West Virginia Funeral Homes Provider Directory (2023)

FAQs

How much money do you give at a funeral? ›

How Much Should You Give? The traditional gift is the amount you would have spent on flowers for the service, generally between $50 and $100.

If someone dies with no money and no family who can pay for the funeral, the local council or hospital can arrange a Public Health Funeral (also known as a pauper's funeral). This usually takes the form of a short, simple cremation service.

You could also reach out to local funeral directors and ask whether they have a funeral plan for your loved one on their books. Be aware that funeral pre-payments should be held either within a trust fund, managed by independent trustees, or in a life insurance policy.

However, sending a check or any kind of money with a sympathy card is a big no-no. Quietly inquire as to whether a fund has been set up where you may make a donation. If one has not been set up yet and you are close to the family, you can be very helpful by assisting in setting it up for them.

Who should receive sympathy thank you notes? You don't need to send a formal thank you note to everyone who attended the funeral/visitation or sent you a sympathy card. Instead, a thank you note or acknowledgement should be sent to anyone who has done something extra, including: People who sent or brought flowers.

Unlike a traditional funeral, which occurs inside a week or two of the beloved's passing, a memorial service is held without a casket or a body present and can be held weeks or even months afterward.

You must be one of the following: the partner of the deceased when they died. a close relative or close friend of the deceased. the parent of a baby stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy.

A few days after the death, the deceased person will need to be transported to a mortuary, where they can be kept in refrigerated conditions for around 4-6 weeks.

A remembrance speech is not the platform through which to refer to inappropriate memories or to tell tales. Leave out any mentions of questionable behaviour or long-held grudges. A eulogy is not an opportunity to “roast” the deceased.

What do you not say at a funeral viewing? ›

By visiting www.deceasedonline.com, you can carry out a standard search online for a deceased person, provided you have their first and last name, as well as their birth date and death date.

One way to help a grieving friend feel less alone is to simply remind them that you care. Ask how they are doing today. Tell them you're ready for their real answer—fine, terrible, a shrug—without judgement. This lets your friend know they can let their guard down and that you're there for them.

Many people still send sympathy cards even if they attend the funeral. It's best to send a card within two weeks of a loss. While two weeks is ideal, it's never too late to send someone a sympathy card or note to express your feelings for their loss.

How do you properly give money to a grieving family member? Tucking cash or a check inside a sympathy card is a great way to offer support. Include a check if you mail the card. You may only want to include cash if you present the card to the family at the visitation or funeral.

There is no hard and fast rule as to who should give the eulogy speech at a funeral. It's typically given by those who were particularly close, or had a special relationship with, the loved one who passed. It could be a best friend, a spouse, a child or grandchild, or even a co-worker.

While you do not have to write a thank you card in response to a simple note of sympathy or condolences you've received after a death, it is traditional to thank those who have really gone out of their way to help you or to honor your loved one.

Do you tip a funeral director? ›

The short answer is: No, you do not tip the funeral director. Their fees are included in the overall funeral costs. After all, they receive a salary from the funeral home and don't rely on tips. If your funeral director did a good job, you can send a thank you note or rate them favorably online.

Separate from a memorial service, a funeral reception is a special event for family members and friends to honor the deceased without a formalized structure. The gathering after a funeral usually has food and drinks and serves as a venue to offer one's condolences to the family. This is also commonly known as a repast.

Cremation of a body can be done with or without clothing. Typically, if there has been a traditional funeral (with the body) present, the deceased will be cremated in whatever clothing they were wearing.

Many Funeral Directors Recommend It

It is well-known in the funeral industry that half-couch caskets often allow for better lighting at a funeral or viewing, and give loved ones an opportunity to see the body. It is much easier to light just the upper half of a body in a comforting way, rather than an entire body.

But, who pays for the funeral if there is no money in the estate or a funeral plan is not in place? If there aren't sufficient funds in the deceased's bank accounts or within the estate to pay for the funeral, and they did not have a funeral plan, then the family would normally cover the funeral costs.

If you die after receiving a pension credit and before reaching age 75*, a death grant may be payable. Generally speaking, the death grant is equal to 5 times the pension less the amount already paid. *In some situations, a death grant is only payable if you die before attaining age 70 rather than 75.

The widowed or surviving civil partner grant is a once-off payment of €6,000 where there is a dependent child. A number of social welfare payments, including State pension, continue in payment for six weeks following a death.

No, when someone dies owing a debt, the debt does not go away. Generally, the deceased person's estate is responsible for paying any unpaid debts. When a person dies, their assets pass to their estate. If there is no money or property left, then the debt generally will not be paid.

A little hand-held saw is used to cut through the skull. The technician will ask you to observe as they take off the skull in case there is something immediately obvious, such as a brain haemorrhage. They will then take out the brain for examination. Many good things may come from a postmortem.

If the grave site is low on water content or moisture, metal caskets are known to last even longer, over five decades. Under favorable weather conditions, experts say that metal caskets may even last more than that – up to 80 years.

What makes a great eulogy? ›

The best eulogies are respectful and solemn, but they also give mourners some comic relief. A bit of roasting is fine if it suits who the person was and the family has a sense of humor. Close your eulogy by directly addressing the person who died, something like “Joe, thank you for teaching me how to be a good father.”

The speech is ideally given by someone who knew the person well enough to gather and share memories and highlights of his/her life. Sometimes the choice is obvious within the family. There is often one person who seems to be the unofficial family spokesperson.

Wearing dark grey or deep blue is just as appropriate as black, while brown and lighter greys are suitable for the vast majority of funeral services. However, unless specifically requested by the deceased or their family, you should avoid any bright colors such as yellows, oranges, pinks, and reds.

Attending a visitation can be the hardest part for people to attend, because it involves talking to the deceased's family. A good recommendation is to say something simple such as “I am sorry about your loss”, especially if there are many other guests waiting to share their condolences.

Hinduism: In the Hindu faith, there is no burial.

How Long Should a Eulogy Be? A eulogy should be two to 10 minutes in length. This does not sound like much time when you're attempting to recap a lifetime of love and accomplishment. Keep in mind that you must respect the time of those in attendance, particularly if the funeral is during working hours.

The written word count of a eulogy should fall somewhere between 500 to 3000 words. It generally takes a person five minutes to say 1500 words speaking at an average rate. So that gives you some idea of word count and the actual time it will take to make the eulogy speech.

What is a eulogy? A eulogy is a speech that's given at a funeral or memorial service. It's a way to share memories of the person who has died. It's also called a funeral speech. A eulogy can be delivered by family or friends, or by a celebrant (the person leading the service).

The local library in the place where the deceased lived or died can be a great resource for obituary archives. Libraries typically subscribe to local newspapers and preserve them digitally or on microfilm for future generations.

How do you prove that you are next of kin? ›

How Can You Prove You Are The Next of Kin? As a blood relative, proving you are that person will be relatively straightforward. A certified copy of your passport or other forms of recognised ID will demonstrate you are who you say you are.

Autopsy reports are usually completed within 60 days from the date of autopsy; however, there are cases which can take 90 days or longer depending on the complexity of the case.

Your friend or relative may need you even more after the first few weeks and months, when other people may stop calling. Check in every now and then just to say hello (you may find it helpful to put reminders on your calendar). Most bereaved people find it difficult to reach out and need others to take the initiative.

Who typically notifies the bank when an account holder dies? Family members or next of kin generally notify the bank when a client passes. It can also be someone who was appointed by a court to handle the deceased's financial affairs.

Google works with immediate family members and representatives to close online accounts in some cases once a user is known to be deceased, and in certain circumstances may also provide content from a deceased user's account.

We can work with immediate family members and representatives to close the account of a deceased person where appropriate. In certain circumstances we may provide content from a deceased user's account. In all of these cases, our primary responsibility is to keep people's information secure, safe, and private.

Typically, when someone dies in a hospital, the staff will notify the next of kin. They will often have a conversation with the family about what happened and how they would like to proceed. In some cases, the hospital may also contact a funeral home to make arrangements.

What is the cheapest way to arrange a funeral? ›

Consider Direct Burial

The least expensive burial option that most funeral homes offer is a direct burial. In this case, the body is interred soon after death without ceremony or embalming.

A direct burial is the funeral director's least expensive burial option. The cost will range depending on the funeral home, but it is fair to say that a direct burial can be arranged for in the region of $1,200 to $1,600.

There are no state laws in West Virginia prohibiting home burial, but local governments may have rules governing private burials. Before burying a body on private property or establishing a family cemetery, you should check with the county or town clerk for any zoning laws you must follow.

Generally speaking, Medicare does not cover funeral costs. Bereavement and funeral costs are not considered medical expenses and do not fall within the coverages allowed by Original Medicare.

When properly stored and cooled, a body can be kept for up to six weeks at the funeral home, so you'll have plenty of flexibility when planning your memorial service. Cremation has become an increasingly popular option for people around the country. In fact, more bodies are now cremated than buried.

A funeral director has many responsibilities, but their main role is to provide compassionate support to the bereaved family members and arrange a good funeral according to their wishes.

Because coffins don't require nearly as much material, they are often less expensive than caskets. The tapering of a coffin also affects its price point.

A simple funeral is an attended service at a local crematorium, without the expense of a hearse. This means the coffin will be resting in the chapel, ready for you to arrive and celebrate their life. Simple funerals have a similar structure to traditional funerals, but they tend to cost much less.

A casket is often the most expensive item that factors into the average funeral cost. Caskets vary widely in style, material, design, and price. An average casket costs between $2,000-$5,000 and is typically either metal or a cheaper wood, but some caskets can sell for as much as $10,000 or more.

Who pays if you can't afford a funeral? ›

Funeral Expenses Payment. Funeral Expenses Payment is a government scheme for people on a low income who are receiving certain benefits to help them pay for a funeral. If you get one of these payments, you'll usually have to pay the government back from any money you get from the person's estate, such as their savings.

Caskets and The Law

No state law requires use of a casket for burial or cremation. If a burial vault is being used, there is no inherent requirement to use a casket. A person can be directly interred in the earth, in a shroud, or in a vault without a casket.

Rules in West Virginia for Scattering Ashes

There are no state laws in place in West Virginia that restrict families from storing or scattering ashes. Cremated ashes can be placed in an urn or other container of your choosing, or in a grave, crypt, or niche.

According to California law, anyone who "deposits or disposes of any human remains in any place, except in a cemetery, is guilty of a misdemeanor" and could face jail time or a fine up to $10,000.

No law requires a casket for burial. However, you should check with the cemetery; it may have rules requiring a certain type of container. Cremation. No law requires a casket for cremation.

Social Security's Lump Sum Death Payment (LSDP) is federally funded and managed by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). A surviving spouse or child may receive a special lump-sum death payment of $255 if they meet certain requirements.

Your spouse, children, and parents could be eligible for benefits based on your earnings. You may receive survivors benefits when a family member dies. You and your family could be eligible for benefits based on the earnings of a worker who died. The deceased person must have worked long enough to qualify for benefits.

The Social Security office automatically notifies Medicare of the death. If the deceased was receiving Social Security payments, the payment for the month of the death must be returned to Social Security. Contact the deceased's bank to return the full month's payment as soon as possible.

Costs for funeral singers vary widely but you can expect to pay between $100 and $200, depending on how many songs you select.

Someone who did a reading at the service. The clergy member who presided over the service. Someone who went out of their way to share a memory or story about your loved one that was especially meaningful.

How much do you pay a pastor at a funeral? ›

Some pastors will state outright the fee for them to conduct the funeral service, while others will ask for a donation to the church. When it comes to donations, this can either be a monetary donation, with $150-$200 often being the most common, or a gift.

But by 50 years, the tissues will have liquefied and disappeared, leaving behind mummified skin and tendons. Eventually these too will disintegrate, and after 80 years in that coffin, your bones will crack as the soft collagen inside them deteriorates, leaving nothing but the brittle mineral frame behind.

How Long Does an Embalmed Body Last? Some people think that embalming completely stops the decay of the body, but this isn't true. If you plan on having an open-casket funeral, then you should not leave the embalmed body out for more than a week. Otherwise, the embalmed body can last two more weeks.

A eulogy is a way to honor the memory of a lost loved one at their funeral and is one of the most important elements of a service. It is truly a farewell tribute speech to family and friends, expressing how much this person means to you and information about who they were and what they did in their lifetime.

Having an exceptional licensed funeral director – one who is compassionate, meticulous and organized – can make all the difference. From planning the viewing hours to selecting burial or cremation services, a funeral director will help you make tough decisions and support you as you grieve.

Funeral directors that do a good job will often immerse themselves into the families situation and even make it harder on their own emotions. The constant exposure to death and unfortunate circumstances numbs the feelings. Depersonalization and lack of empathy can occur and scare off friends and family.

The average metal casket costs about $2,500, while premium caskets made of mahogany, fiberglass, wood and plastic can all cost as much as $10,000. Some buyers purchase a casket independently, to avoid third-party markups.

6. The closed casket funeral is cheaper than the open casket type. It's emotionally draining to plan a funeral. More often than not, the mourners planning the funeral don't have time to address financial issues as they cannot deal with their emotions.

It's beyond a doubt that any metal casket is going to be more durable than a wood model. Metal caskets come with thick and rust-proof shell, and the rubber gasket improves the protection of the body for a very long time. Even if wood can be coated for higher durability, it's still going to decay after a while.

Many banks have arrangements in place to help pay for funeral expenses from the deceased person's account (you should contact the bank to find out more). You may also need to get access for living expenses, at least until a social welfare payment is awarded.

Is it wise to prepay funeral expenses? ›

We don't recommend prepaying unless you must do so to qualify for Medicaid. But if you are committed to prepaying, be sure: Your money is secure, such as in a federally-insured bank. Funeral insurance plans are not as tightly regulated, so take extra caution.

Don't be afraid to negotiate

But just like any other business, you may be able to reduce costs on some aspects of the funeral service by talking to the funeral director about price options.

A no-fuss funeral, like a direct cremation, is a simple funeral with no service, no ceremony and no witnesses or attendees. Rather than spend thousands of pounds on a traditional funeral, choosing a send-off like a direct cremation can give your loved one a fuss-free celebration of their life in a dignified way.

Avoid dressing in casual clothing, such as athletic wear, tank tops, or shorts. Skip the flip-flops, tennis shoes, sneakers, or boat shoes. Remove the neon necktie, purse, or accessory. Shy away from wearing jeans, even black ones, because they are considered too casual for a funeral.

What is an unattended funeral? An unattended funeral is a funeral that isn't witnessed by the family and friends of the person who died. Instead, the cremation or burial takes place privately at the crematorium or burial ground. This can either be handled by a funeral director or direct cremation specialist.

In a closed casket funeral, the casket remains closed during the viewing and the funeral service. Family members and guests are not able to see the body, and some prefer this option for a variety of reasons.

Direct cremation is the least expensive way to bury your loves one. It is done respectfully, and gives your and your family time to find the most personal and affordable burial option.

Caskets are generally more expensive than coffins because they are usually lined with finer material and include extra features like cushions and interior trimmings. The double lid tops allow for a viewing, if that's something you would like to include in the funeral ceremony.

Individual taxpayers cannot deduct funeral expenses on their tax return. While the IRS allows deductions for medical expenses, funeral costs are not included. Qualified medical expenses must be used to prevent or treat a medical illness or condition.

The local county usually has programs available, or they might allow the family to declare that they have no funds to afford a burial or funeral. In this case, the county will take care of the disposal of the body, usually through cremation.

Who Cannot be cremated? ›

Cenotaph - a grave where the body is not present; a memorial erected as over a grave, but at a place where the body has not been interred. A cenotaph may look exactly like any other grave in terms of marker and inscription.

Only one body can be cremated at once, and all cremated remains must be cleared from the cremation chamber before another cremation can begin. These standards do mean that you may have little input into any 'customization' of a cremation process.