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HOW TO GUIDE - Saturday, September 24, 2022 14 How to Choose a Funeral Home Mission Chapel 1927 Ocean Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-426-1601 FD-1476 Oakwood Chapel 3301 Paul Sweet Road Santa Cruz, CA 95065 831-475-2464 FD-1530 Santa Cruz's Locally Owned, Family Operated Funeral Homes Offering Personalized Services & Beautiful Grounds for Reflection and Healing After the death of a loved one, choosing a funeral home for services and memorials prior to burial or cre- mation is the next step in honoring a life. Sometimes it can be a hasty decision made during a confusing, stressful, and emotional time. But it's worth the time and effort to investigate the funeral homes in your area and consider their services, pricing, and ownership before making a decision. People often select a funeral home or cremation service because it's nearby or has been recommend- ed by someone they know. By limiting your choice to just one funeral home, you may risk paying more than necessary for the funeral or cremation services or selecting a funeral home with out-of-state ownership that has little connection with the community. Here are some tips we hope will help make choosing the right funeral home for you and your family less stressful. Compare Prices and Ownership If you have made funeral arrangements previously, you may be tempted to simply use the funeral home you've used in the past. While this may be the right option for some people, it's not always the best op- tion. Depending on how long it's been since you needed to make funeral arrangements for a loved one, the prices of that funeral home may have gone up or the ownership may have changed, even if the name of the funeral home remained the same. That's why we believe it is wise to look at your options and compare the prices and services offered by area funeral homes. Speak with the staff of the funeral homes in the com- munity and look at their facilities. For cremation families, ask if the Funeral Home owns the crematory and is it on-site or do they use a cre- mation facility owned by a 3rd party or in a different location. Ask them if they offer witness cremation arrangements or have facilities where the family can gather during cremation. Ask for Recommendations Even if you have never had to choose a funeral home in the past, you may have a friend, relative or clergy person who can offer some guidance. Ask these folks if they would recommend the services provided at the funeral home they've used in the past. They may be able to share helpful information about the staff, facili- ties, and prices of a specific funeral home. Ask about Package Services Whether your loved one had specific requests for their final wishes, or you must make these decisions yourself, it is important that you ask the funeral home what types of Service Packages they offer. Service Packages are designed to simplify the arrangement process. Typically, they provide most of the items necessary for specific arrangements and can offer financial savings to the family. You will find that not all funeral homes are created equal, and each offers their own different ways of handling a funeral service or cremation arrangement. No matter what type of requirements you have, it is best to choose a funeral home that will meet your needs to make this difficult situation a little less daunting. Caring and Professional Staff When visiting a funeral home, the funeral director can be a major factor in your decision on whether to use them to handle the funeral or cremation of your loved one. A caring and professional funeral director and support staff will take the time to explain all your options in an empathetic way so that you can make an informed choice when selecting the funeral home that will be serving your family. While dealing with the death of a loved one is hard, choosing the right funeral home or cremation provider can help relieve some of the stress you may feel. If you want your loved one to receive the funeral or cremation service that honors their life and meets your family's needs, following these tips should help you make the right choice.

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