above services require an average of 80 man-hours per funeral. The Licensed Funeral Director is available following the funeral services to assist the family in filing all types of insurance and government forms. In addition to all of the above, there is a competent and understanding person to answer the telephone, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A funeral home does not close on weekends and holidays.
B. Use of Facilites
1. Fixed Overhead
This item is our monthly bills totaled for the year and divided by the number of services that were held that year. Included in the fixed overhead:
Taxes
Specialized Continuing Education
Surgical Instruments
Inventory pf Caskets
Maintenance of Autos
Stationary Supplies
Advertising and Promotions
Cleaning
House Cleaning and Supplies
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