Questions You Should Ask

Questions to Ask

Knowing what's important to you and your family is the start to any inquiries you make. Certainly it's safe to say that you're concerned about ethical business practices and processes. After all, you do not want to entrust your loved one's final care to a funeral home or cremation provider operating without strict guidelines. Let's look beyond our philosophical code, and focus on the fundamental questions to ask a crematory or cremation provider. CANA, the Cremation Association of North America, advises consumers to ask the following questions (to which we've added some of our own):

Does the funeral home own the crematory?

How often is it inspected by regulatory agencies?

Are all required licenses and permits current?

How many crematory operators do they have, and what type of certification do they possess?

Is there a refrigeration unit on the premises?

How long will the funeral home hold the body before the cremation?

Does the crematory allow family members to witness the cremation?

Will your staff handle all phases of the arrangement and cremation processes?

Is a member of your staff available 24 hours a day, seven days a week (holidays included)?

Will a licensed professional oversee all the details?

Is cremation performed quickly after the required paperwork is completed and the permits are secured?

How We Can Help

When it comes to choosing a funeral home or cremation provider, we're here to support area residents with clear, honest answers to their most pressing questions. Never choose a cremation provider based on price alone. We invite you to reach out to us by phone at (618) 632-3713, or by email using the form on our Contact Us page.