Welcome to Funeral Home Columbia, SC!

Posted on November 22, 2010 by markv

A licensed Funeral Director should be able to answer all of your questions regarding funeral costs, casket prices, traditional burials, cremation, embalming and preneed arrangenments. Every Funeral Director in South Carolina is regulated by the South Carolina Board of Funeral Service. That fact alone is a comfort to many consumers when choosing a funeral service provider.

The majority of South Carolina funeral homes are members of trade organizations which include the National Funeral Directors Association, South Carolina Funeral Directors Association, South Carolina Morticians Association and the International Cemetery Cremation and Funeral Association.

There are quite a few funeral homes from which to choose in the Columbia, SC area. If you have done any searching at all, you’ve found this to be true. So, which one do you choose?

Recommended Funeral Home in Columbia,SC

This website was designed for that very purpose. Here you will discover information on how to find a funeral home, what questions to ask, what costs are involved in the funeral arrangements and how to plan and pay for your funeral years in advance.

I will give you a recommendation for an excellent Funeral Home in the Columbia, SC  area but take a few minutes to read the information provided on this site.

Be Blessed!

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New Study Shows More Americans Find More Value In The Funeral Service

Posted on December 1, 2010 by markv

According to a recently released and significant funeral industry study, an overwhelming majority of Americans over the age of 40 who have attended funerals believe that funeral and memorial services are a valuable and important part of commemorating the life of a loved one[1].

The nationwide study was conducted by telephone in April by Harris Interactive on behalf of the Funeral and Memorial Information Council (FAMIC).

“This important survey demonstrates yet again that the funeral industry plays a key role in helping families through the grief that comes with the death of a loved one,” FAMIC President Kaye Starnes said, “and the funeral director remains the most important partner in that process. Even with the changing dynamics faced by families today, the funeral director plays a central role at a critical time.”

Other survey findings include the following:

1. Funerals matter more than ever

* 92% of those 40 and older said the funeral industry provides meaning and value to the arrangement process, an increase from 86% in 2004
* 95% said that the service was helpful in paying tribute to or commemorating the life of a loved one, a 6% increase from 2004
* 87% said that the service was an important part in helping them begin the healing process after the death of a loved one, a 9-point increase from 2004

2. Relationship with funeral home is key

* Funeral attendees prefer privately held independent funeral homes over publicly held corporations
* The majority of respondents would use the same funeral home in the future, and wouldn’t change anything about their own personal funeral home experience

3. Interest in cremation as means of disposition continues to rise

* Over a 20-year period, those who report being likely to choose cremation for a loved one has increased by more than 50 percent
* 94% of those most likely to choose cremation for a loved one indicated they planned to have some sort of funeral or memorial service

4. Use of technology rises with young Americans, but funeral director still key

* Younger funeral attendees[2] were much more likely (51% to 32% for the general population) to find an obituary online and to have taken part in a “virtual memorialization” than their older counterparts
* When it comes to making arrangements, this group relies on friends and relatives and others more familiar with the experience for guidance at much larger ratios

5. Pre-planning funerals continues to register with consumers

* 66% of respondents indicate they would pre-arrange their own funeral and hose that have do so most often so that others do not have to worry, eliminating stress for their loved ones and easing the way after they are gone

The survey’s findings go hand-in-hand with the resources available from a new website offered by Selected Independent Funeral Homes, the nation’s oldest professional association of independent, locally-owned funeral homes, at www.SelectedFuneralHomes.org.

Designed with consumers in mind – and their unique needs before, during and after the loss of a loved one – the site offers information that will help them be better prepared to make important decisions in their time of need.

In addition to a search engine that allows users to locate a Selected member by name, city, state or zip code, the site offers helpful articles and research on topics such as:

* The importance of a funeral and how best to make arrangements that suit the family’s needs as well as those of the loved one
* Extensive bereavement support information to help in the grieving process
* Unique insight into many of the world’s religious and cultural funeral customs
* What consumers need to know about dealing with funeral homes, their rights under the law and choosing the right service provider for their needs

“What we have created is an invaluable resource for consumers that clearly responds to their perspectives about the funeral industry in general and funeral directors in particular based on the findings in the FAMIC study,” said John J. Horan of Horan & McConaty in Denver, Colo., 2011 President of Selected Independent Funeral Homes.

The website offers information to industry insiders as well, with sections specifically geared to Selected members and prospective members, respectively. While the site has been the result of a great deal of research and insight into consumer and member preference, it will be dynamic and evolve in the months to come.

“Our members understand the unique needs of the families they serve and we’re here to help inform and educate in an effort to respond to those needs,” said Horan.

For more information about Selected Independent Funeral Homes, visit the website at www.selectedfuneralhomes.org or call them at 1-800-323-4219.

For more information about the FAMIC report, visit the FAMIC website, www.famic.org, or call the FAMIC headquarters at 262-814-1544.

FAMIC Study Background

FAMIC first commissioned this major study of consumers’ attitudes toward memorialization and ritualization in September 1990 to better understand the personal values which drive consumers’ decision-making behavior as they pertain to funeral service; learn more about attitudes toward cremation and pre-planning; and study trends related to funeral and burial services. Subsequent studies were conducted in 1995, 1999, and 2004, making the FAMIC study one of the most comprehensive and long-standing consumer research projects in funeral service.

Methodology

This telephone survey was conducted March 29-April 11, 2010, by Harris Interactive. The survey was conducted among 500 adult Americans, 40 years in age and older, who have attended two or more funerals in the last year. Oversamples were conducted among

* 100 younger Americans, 20-39 years of age, who have attended two or more funerals in the last year,
* 100 African Americans, 40 years in age and older, who have attended two or more funerals in the last year,
* 100 Hispanics, 40 years in age and older, who have attended two or more funerals in the last year,
* 50 Asians, 40 years in age and older, who have attended two or more funerals in the last year.

About FAMIC

Since 1991, FAMIC has been committed to making available to the public direct and open information regarding death care and memorialization from the leading associations of service providers and businesses. FAMIC members include: Casket & Funeral Supply Association, Cremation Association of North America, Funeral Service Foundation, International Order of the Golden Rule, Monument Builders of North America, National Concrete Burial Vault Association, National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association, National Funeral Directors Association, and Selected Independent Funeral Homes.

About Selected Independent Funeral Homes

Founded in 1917 as National Selected Morticians, Selected Independent Funeral Homes (www.selectedfuneralhomes.org) is the world’s oldest and largest association of independently owned funeral homes.

Members of the association are expected to operate according to specific standards and best practices in order to provide the public with reliable, high-quality funeral services and funeral-related information.

[1] The survey was conducted among two key groups, Americans age 40 and over who have attended two or more funerals in the last year and Americans age 20-39 who have attended two or more funerals in the last year. Among both groups, 95% said that funeral and memorial services are a valuable and important part of commemorating the life of a loved one

[2] These results are from the sample of Americans age 20-39 who have attended two or more funerals in the last year.

This article is attributed to ConnectingDirectors.com.

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Why Do Funerals Cost So Much?

Posted on November 22, 2010 by markv

There is one thing that you can count on in this life and it is that you are not going to live forever, in the physical sense. With the graying of the Baby Boomer generation comes the necessity of facing some end of life decisions. Some of these decisions may include the loss of a parent, sibling or spouse. When those decisions are being made you may ask yourself, “Why do funerals cost so much?”

According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the average cost of a traditional funeral without cemetery expenses and other cash advance items (such as flowers, newspapers, etc.) is $7,323. This figure includes an average casket cost of $2,255 and an outer burial container averaging $1,128. This is, without a doubt, a lot of money. The Federal Trade Commission claims that after housing and vehicles, funerals are the largest expense that people incur.

But, why do funerals cost so much?

Funeral costs can be divided into three basic categories:

1.     The basic service fee: Funeral providers are allowed to charge this, and cannot be declined by consumers. This fee covers services common to all funerals including the use of the funeral home facilities, the services of the funeral director and funeral home attendants, burial arrangement coordination (with a cemetery or other), securing permits, etc.

2.     Optional service charges: Some optional services include transporting the body, embalming, times for viewing (or wakes), use of a hearse or limousine, burial container, cremation and interment.

3.     Cash disbursements: This covers goods and services that the funeral home buys on your behalf, with your consent. It may include the purchase of flowers, clergy services, obituary notices, pallbearers and other service providers such as soloists or musicians.

Keep in mind that a funeral home’s overhead and operating expenses include facilities, upkeep, utilities, vehicles, and personnel. It is a business and not a non-profit organization. This business provides a service for people during a difficult time but it is still a business.

There are a number of ways to reduce this average listed above by choosing arrangements that do not include so many expenses. Please remember, that a family does NOT get a better funeral if they spend more money. In most cases, funeral homes give the same service no matter if a family chooses a very expensive or inexpensive casket.

Another alternative to offset the costs incurred with a funeral is to plan ahead. It is possible to pre-arrange and prepay for a funeral years in advance of the death occurring. Of course, the preplanning is done with the funeral home of your choice.

With all that said, the biggest factor in keeping funeral costs down is choice and the choice is yours.

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The Family Funeral Home Provides Better Quality Than Corporate Owned Ones

Posted on November 22, 2010 by markv

Roughly 3,000 of 22,000 funeral homes are owned by large corporations. Houston-based Service Corporation International (SCI) is the biggest owner, claiming a 14% share of revenues from afar, while still allowing local management and control. Other giants include Carriage Services, and Stewart Enterprises, who own thousands of them and cemeteries.

Prices at the busiest of them could rise as much as 35% in some areas, following the acquisitions. While some are excited about the mergers that bring additional finances and services, others worry that the corporations won’t provide the same quality of service, as given by a family owned funeral home.

As of 2007, there aren’t a lot of visible differences between the family-owned funeral home and its corporate-run competitors. Even with part of the cost being funneled to another company in another state, many are still a locally owned and managed parlor. The prices may be slightly higher or customers may be subtly urged to purchase packages, rather than simply a cremation or a casket.

Since 1984, there have been heavy regulations mandated by the government in a document otherwise known as “The Funeral Rule.” Therefore, there are certain protections for bereft families and they cannot be overtly pushed into buying anything unnecessary or beyond their budgets.

Secondly, branding has become part of the corporate appeal. Twenty-four-hour “compassion hotline” services are marketed on television, some targeting Latino viewers or other specific demographics. They choose new names like “Dignity Memorial” or “Forever Remembered” to be marketed from coast to coast.

Websites will become more elaborate and marketing techniques could begin to edge out the smaller competition. However, many argue that the appeal of the family-owned parlor will never die because people generally associate higher levels of care and fairer prices from the independents.

Thirdly, big companies with big money can sometimes offer better musical arrangements, more funeral flowers and more elaborate memorials. Some directors can even offer videographers who will put together a multimedia presentation for guests at the wake or memorial.

Another newer service being offered by funeral homes/laboratory partnerships is DNA storage, which can help with paternal tests, family genealogical history studying and disease screening. The price for this service is about $295 for DNA retrieval and 25 years of storage. These services are valuable to some, but could one day usurp all the little funeral homes that can’t accommodate these extra, high tech goodies.

Typically, the mourning families don’t care whether a funeral home is owned by a corporation or a family, when it comes down to the day of loss. Therefore, it’s a good idea to check out local ones and cemeteries and discuss things like cremation or funeral expenses beforehand, and get these things in writing! While it seems sort of morbid to think about it, thinking ahead can lessen the financial burden later on.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Selvon

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Questions To Ask When Choosing A Funeral Home

Posted on November 22, 2010 by markv

As the saying goes, “We’re only promised two things and that is death and taxes.” Well, I don’t know about the second but the first one is inevitable. So, how do you know what questions to ask when choosing a funeral home?

In the United States you should know that all funeral homes have guidelines they must follow as mandated by the Federal Trade Commission. The Funeral Rule, as it is called, is a federal law that makes it easier for you to choose only those goods and services you want or need and to pay only for those you select, whether you are making arrangements pre-need or at need. The Funeral Rule is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission.

A traditional funeral, including a casket and vault, can cost around $6,000, although “extras” like flowers, obituary notices, acknowledgment cards or limousines can add thousands of dollars to the bottom line. Some funerals can cost $10,000 or more.

The Funeral Rule requires the funeral home to give you an itemized general price list and any additional information on their goods and services. So, one of the first questions you should ask is to see their General Price List.

What is the basic fee? This fee would be for the funeral home’s charge for services or service charge, if you will. This service charge would not cover optional merchandise or services but will cover funeral planning, securing the necessary permits and copies of the death certificate, preparing the notices, sheltering the remains and coordinating arrangements with the cemetery or crematory.

What are the charges for other services and merchandise? Those charges are for optional goods and services like transportation of the remains, embalming or other preparatory work, use of the funeral home’s facility for visitation and viewing and the ceremony or memorial service. Other charges could include use of equipment and staff for a graveside service; use of a hearse or limousine; a casket, outer burial container or alternate container; and cremation or interment.

Are there any necessary cash advances? These are fees charged by the funeral home for goods and services it purchases from other vendors on your behalf, which would include flowers, obituary notices, pallbearers, officiating clergy, and soloists and organists. The Funeral Rule requires the funeral home to disclose, in writing, any extra fees associated with those cash advance items.

What is the total cost of the funeral? In other words, what is the bottom line including everything? Sometimes the funeral director will not know the prices for some cash advance items but they are required to give you a good faith estimate.

If you are choosing as traditional funeral with a casket you will want to know the funeral home’s prices for their caskets. It is possible for you to purchase a casket somewhere else and the funeral home cannot charge extra for using it. Also embalming is not required for burial but it may be necessary if there is an extended length of time between the death and disposition of the remains.

These are some of the questions to ask when choosing a funeral home. These questions are by no means exhaustive but are some that should assist you in making an educated decision.

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Family

Posted on November 22, 2010 by markv

Memories, both humorous and sad, are offered during funeral services. A touching video of one such event.

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