F.A.Q.s

How to start the pre-arranging process?
Just call to schedule a time or talk over the phone with a member from our friendly staff, and we will walk you through the different steps in the pre-arranging process.  We offer this service free of charge with no obligation to our funeral home.

Do I have to fund the pre-arrangement?
No, many families only want to talk and arrange for the type of services they feel appropriate when it is not such an emotional decision.  Our funeral home keeps their wishes on file, so when something would happen to their loved one a lot of the tough emotional decisions have been decided.  The main advantage of pre-funding your loved one’s service is that our funeral home guarantees the price of the funeral at the date of the pre-arrangement. (For more information, Reasons to Pre-Planning)

Is my pre-arrangement transferrable?
By Missouri law a funeral home is only required to put eighty percent of your money on deposit.  A funeral home can keep twenty percent of the money as an underwriting fee, but our funeral home puts all 100% of your money on deposit.  If you would decide to transfer to a different funeral home then all of your money would be transferable.
If you have a pre-arrangement with another funeral home and would like to transfer your policy to Freeman Mortuary then please contact us.  This is possible and not as difficult as many families think.

What to do when someone dies?
Our staff is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  If something happens to your loved one, no matter if it is 2:00 PM in the afternoon or 2:00 AM in the morning, please just pick up the phone and call our funeral home.  We will come to where the death occurs and take care of walking the family through this difficult time.

What do funeral directors do?
Funeral directors are listeners, advisors and supporters, caregivers and administrators. They make the arrangements for transportation of the loved one, complete all necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral. It is our job to make sure every detail of the funeral process is properly taken care of and help make this transition as easy as possible on the family.  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 in the community.

What purpose does a funeral serve?
The funeral ceremony is a customary way to recognize death and its finality.  This is a transition period for families and the funeral is a way to help with this transition and remember the life of your loved one.    

Can we have a non-religious service?
Many families want a traditional religious service; however, we have seen a trend with families that want a more contemporary service.  This contemporary service is often called a “Celebration of Life” and is a combination of many different elements that the family feels appropriate.  Many times these services contain personal eulogies, video tributes, special music, and a life history.   

Why have public viewings?
Viewing is part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Many grief specialists believe that viewing aids the grief process by helping the bereaved recognize the reality of death.  Some families do not wish to have an open casket for the funeral or visitation.  It is our recommendation that any family members, who would like closure with the open casket, be able to have that chance to help with the grieving process during a private family visitation before the start of the public visitation.  What the family does during the public visitation deals with their personal preferences. 

What is the purpose of embalming?
Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body, delays the decomposition process, and enhances the appearance of a body disfigured by traumatic death or illness. Embalming makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, thus allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them.

Is embalming required by law with earth burial?
The only time embalming is required by Missouri law is when the family would like to view their loved one’s remains.  Embalming is not required by Missouri law if the family would like to go with a direct burial where no one would view the remains.

Is cremation a substitute for a funeral?
No, cremation is an alternative to earth burial or entombment for the body's final disposition and often follows a traditional funeral service.

So, I've decided on cremation, can I still have a funeral or a viewing?
Yes, quite often some sort of viewing precedes the actual cremation. We can assist you with the necessary information for a funeral with a cremation following or a memorial service.

Why are funerals so expensive?
When compared to other major life cycle events, like births and weddings, funerals are not expensive. A wedding costs at least three times as much; but because it is a happy event, wedding costs are rarely criticized. A funeral home is a 24-hour, labor-intensive business, with extensive facilities (viewing rooms, chapels, limousines, hearses, etc.), these expenses must be factored into the cost of a funeral. Moreover, the cost of a funeral includes not only merchandise, like caskets, but the services of a funeral director in making arrangements; filing appropriate forms; dealing with doctors, ministers, florists, newspapers and others; and seeing to all the necessary details. Our funeral home is independently owned and operated with a modest profit margin.

If a loved one dies out of state, can Freeman Mortuary still help?
Yes, we can assist you with out-of-state arrangements, either to transfer the remains to another state or from another state back to Jefferson City.  Please call our funeral home for further information.

What happens when the deceased person has made no arrangements/Will/requests?
It is then up to the next of kin to make the arrangements. In cases where there is no next of kin, then usually a friend, neighbor, minister, or the public administrator will assume the role.