Frequently Asked Questions

For your convenience, our staff has compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

1. What do you do when a death occurs?
2. What purpose does a funeral serve?
3. Why have a public viewing?
4. What is the purpose of embalming?
5. Does a dead body have to be embalmed according to the law?
6. Is Cremation a substitute for embalming?
7. How much does a funeral cost?
8. What determines the cost of a funeral?
9. Must you go through a funeral director to bury the dead?

1. What do you do when a death occurs?  The first step is to contact the funeral home of choice.  If the death takes place out of state, in another city or country, you can call your funeral director of choice and allow them to make the necessary arrangements to return your loved one home.  One should check to see if the deceased had pre-planned their service and if there are any insurance policies or death benefits that may cover the funeral expenses. 

2. What purpose does a funeral serve?  Funerals are rituals for the living to honor the life of the deceased.  It is a way to take emotional energy and make it physical by participating in the funeral rite.

3. Why have a public viewing?  A public viewing assists the grieving process by visually seeing the deceased and accepting the reality of death. 

4. What is the purpose of embalming?  Embalming is an act that preserves and sanitizes the body of the deceased.  Embalming allows for more time between the death and final disposition, which can allow for family members who are traveling to attend the funeral service.

5. Does a dead body have to be embalmed according to the law?  No.  If a deceased is to be transported across state lines by a common carrier then embalming must take place according to Wisconsin law.

6. Is Cremation a substitute for embalming?  No.  Cremation is an alternative to burial or entombment and can still take place following a traditional funeral service.

7. How much does a funeral cost? The average funeral cost depends on the type of service a family may select as well as the type of merchandise and cash advanced items.  Contact your local funeral home for a General Price List.

8. What determines the cost of a funeral?  The family of the deceased determines the cost of a funeral.  The cost will depend on how elaborate or simple the choices of the deceased’s family are. 

9. Must you go through a funeral director to bury the dead?  There is no law in Wisconsin that prevents the family members of the deceased from burying their own dead as long as all legal requirements are met.

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