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 Do I need to have a funeral?
A funeral is an event that marks an important time in the lives of an entire family. The easiest comparison is to a wedding. Like a wedding, a funeral can take on many forms. A wedding can be a meticulously planned, luxuriant event with a thousand person guest list, full religious service, live band, and a ten-tiered cake. A wedding can also be a trip to the local magistrate with only the bride and groom's families as witnesses. Either way, they are meaningful because it is an event in a day that marks something important. These events are important because they bring a family together in a positive way by being there for each other. It is these "get-togethers" that literally make a family. Without the event, the family has no time to get together and, thus, has no time for each other. The first type of wedding is more expensive than the second type, but both can be as important and as touching to the people who attend.
A funeral is similar. A funeral can be a traditional affair with a beautiful mahogany casket and two days of visitation with religious and graveside services. It can also be a cremation with no visitation followed by a funeral luncheon at a local restaurant with the person's family and friends. In either case, the family of the person who passed has an event and a time to get together and be there for each other as a family. The unfortunate thing that we see as funeral directors is when a family doesn't take that time. The difference in pricing for those two types of funerals is as different as the two examples of the weddings above, but the difference in result isn't much at all. Both events marked an important time for a family.
Bekavac Funeral Homes is a business, and as a business we are established to make a profit to pay our employees, our bills, and general overhead expenses. We admit that. More so, we are funeral directors because we believe in the value of a funeral to a family. We think that what we do is important. In today's society, which can be "disposable," some local funeral homes promote low cost, "no frills" cremations that, literally, put the "dispose" in "disposition." To not make the funeral into an event, to treat it as if it's "no big deal," is to undermine our chosen profession and undermine what makes a family. A family is only as strong as the time it spends together. There are very few times as important as the death of one of its members. We think that everyone should have an event, a funeral, to mark that importance. And that is why we at Bekavac Funeral Home feel that the answer to the question "Do I need to have a funeral?" is a resounding "Yes."
What kind of funeral services are available?
Memorial and funeral services can be as varied as the lives of the individuals they acknowledge. Every memorial or funeral service can be a unique experience which commemorates the life of a loved one or valued friend. While memorial and funeral services traditionally have been held at churches, synagogues, or funeral facilities, they can be held at many other locations: parks, a friend or family member's home, senior citizen centers, schools, or almost any public place requested by the family.
The memorial or funeral service can be a ceremony which acknowledges the person and involves family and friends. People can participate through music, reading, speaking, or sharing stories about the individual who has died. Unique character traits and how that the person lived their life can be incorporated into the memorial or funeral service. Probably the best answer to the question of, "What kind of memorial or funeral services are available?" is to ask, "What would you like the memorial or funeral service to be?" Any one of our licensed directors can talk with you and help you plan a memorial or funeral service that expresses your needs and desires for remembering the deceased.
 What do I do when a death occurs?
When a death occurs in your family, you will be faced with a number of important tasks and asked to make decisions during a very difficult time. You may not know what to do or where to begin. Bearing the responsibility can be overwhelming. Remember that you are not alone: we are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to assist you with the details and offer our guidance. Most deaths occur in health care institutions such as a hospital and nursing home. If the death occurs outside of a health care institution the first task is to notify the authorities. Simply dial 911. They will guide you through the proper course of action. At some time, the responding authorities or the staff of the health care facility will ask you which funeral home you would like to call. Once the call is received by our staff, we will escort the remains of the deceased to the funeral home and then begin the process of arranging for the funeral or cremation. Please visit our At-Need Arrangements section for further information.
What options are available with a funeral?
For more information on funeral options, please visit our At-Need Arrangements section.
Why should we have a public viewing?
Viewing is part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Many grief specialists believe that viewing aids the grief process by helping the bereaved recognize the reality of death. Viewing is encouraged for children, as long as the process is explained and the activity voluntary.
What is a Disposition?
Final disposition means the entombment, burial in a cemetery or cremation of a deceased human body.
Isn't burial space becoming scarce?
While it is true that some metropolitan areas have limited available cemetery space, in most areas of the country, there is enough space set aside for the next 200 years without creating any new cemeteries. In addition, land available for new cemeteries is more than adequate, especially with the increase in entombment and multi-level grave burial.
 What do children need to know about death? What questions do children ask?
When a death occurs, children need to be included in this process. They will have questions that need to be answered and feelings that need to be heard. They may ask questions like: "Why did Grandpa die?" "Where did he go?" "Was it my fault?" "Will I die?" "Who will take care of me if you die?" Try to give children simple answers that they can understand. Sometimes adults make the mistake of saying too much, or offering an answer to a question they haven't been asked. When a child asks questions, be open with your feelings and most importantly encourage them to express their own feelings. Let them know they can ask questions any time. Your answers to their questions are important, but what is more important is the love and concern you give them. Plenty of hugs, attention, and reassurance will comfort children of any age, even if they don't completely understand what has happened. You can help children by encouraging their questions and responding to them with love, patience, and reassurance.
What does a funeral cost?
The cost of a funeral or memorial service, like other family events such as weddings, can fall within a range of prices. Unlike weddings, however, many people aren't familiar with the items and services that are necessary for a funeral. The basic makeup of funeral expenses include professional services, use of facilities, motor equipment, merchandise and cash disbursements. It is important to realize that within each of these categories, there are choices that you may make based on your personal preferences and budget.
Can funeral costs be controlled?
Funeral costs can be controlled. The costs can be tailored to fit your budget, without sacrificing your ability to create a service that will be meaningful to you and others. One way to control the funeral costs is to select items in the price range that fits your budget. Caskets, for example, can range from several hundred dollars to more than ten thousand dollars. The difference in the price depends on the manufacturer, material and how they are constructed. Soft woods, like pine or poplar, are the least expensive. Prices increase as steel, solid hardwoods, stainless steel, copper, and finally bronze are used. Burial vaults, which are usually required by the cemetery, are also available in price ranges similar to caskets. Burial vaults protect the casket and prevent the grave site from shifting or sinking. The difference in price depends on the structural strength of the material used to construct the vault. There are also options to choose from when selecting services. A simple service at the graveside is usually the least expensive. Because the costs involved with a funeral or memorial service change over time, it is best to contact us directly for a detailed discussion of various options and prices. We can talk with you and help you to plan a service that meets your needs and budget.
 What is the role of the funeral director?
The primary role of a funeral director is to help and serve people after they have experienced a death. Funeral directors help the family plan the funeral or memorial service, and then take the responsibility of coordinating those decisions. We will handle all aspects of funeral planning including, but not limited to, filing of all necessary legal documents, coordination of services with clergy, churches, and cemeteries, placement of newspaper obituaries, securing certified copies of the death certificate, notifying social security, applying for applicable veteran's benefits, handling insurance claims at your request and, directing various aspects of the service itself. The funeral director is also responsible for preparing the deceased for the viewing and making sure that the focal point of every funeral visitation provides a natural and peaceful memory of the deceased. In all these activities, it is the concerned, caring service to families that is the hallmark of the funeral director. Advisor, counselor, organizer, and caregiver are just some of the roles which funeral directors play in helping you through your loss.
What do funeral directors do?
A funeral director's job is to take care of the actual, logistical planning to ensure that you, your family, and friends stay focused on each other's needs rather than being burdened with the many details associated with planning a funeral or memorial service.
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