The Role of the Funeral Director within Waggaman, LA Funeral Homes
Funeral homes in Waggaman, LA handle death every day and the funeral directors employed by them deal with some of the most sensitive and personal situations ever in a person's life. Death and the grief it causes create a distressing situation for the survivors and it is the funeral director's job to handle this with respect and decorum. The funeral director's role within Waggaman, LA funeral homes is primarily that of consultant and counselor.
Funeral Homes in Waggaman, LA Help with the Paperwork and Legalities
Waggaman, LA is one of eight states in the country that requires the surviving next of kin or assigned agent to use the services of a funeral director. This is actually a good thing. Grief can cloud feelings and judgment so having the professional services of a director can help you plan a meaningful funeral. Waggaman, LA funeral homes have staff available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as death does not follow a timetable. Funeral directors and staff are well-versed in all aspects of arranging a funeral.
Administratively, paperwork and legalities must be taken care of upon death. This is one area when funeral directors definitely earn their pay. Funeral homes in Waggaman, LA help family members by applying for disposition permits, especially if cremation is chosen.In addition, they help file the paperwork for the death certificate which is often needed for survivor benefits, insurance and even execution of the will. The funeral directors also deal directly with any vendors related to funeral planning and even the cemetery personnel. They also coordinate the transportation of the deceased from place of death to the funeral establishment.
Funeral Directors within Waggaman, LA Funeral Homes Provide Consulting
Funeral directors can be viewed as professional consultants. They service the living by dealing with death. Funeral homes in Waggaman, LA always have at least one director that deals directly with the surviving next of kin. They advise you on the final disposition options - cremation or burial - for the deceased. If you have a budget to stick to or need some financing advice, the director can present options that might help.
Based on the final disposition, Waggaman, LA funeral homes and their directors will then lead you to other decisions that need to be made. Did you want a public visitation or wake for the deceased? What about the services? Did you want a traditional ceremony with a clergyman presiding or would a memorial service be better after disposition? Answers to these questions then lead to other decisions to be made.
While embalming is not required legally, there are some instances when it is necessary. For instance, a public viewing might necessitate embalming just as a delayed funeral might as well. The director within your choice of funeral homes in Waggaman, LA presides over this option if you want it for the deceased. Embalming is a possibility regardless of whether the final disposition is burial or cremation.
Directors in Waggaman, LA Funeral Homes Also Help Choose Funeral Products
Once final disposition is chosen for the deceased, the funeral director then guides you through selection of funeral products. When burial is chosen, a casket or coffin is often a necessity although there is no state law that absolutely requires it. With cremation, a sturdy, combustible container is required. Urn possibilities are brought up with cremation, particularly if you plan to hold onto the cremated remains or store them in a columbarium.
Funeral homes in Waggaman, LA also work with cemeteries. If your deceased loved one is to be buried, it is important to note that some cemeteries require a concrete liner or vault for burial, in addition to the casket, even though there is no state law that commands it. It is at the discretion of the cemetery and their requirements of facilities management. Given that a portion of Waggaman, LA is under sea level, a liner or vault or even an above ground mausoleum is not out of the question.
Waggaman, LA Funeral Homes - The Little Details Funeral Directors Handle
Many details must be confirmed during the consulting process which is important to creating a meaningful funeral. Funeral homes in Waggaman, LA can help with details such as hiring a clergyman for the funeral ceremony or renting audio-visual equipment for music and slideshows to be played at a memorial. When flowers and donations in honor of the deceased arrive at Waggaman, LA funeral homes, the director coordinates the deliveries and logs them in. They coordinate the use of the hearse or limousine for graveside services. Ordering printed funeral programs or even a guestbook can be accomplished if you wish the director to handle these tasks for you.
Funeral homes in Waggaman, LA can also arrange private viewings of the deceased with close friends and family, especially if there is to be no formal funeral service or a cremation is scheduled. If you or close family members are having a hard time with the bereavement, directors in Waggaman, LA funeral homes can counsel everyone and even offer contacts within the community for professional help or grief counseling and support groups.
While you might feel that you can handle all the minutia of funeral planning, why should you bear the burden alone? The role of funeral director is quite varied and they are well-versed in all aspects of coordination so that you can concentrate on your friends and family. Call one of the funeral homes in Waggaman, LA for help in honoring your deceased loved one with a proper, meaningful send-off.