Frequently Asked Questions
We have heard thousands of questions, and chosen to provide you with the answers to some of the more common questions relating to a funeral, a funeral service and funeral homes.
1. What is a funeral?
A funeral is a ceremony for family members and friends to come and celebrate the life of the deceased. It allows the survivors to come together and openly face that the crisis of death has arrived. Through the funeral, the bereaved are given the opportunity to start their journey and path to mourning and recovery.
2. What type of service should I have?
The type of service you have is up to you. There are several options you can choose from. If you would like your service to be religious, we offer Christian, Jewish, & Hindi ceremonies. You can make your funeral private with invites only for close family and a few selected friends. A memorial service is when the body is not present and religious practice procedures play a part.
3. What do funeral directors do?
Funeral directors are both caregivers and administrators. In their administrative duties, they make the arrangements for transportation of the body, complete all necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the body. As caregivers, funeral directors are listeners, advisors and supporters. They have experience assisting the bereaved in coping with death. Funeral directors are trained to answer questions about grief, recognize when a person is having difficulty coping, and recommend sources of professional help. Funeral directors also link survivors with support groups at the funeral home or in the community.
4. Can I personalize my funeral service?
Of course! As a matter of fact, we encourage you to do so. Pre-planning your funeral has a lot of benefits. It helps aid in the grieving and process of death by not leaving the funeral decisions up to your family. Even if you want your funeral done somewhere else besides Hopewell Memorial Home, you can call us at 609- FUNERAL and get your requests done on record.
5. Why should we have a public viewing?
It's important to have a public viewings so that your loved ones can help get closure. Many grief specialists believe that viewing aids the grief process. It is encouraged for all ages, including children.
6. What should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or the weekend?
We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All you have to do is call us at (609)-FUNERAL and follow the instructions for emergency calls. Our professionals will be there to assist you within the hour. If your family wants to say their final goodbyes, our professionals can wait.
7. Will someone come right away?
If you need someone to assist you immediately, absolutely. Our professionals can be there within the hour as we are a 24/7 service.
8. If a loved one dies out of state, can Hopewell Memorial still help?
Yes, we can assist you with that. We can assist with transporting the remains from one state to another.
9. I've decided on cremation. Can I still have a viewing?
Yes! Usually viewing proceeds the actual cremation. Hopewell Memorial will help you with the necessary information & step-by-step process to your funeral wishes.
10. What recourse does a consumer have for poor service or overcharging?
Funeral service is regulated by the FTC and state licensing boards. In most cases, the consumer should discuss problems with the funeral director first. If the dispute cannot be solved by talking with the funeral director, the consumer may wish to contact the Funeral Service Consumer Assistance Program. FSCAP provides information, mediates disputes, provides arbitration, and maintains a consumer guarantee fund for reimbursement of services rendered. (To contact FSCAP, call 708-827-6337 or 800-662-7666).
11. Is cremation a substitute for a funeral?
No. A cremation is just the alternative to having the deceased buried in the earth for their final disposition.