FAQ

General Funeral Service FAQ

What do funeral directors do?
Funeral directors are licensed professionals who assist families with the arrangements necessary following the death of a loved one. We are a 24 hour per day 365 day per year business helping guide you through the aspects of the various types of services we offer. Our multi-faceted occupation includes coming to the place of death, preparations of the deceased for viewing, composing the obituary and coordinating and supervising visiting hours, funeral/memorial services and burials.

What purpose does a funeral or memorial service serve?
A celebration of a person’s life is an important part of the loss of a loved one. Time spent gathered together in a religious or non religious ceremony will not only memorialize the person who has died, but can also provide comfort and peace to friends and family. It has been said that services are not for those who have passed away, but for those who remain.

How can I personalize a funeral service?
Some of the most memorable services are those which have been arranged with some personalization involved. It can be as simple as special music being played to bringing family pictures for display or even a special order embroidered casket interior. The more personal and special you make a service the more long lasting and comforting it can be.

What is embalming and is it necessary before services are held?
Embalming is a surgical procedure which helps prevent the spread of communicable disease and slows the rate decomposition. Many people are under the misconception that everyone has to be embalmed and that it is a law. In New York State there is no such law, however, most funeral homes have policies which require embalming take place before there is any public viewing.

What should I be prepared to provide when going to the funeral home to make funeral arrangements?
During the initial phone call with the person responsible for funeral arrangements most families are asked to bring a full change of clothing for the deceased, a photograph for the obituary and hair style and discharge papers if the deceased served in the military. Some other important and necessary information are deceased’s Social Security number and parents names (including mother’s maiden name).

What is the first thing to do when a loved one dies out of town?
The best thing to do when a death occurs out is call us directly. We can then help guide you through many decisions involved with the logistics of getting your loved one back to Jamestown. If services are going to be held out of town we can coordinate with another funeral home of your choosing and then make the necessary arrangements for transportation to Jamestown.

What should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend?
We take great pride in the fact that we have and will always answer our phone. You need not hesitate calling us on any day at any hour and you will speak with one of us directly.

Do clergy always officiate at a funeral service?
Not everyone has a relationship with a religious institution and there is no law or rule that a member of the clergy must officiate at a funeral service. While a clergy person can certainly provide a certain level of comfort to families at this difficult time some alternatives could be the chaplain of a nursing home, officers of a social club or veterans group or a family member or friend

Preplanning FAQ

Why should I prearrange my funeral or burial?
If for no other reason prearranging with the funeral home is a wonderful way to have you information and wishes written down and kept on file with us. There is no cost for prearranging. Some people want only to give us vital statistic information while others would like to make very specific selections and even open a burial trust account to cover the final expenses.
Can I transfer my pre-paid funeral from another funeral home to your funeral home?
Yes. If you have previously made preneed funeral arrangements with another funeral home you may transfer the account to Lind Funeral Home. The funds that you set aside for your funeral do not belong to the funeral home, they belong to you. There would be some simple paperwork involved, but the transfer can be done with our help.

Cremation FAQs

What Happens to the Cremated Remains?
Cremated remains can be buried at a cemetery, placed in a niche (an above ground recess used to hold an urn), or returned to your family. Some families keep the ashes at home while others scatter them at a place held special to them or their loved one.

Can I still have a funeral service with the body present if I choose cremation?
Cremation is a means of final disposition of the body and that process can happen at any point following a death. Some choose to be cremated with no viewing while others choose to have viewing, service and then be cremated.