CALL Belle Memorial Funeral Home day or night

We take charge from then on and make all the arrangements for conveying of the deceased to the local funeral home for embalming and preparation for return to their home state. You only need contact us with some basic information and call us when you return to set a time for an arrangement conference. For us to assume the costs as outlined, the death must have occurred in one of the forty-eight contiguous states and you must call us direct so we can engage our representatives at the place of death. (DO NOT contact a funeral firm where the death occurs. WE MUST DO THIS.)  

The standard receiving policy in most other funeral homes is to give you a credit for the embalming against their standard prices. You must pay all other charges such as transfer casket, transfer container, out-of-town funeral home facilities, professional and staff services, transfer documents and transportation charges. These costs can easily mount up to $1200 dollars or more, depending on the cost of transportation and charges of the out-of-town funeral home. Transportation costs differ and fees are not uniform from funeral firm to funeral firm, so we cannot say exactly how much this might be.  

WHAT DO YOU SAVE? - We pay all most normal out-of-town costs except cash advances. These normal charges include out-of-town removal service, standard embalming, transfer of remains to airport, outer transfer container, all documents for transfer and burial, out-of-town funeral facilities, professional staff and services. This means your only additional costs are transportation and transfer of remains to the funeral home from the airport. Since we use a light weight transfer casket and outer container we help to keep the air fare to a minimum.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL - If a family member dies while traveling outside the United States, the U.S. Embassy will come to your assistance. You should call us immediately when a death occurs abroad. We are well-versed in the procedures for returning the deceased to the United States.  

OTHER CONDITIONS - If the death occurs outside of the forty-eight contiguous states or your family has already engaged another funeral firm, Belle Memorial Funeral Home will apply liberal credits to services provided by others when selecting one of our complete full-service funerals. Our memberships in the National Funeral Directors Association and National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association as well as memberships in other national organizations provide us with funeral service contacts world wide.  

What is Continuing Care? 

Continuing Care represents the long term commitment Belle Memorial Funeral Home. carries toward the families they have served. They understand that the confidence placed in them by their client families represents the ultimate trust one person can place in another, and it is greatly honored and appreciated.   

What does Continuing Care provide? As part of Continuing Care, Belle Memorial Funeral Home. provides information, answers questions and guidance through decisions that will be made in the future. Some of these might be: 

·         Family Follow Up Survey

·         Social Security information

·         Assistance in filing insurance claims

·         Veteran’s benefits

·         Monuments

·         Future planning

·         Local information / service assistance

·         “Getting Better”

·         "Life Journeys"   

Why should I plan a funeral for my loved one? 

A funeral or memorial is a customary way to recognize death and its finality. Funerals are held for the living to show respect for the dead and to help survivors begin the grief process. They also give mourners a chance to share stories, create memories, fulfill religious beliefs & customs, participate in a support system, and gather at a peaceful place during a time of confusion and uncertainty.  

 What tasks are involved in arranging a funeral? 

There can be as many as 200 tasks when planning a funeral. Many of them are listed below. Our Funeral Director will coordinate most of these for you, after meeting with you at a private consultation.  

·         Obtain the signature of the attending physician, coroner or medical examiner on the required certificate; file the certificate with the registrar of vital statistics where the death occurred

·         Ensure compliance with government regulators

·         Transfer the deceased from the place of death to the funeral home (local or out of town)

·         Obtain family history

·         Make decisions regarding the remains of the deceased

·         Determine the budget (if funeral has not been pre-arranged)

·         Determine the funeral or memorial service location(s), such as church, chapel, or graveside

·         Plan for a viewing/visitation and determine open or closed casket

·         Choose the final resting place (cemetery, mausoleum, private land, etc.)

·         Make necessary arrangements with clergy, church and cemetery officials

·         Obtain certified copies of the death certificate, as necessary

·         Procure the burial permit and file with the cemetery

·         Select and purchase the casket, outer burial container or urn

·         Select a monument/marker

·         Order and schedule the delivery of all products/merchandise

·         Compose and submit newspaper and other media notices

·         Choose clothing & jewelry

·         Select poems, scripture, readings

·         Select music: taped, live musicians, etc.

·         Choose pallbearers

·         Arrange for transportation of the deceased

·         Secure flower/equipment trucks, as necessary

·         Purchase acknowledgement cards, register books, memorial folders, etc.

·         Purchase a door wreath & flowers

·         Arrange for family transportation

·         Complete social security papers and secure social security benefits

·         Secure Veterans benefits (if applicable)

·         Secure life insurance benefits (if applicable)

·         Contact insurance agents

·         Complete accounting, clerical and filing work

·         Answer telephone calls

·         Notify other organizations that your loved one participated in  

What do funeral directors do? 

Funeral directors are caregivers, advisors, and administrators. They make the arrangements for the transportation of the deceased, complete all necessary paperwork, and carry out the wishes of the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the deceased. They have experience assisting the bereaved in coping with death, are trained to answer questions about grief, and can recommend sources of professional help.   Some people cannot afford basic funeral services. What other financial resources are available? Other than the family, there are veteran, union, and other organizational benefits to pay for funerals, including, in certain instances, a lump sum death payment from Social Security. In most states, some form of public aid allowances are available from either the state, county, city, or a combination. Most funeral directors are aware of the various benefits and know how to obtain them.