What is the significance of a funeral service?

From the beginning of recorded history, societies have honored those who died with a traditional ceremony. According to beliefs at that time, the purpose of the ritual was to send the deceased on his or her journey into the afterlife.

Today, however, many experts agree that the benefits of a service are for those who are left behind after a death. A "closure" of sorts must occur to help survivors adjust to their loss and recognize that a death has occurred. A funeral service provides the opportunity for friends and family to celebrate the life that was lived and allow the healing process to begin.

Funeral costs vary depending on the funeral home and type of service selected. There are two types of costs associated with a funeral: (1) services provided by the funeral home and (2) merchandise such as a casket or urn. Please contact us for a more detailed explanation of our options.

Is everything included in the price given to me by the funeral home?

All charges involving the funeral home's services and merchandise are available from our professional staff. We will provide a general price list with all charges.

Yes. Today, prearrangement and prepayment of funerals are becoming more common. Prearranging will provide you with more time to review your options and give you a choice in your own funeral service. Prearrangement will provide you with the peace of mind that everything has been taken care of, relieving your family of the emotional and financial burden that often comes with making arrangements when a loved one passes away. Oftentimes, making arrangements in advance also guarantees a service and funeral at today's prices, free from inflation. At MacDonald Funeral Home, we will assist you with your prearrangements.

Caskets are made of either metal (bronze, copper or steel) or wood. Prices vary, depending on the exterior and interior materials used. Bronze, a semi-precious metal, is more expensive than steel. Mahogany, a rare hardwood, is more expensive than the readily available softwood pine.

Embalming is the temporary preservation of a deceased's remains. It is not required by law, but is common practice when a viewing is planned.

Yes. In fact, MacDonald Funeral Home will do more than just assist you with securing these benefits. Our staff is trained to complete all necessary paperwork to begin the benefits process and to follow through to ensure that the benefits are secured in a timely manner.

Before cremation occurs, the death certificate must be completed and signed by the attending physician or medical examiner, and all civil and medical authorities must have issued all required permits. In addition, necessary authorizations to cremate must be obtained from the next of kin or authorizing person, no objections to the cremation can be raised and a minimum of 48 hours must have transpired since the death occurred. The cremation then takes place and the cremated remains are placed in the designated container or urn selected for final disposition.

MacDonald Funeral Home offers a wide variety of cremation containers and alternative containers to meet each family's needs.

Services are held at the discretion of the family. Many choose to have a traditional service first, followed by the cremation.

There are many options to consider with a cremation. A family can choose to bury the remains in a cemetery, store and display them at home in an urn, or scatter them in a place special to the deceased. It is advisable to check local restrictions on scattering remains on public property and obtain permission for private property.