Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to our FAQ page, where we address some of the most common questions and concerns regarding cremation, burials, and funeral services. Here, you will find valuable information for planning a funeral, understanding different service options, and what to expect during the process. Our goal is to provide clarity and support during challenging time, helping you make informed decisions for your loved ones.

What are the differences between direct burial and traditional burial?

When considering burial options, families often choose between direct burial and traditional burial, which differ significantly in their processes, timing, and associated costs.

Direct Burial

Direct burial involves burying the deceased shortly after death, typically without a formal funeral service or viewing beforehand.

Key characteristics of direct burial:

Timing: The burial occurs very soon after death, often within a few days.
Services: Embalming is usually not necessary as there is no viewing or visitation. If a service is desired, it typically takes the form of a graveside service or a memorial service held at a later date after the burial.
Container: The body is placed in a casket and often followed by an outer burial container at the cemetery.
Cost: Direct burial is generally the least expensive burial option because it avoids many of the costs associated with traditional funerals, such as embalming, staffing for funeral services, transportation and elaborate ceremonies.
Environmental Impact: It can have a smaller environmental impact compared to traditional burial, as it often omits embalming fluids.

Traditional Burial

Traditional burial is a more comprehensive process that typically includes a series of services and rituals before the interment.

Key characteristics of traditional burial:

Timing: Traditional burials take more time to complete, allowing for various preparations and services.
Services: This option usually includes embalming to preserve the body for a public viewing or visitation, a formal funeral service, and the use of a hearse for transportation. The funeral service provides a structured way for loved ones to gather, mourn, and say goodbye.
Container: The deceased is placed in a chosen casket, often followed by an outer burial container in a cemetery.
Cost: Traditional burials are generally the most expensive type of funeral due to the inclusion of embalming, casket selection, funeral home facilities, staff services, and ceremonial elements.
Cultural and Religious Significance: Traditional burial holds strong cultural and religious significance for many faiths, such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, offering a physical place for remembrance and allowing for specific rites and customs.

Ultimately, the main differences revolve around the timing and extent of services, with direct burial being a more simple, more immediate, and often more affordable choice, while traditional burial offers a more elaborate, structured, and ceremonial farewell.

Can you have a viewing if someone wishes to be cremated?

Yes, cremation with viewing in allows families to hold a private or public viewing of the deceased's body before cremation. This service typically involves embalming for preservation and is a common option offered by local funeral homes.

This process follows the same legal and practical standards as traditional funerals, with cremation occurring afterward at a certified facility.

Is cremation respectful?

Yes. Cremation providers follow strict identification and handling procedures to ensure your loved one is treated with dignity at every step. Many families choose cremation because it allows them to create personal memorials afterward—using meaningful urns, keepsakes, or cremation necklaces.

Cremation also allows families the flexibility they may need to create a meaningful and loving service for their loved one.

How do we know the ashes are really our loved one’s?

Cremation providers use identification tags, documentation, and internal tracking systems to make sure the correct ashes are returned to the correct family. From the moment your loved one comes into their care, they receive an ID that stays with them throughout the process

Can two cremations be performed at once?

Never. Not only is it illegal to do so, most modern cremation chambers are not of sufficient size to accommodate more than one adult. Thus it would be a practical impossibility to conduct multiple cremations simultaneously.

Must I purchase a burial vault?

In most areas of the country, state or local laws do not require that you buy a container to surround the casket in the grave. However, many cemeteries require that you have such a container so that the ground will not sink. Either a grave liner or a burial vault will satisfy these requirements.

What is the purpose of embalming?

Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body, retards the decomposition process, and enhances the appearance of a body disfigured by traumatic death or illness.

It makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, thus allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them.

Embalming the body enables mourners to view the deceased if they wish.

The emotional benefits of viewing the deceased are enormous, particularly to those having difficulty dealing with the death.

What is the difference between a funeral and a memorial service?

A funeral typically involves a ceremony held with the body of the deceased present, either before burial or cremation. It often includes a viewing or wake, where family and friends can pay their respects.

A memorial service, on the other hand, takes place after the body has been buried or cremated and does not involve the presence of the body. Memorial services may be held in various settings, such as homes, churches, or other venues, and can be personalized to reflect the life of the deceased.

Can I plan in advance if I choose cremation?

Pre-arranging funeral services can be done regardless of the final disposition. Pre-arranging is simply recording your wishes with the funeral home and prefunding if you choose to do so.

Our goal in pre-arranging services is to ease the emotional toll that death has on your family. When we meet we will gather information for the death certificates, sign the proper authorizations, and establish a prefunded policy for the services selected.

What services do funeral directors perform?

The funeral director's job is to assist the bereaved in various ways to help them through the loss of a loved one. A funeral director provides bereavement and consolation services for the living, in addition to making arrangements for the cremation, burial, and memorial services for the deceased. They fulfill the role of funeral arranger, funeral director, funeral attendant, and embalmer.

The following list is not all-inclusive, but describes some of the major tasks of a funeral director:

Removal and transfer of the deceased from the place of death to the funeral home
Professional care of the deceased, including embalming, casketing, and cosmetology
Consulting with family to make arrangements for the funeral service
Filing certificates, permits, and other required forms
Obtaining copies of the death certificate
Arrangements with the cemetery, crematory, or other places of final disposition
Creates and publishes the obituary
Arrangements for clergy, music, flowers, transportation, pallbearers, and special fraternal or military services
Directs and manages the funeral service and the funeral procession
Assists the family with death-related claims, including Social Security, VA insurance, grief counseling

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Epting Funeral Home