Frequently Asked Questions


Many people have questions that they may or may not feel comfortable asking their funeral director. We hope this will be of some help to you and if you think of something else you would like us to add to this list of questions, please contact us by email or telephone.

Q: With regard to my preplanned Funeral. What Happens if the Funeral Home I've selected goes out of business?

A:The Funeral Home MUST return your money, with interest, or you can give written authorization to transfer the funds to another Funeral Home. The Funeral Home MUST notify the NYS Dept. of Health of the disposition of ALL of the money being held intrust for ALL Pre-Need Agreements. If the Funeral firm fails to notify the state Health Department, and the owner relocates, it may be difficult to get your money back. To confirm that the NYS Health Department has been notified that a Funeral Home has/had gone out of business, call the Bureau of Funeral Directing at (518) 402-0785.

WHAT DO WE DO IF OUR FAMILY DEATH OCCURS AWAY FROM HOME?
Our funeral home staff will arrange with another funeral home or mortuary, where the death occurred, to have preparation and transportation made back to our funeral home. We can also help you if you are planning to have a service prior to having the family member returned to your home area.

WHY IS A FUNERAL IMPORTANT?
For thousands of years, funerals have allowed survivors to express their feelings about the death of someone they love. The rituals provide comfort when things seem chaotic and out of control. The funeral is for expressing intense grief. For many, a visitation followed by a funeral or memorial service is the first step in the grieving process. It is a time when friends, family and other guests can come together to grieve openly and to support one another in a community environment. It is also a time to say good-bye. Viewing the deceased can bring a sense of closure to the bereaved who may be in shock and denial.

WHAT DOES A FUNERAL DIRECTOR DO?

  • Pick up the deceased and transport the body to the funeral home (anytime day or night)
  • Notify proper authorities, family and/or relatives
  • Arrange and prepare death certificates
  • Provide certified copies of death certificates for insurance and benefit processing
  • Work with the insurance agent, social security or Veteran''s Administration to ensure that necessary paperwork is filed for receipt of benefits
  • Prepare and submit obituary to the newspapers of your choice
  • Bathe and embalm the deceased body, if necessary
  • Prepare the body for viewing including dressing and cosmetizing
  • Assist the family with funeral arrangements and purchase of casket, urn, burial vault and cemetery plot
  • Schedule the opening and closing of the grave with cemetery personnel, if a burial is to be performed
  • Coordinate with clergy if a funeral or memorial service is to be held
  • Arrange a police escort and transportation to the funeral and/or cemetery for the family
  • Order funeral sprays and other flower arrangements as the family wishes
  • Provide Aftercare, or grief assistance, to the bereaved

    WHAT IS EMBALMING?
  • It is a process that sanitizes and preserves a dead body.
  • It delays the decomposition process and allows time for viewing and services by the family prior to burial or cremation.
  • It restores a life-like appearance to the body and can enhance the appearance of a body that has undergone a traumatic death or illness.

    This process can take anywhere from one to three hours to perform. The time spent embalming depends upon the severity of damage to the body, whether it be from traumatic injuries and or by not being able to perform it immediately after notification of the death.

    IS EMBALMING REQUIRED WHEN A PERSON DIES?
    No, however most states insist on embalming under certain circumstances such as when the death is caused by a contagious disease or if final disposition isn''t made within a certain time frame. Embalming preserves the body, often allowing more time for arrangements. It is required if there will be a visitation. If the deceased is to be directly buried or cremated, embalming is not necessary.

    IF I CHOOSE TO BE CREMATED, CAN I HAVE A FUNERAL?
    Yes, cremation can take place either before or after a funeral depending on what type of service you choose. You can have a viewing, funeral/memorial service or burial.

    MASON Funeral Home
    37 Clinton St
    Westfield, NY 14787
    ph: 716-326-2811
    fax: 716-326-3099
    masonfuneral@yahoo.com