Below is a list of questions and
responses that we commonly receive at the funeral home. We will continue to
include any new questions in this section that we feel would be helpful to
others.
If you have a question that has not been covered in this site we would like to hear from you. You may use the "Ask the Director" section of our site to forward your question or comments to us.
If you would prefer to call us on the
telephone, our staff would be pleased to provide an answer to any funeral
related matter you may have. If we do not have the answer immediately, we will
find it for you and contact you the minute the information is in our hands.
| Question #1 | How much do Funerals Cost? |
| Answer: | Funeral Costs vary depending on the type of service you are looking for. Afull traditional funeral with earth burial in a cemetery, will cost much more than a simplified service involving cremation. For charges information, go to "tradtional service package" |
| Question #2 | Do you always have to be Embalmed? |
| Answer: | Embalming is the complete restoration, preservation, and disinfection of the dead human body. If the casket is to be open to the public for viewing then it is required by law that the deceased be embalmed. Services which involves a closed casket, or immediate cremation where there is no viewing, this practice is not needed. However, some funeral homes have their own rule of thumb....any dead human body in their presence for more than 48 hours, must be embalmed. |
| Question #3 | Do you have any bereavement literature? |
| Answer: | Yes. We have a lending library of videos, as well as pamphlets and brocheurs. If requested, any one can borrow these. |
| Question #4 | Is Cremation becoming more popular these days? |
| Answer: | Cremation is a means of disposition, where the body is reduced to it's natural elements. Cremation isn't yet becoming more popular. More and more people today are choosing the traditional funeral service which includes earth burial. You can have a period of visitation, a formal funeral service, followed by cremation. The burial of ashes can be done at any time following cremation. |
| Question #5 | What if the Death is unexpected? |
| Answer: | If the death is connected with a medical emergency, dial 911 to summon emergency assistance from an ambulance, the fire department and the police. A medical emergency may result in a death occurring at home or at the hospital/nursing home. Under certain circumstances, the coroner's office will be contacted. The coroner (if called) comes to your home or to the hospital to view the body, and then speaks with the family. This is a routine procedure, and should not cause undue anxiety for you or your family. Removal of the body to the funeral home, or the timing of its release from the coroner, will be discussed with you. |
| Question #6 | What if the Death was expected? |
| Answer: | If an individual chooses to die at home, arrangements should be made in advance with the family, the attending physician and a funeral home. In the case of an expected death at home, you may not want to contact emergency assistance and create an inappropriate response to the death. When the death occurs, contact the attending physician. If arrangements have been made with a funeral home and the attending physician is not available, contact the funeral home for guidance. |
| Question #7 | What kind of information or documents do I need to bring with me to make funeral arrangements? |
| Answer: | In order to make funeral arrangements, you will need the following information: • Name (including religious name, if any) and home address • Name of business or employer's name • Occupation and title • Social insurance number • Military-service serial number (if applicable) • Date and place of birth • Citizenship • Father's name and birthplace • Mother's maiden name and birthplace |
| Question #8 | Will the funeral home look after the hospital, the cemetery and letting the government know about the death? |
| Answer: | Yes. We will transfer the body from the hospital to the funeral home; we will register the death with the Registrar General, and also notify Canada Pension Plan; and we will contact the cemetery to arrange for the grave opening. |
| Question #9 | I already own cemetery interment rights and I expressed my funeral wishes in my last will and testament. Why is that not enough? |
| Answer: | Quite often, the will is not read until after the funeral has taken place, by which time it is too late for people to learn what you would have wanted. By pre-planning, you relieve your family not only of the burden of making final arrangements at an emotional time but also of the task of second-guessing what you would have wanted. By involving your family or friends in the planning process, you allow them the opportunity to express their views. Remember, they are the ones who will have to carry out your wishes. Details of your pre-planned arrangements should be readily available to family and friends, and you should make sure they know how to access them should you die unexpectedly. |
| Question #10 | I don't have cemetery arrangements. Where should I go? |
| Answer: | Many people use the same cemetery employed by other family members or friends, while others use the cemetery closest to their home. If you know of neither, your funeral director will be happy to help you locate a cemetery that will meet your needs. |
| Question #11 | If I pre-plan my funeral, will that include everything or will I also have to go to the cemetery to make arrangements? |
| Answer: | You will still need to purchase cemetery interment rights, and a visit to the cemetery is strongly recommended for that. |
| Question #12 | What happens if I move out of town and I have already pre-paid my funeral with you? |
| Answer: | You have the option of having your money refunded to you, along with accrued interest, less a small administration fee, or Tompkins Funeral Home can transfer your trust fund to another funeral home of your choice. The second option precludes issuing a T5 on accrued interest. |
| Question #13 | What happens if I die in another province or country while on a trip? |
| Answer: | One phone call to the Tompkins Funeral Home by a friend or family member is all that is required to set in motion the process of having the body returned home for burial or cremation. You can also purchase a travel-assistance plan, which will cover costs if a death occurs while out of town. |
| Question #14 | In the case of a simple cremation, do I really need a casket/container? |
| Answer: | For cremation, what is required is an enclosed, rigid container made of wood or another combustible material to allow for the dignified handling of human remains. The type of casket or container is a personal decision. Caskets and containers are available in a wide variety of materials, and range in style from simple to elaborate. |
| Question #15 | Why do we have to pay tax on death? |
| Answer: | That's a question only the federal government can answer. |
| Question #16 | I understand the advantages of pre-paying, but what happens to my funds when they are deposited? |
| Answer: | Pre-paid monies are held in a Trust Fund from which they can only be removed upon receipt of a cancellation letter signed by the purchaser, or when the death occurs. All interest accumulated in the account belongs to the purchaser or his/her estate. However, the purchaser can cancel at any time with the option of having his/her money refunded, along with accrued interest, less a small administration fee, or the Tompkins Funeral Home can transfer the trust fund to another funeral home of your choice. The second option precludes the issuing of a T5 on accrued interest. |