Funeral Directors

What is a funeral director and do you really need one?

In the state of New York, a funeral director is the only person who is legally empowered to handle any death arrangements. They must be licensed and registered with the state and must be present and personally supervise the burial or cremation as well as the transportation of a body. They must also complete the paperwork to be submitted to the registrar in which district the death occurred.

Not everyone can be a funeral director or a mortician. You need to have a degree in Mortuary Science from an accredited college by the American Board of Funeral Service Education. And in many states, you need to be involved in a continuing education program to ensure that the funeral director are well versed with the latest techniques and regulations. To perform embalming a funeral director need to be licensed to do so.

A Funeral Director handles all aspects of a funeral ceremony including procession

In the US, although individual states have their own regulations pertaining to licensing, generally at least an associate’s degree is required with examinations by the National Board Examination and state board examination and on top of that at least a year’s work as an apprentice.

A funeral director’s basic tasks include transporting the body, custodial care which include dressing, casketing and cosmetizing the body especially if there is going ot an open casket viewing, and may also involve embalming, and presentation of the body for viewing, burial or cremation and transfer of the body elsewhere if necessary. Besides that, a funeral director can advise you on the various services either offered by the funeral home itself or by a third party vendor.

He or she would also be able to help you with regards to cemetery requirements and burial permit, and specific religious rites.

Almost all of the paperwork involve would also be taken care by a funeral director. This would include claims for social security, veterans benefit, insurance and wills. Not forgetting permits, certificates and obituaries. The cemetery deed should be given to you by the funeral director within seven days of burial.

Other services that a funeral director can coordinate include arranging for a clergy, musicians, flowers and donations. A funeral director would also be able to advise you on the suitable burial vessel or container for cremation. However, it is illegal for him to pressure anyone to purchase certain services or goods that isn’t required by law.

A funeral director does not only coordinate the ceremonial arrangements and supervise the logistics of a funeral but they may also provide grief counseling for beloved survivors of the deceased. He is also the person whom you can go to for any advise in almost all aspects pertaining to the death of a loved one.

To engage a funeral director will help lessen the burden when you are at a time consumed with grief and where there seem to be so many decisions to make, procedures to follow and paperwork to fill out. It will also ensure a professional handling of all pertaining matters and you will fell much better knowing you did the best you can for a respectful and dignified final journey of your loved one.

Tags: Funeral Director, Licensed Funeral Director, Long Island Funeral, Long Island Funeral Director, New York Funeral Director
Posted in Funeral Director, Long Island Funeral, New York Funeral Homes | No Comments »

When it comes to grief, closure is an essential element.

July 25, 2009- Michael Jackson died from lack of breathing and whatever else the coroner’s report might read. Seventy days later, the world will once again conduct him accordingly through their prayers and lay his body to its eternal rest. Finally we can have some closure.

I understand in criminal investigations funerals may be delayed for a period of time. Surely when speaking of someone as well noted as the “King of Pop,” extra care must be given so that the fingers are pointed in the right direction. It is unfortunate that while this appears to be necessary for justice to be accomplished, a man lies in a state of unrest.

Michael Jackson’s body is being kept in storage at another cemetery in refrigeration for his family to view him until his day of committal. I believe most will agree that the length of time is a bit extreme. I’m here to also add that it is not unheard of.

There are circumstances such as these where a disposition must be delayed. Aside from criminal investigations, there are situations where the cemetery is the cause. An interment may be delayed for months due to climate conditions where the grave cannot be dug until after the winter months begin waning. Another good example is Arlington National Cemetery, where there is a waiting list for interments. I recall an incident early in my career where a woman died and the funeral home I was working for received permission to remove and embalm. The arrangements had to be postponed until two of the woman’s sons could get to the funeral home. Turns out they were both working for the CIA and one of the sons was undercover and would not be back for the funeral. The other son was going to return for the services and funeral but that was not going to take place until a month later. The two boys explained that their aunt who was working for the embassy in Italy could not get back to the states until her work there was finished. Not only that but she would be the authorizing agent for the funeral arrangements. The length of time from date of death to the day of burial was 21 days.

Did I mention that I specialize in pre arrangements otherwise known as advance funeral planning? Let this be a lesson to any person who works for the CIA, FBI, some foreign embassy, military personal… get my drift? Basically, any person whose lifestyle warrants them to be away from home and responsibility…Please make sure you have funeral plans in place- it just makes everything that much easier.

Getting back to Michael, with the interment scheduled for tomorrow I believe that now his family can go on and grieve the loss of their son, brother, husband, father and friend. Let us not forget to mention his undying fans who will keep his memory alive by playing his songs and music videos forevermore. Tributes are already flooding the internet for this great legend and I’m sure more are to come. My concern lies with his contemporaries and when they will write a song fitting to this man’s legacy. There are some who believe such tributes are forthcoming and that they are already in the works just waiting for the right time…I certainly hope so. I believe that time is now.It would bring disgrace to his name if neglected. Sean “Puffy” Combs, where is the lyric for Michael? Biggie received his tribute just 80 days from his date of death. Now is the time to get it done.

Lastly, if I may quote one of Michael’s lyrics:

But They Say The Sky’s
The Limit
And To Me That’s Really True
And My Friends You Have
Seen Nothin’
Just Wait ‘Til I Get Through . . .

Michael has broken through and the world has changed.

Lord, let his good deeds follow him.



Amen.

Tags: Celebrity Funeral, Disposition, Interment, Memorilization, Michael Jackson Funeral
Posted in Advanced Planning, Long Island Funeral, Pre-Arrangements, Pre-Need, Preneed | 1 Comment »

One night I am at home on call and the funeral home I work with contacts me and advises me that a gentleman is curious about cremation and  is waiting for a call back.   Quickly I grab my General Price List so that I my help this gentleman with his inquiry.   You see any time a funeral director is discussing prices for a particular funeral homes services and or merchandise they must take the charges directly from the funeral homes general price list.  When I get the  said gentleman on the phone he advised me that his mother was ill and he needs prices for a cheap cremation (his words not mine).  As I  was quoting the price for our funeral homes direct cremation fee, which is a limited service provided by the funeral home, the gentleman became rather ungentlemanly.  He said to me with a drunken stuper that his mom is old and dying and why can’t he just light the old hag on fire and stick her in a garbage can.  I calmly stated that no you can’t get her out of the convalescent home because you need a New York State Licensed Funeral Director who would be working under a funeral homes registration to take possession of her remains.  I also added that lighting her on fire is a criminal act and punishable by law.  My professional opinion was that he would be much better off using a crematory to do the actual cremation.   I predicted that he might scare his neighbors into calling the fire department as his mothers earthy shell is incinerated in his illegal pyre.  To conclude the conversation I added that if he chose to store his mothers ashes a garbage can well there is no law against that but he may want to get an urn instead.

to be continued…

Tags: cremation, Licensed Funeral Director
Posted in Long Island Funeral, Pre-Arrangements, Preneed | No Comments »

Welcome to Long Island Funeral’s information based website.  It is the mission of this site to provide information regarding all phases of deathcare planning. From pre-arranged funerals to local Long Island cemeteries, traditional funerals to cremation.  Any questions are welcome just fill out the form below and submit.  A NYS licensed funeral director will be replying to your comments in a timely fassion.

Over time as more blogs become posted this site will prove to be a very useful tool for any user looking to tap into the knowledge base the site will eventually emass.

The more questions and/or comments posted the better.  Please feel free leave a comment or shoot us an email.

Thank You.

Long Island Funeral

Tags: Long Island Funeral
Posted in Long Island Funeral, Long Island Funeral Homes, New York Funeral Homes | 1 Comment »

This site is dedicated to providing information about funerals in Long Island, New York. Residents and former residents of Long Island looking for preened arrangements or advanced planning information are best served by our site and its contents, which are authored by a New York State Licensed Funeral Director.

Each week we will be adding more articles about typical pre-need and arrangement planning issues and content related to funerals in the Long Island area.

Tags: Long Island, Long Island Funeral, Long Island Funeral Home
Posted in Advanced Planning, Long Island Funeral, Long Island Funeral Homes, New York Funeral Homes, Pre-Arrangements, Pre-Need | No Comments »