
	What purpose does a funeral serve?
	The funeral ceremony is a customary way to recognize death and its finality. Funerals are recognized rituals for the living to show respect for a loved one and to help survivors begin the grief process.



	What do funeral directors do?
	Funeral directors are listeners, advisors and supporters, caregivers and administrators. They make the arrangements for transportation of the deceased, complete all necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and final disposition. 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 at the funeral home or in the community.



	Do you have to have a funeral director to bury the dead?
	In most states, Wisconsin included, family members may bury their own family members although regulations vary. However, most people find it very trying to be solely responsible for arranging the details and legal matters surrounding a death and look to a funeral director for guidance.



	Why have a public viewing?
	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. Viewing is encouraged for children, as long as the process is explained and the activity voluntary.



	What is the purpose of embalming?
	Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body, retards 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.



	After death does a body have to be embalmed, according to law?
	Only in certain instances. Certainly when a public visitation is held with a open casket. The reason being in eyes of the state is for health purposes. Most states also require embalming when death was caused by a reportable contagious disease or when one's loved one is to be transported from one state to another by common carrier or if final disposition is not to be made within a prescribed number of hours. Most cemeteries require embalming when one is entombed in a mausoleum.



	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.



	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 family owned and operated with a modest profit margin.



	What should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend?
	We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We answer our own phones and you should feel free to call us at any time.



	Will someone come right away?
	If you request immediate assistance, yes. If the family wishes to spend a short time with their loved one to say good bye, that is also acceptable. We will come when the time is right.



	If a loved one dies out of state, can Maresh-Meredith & Acklam still help?
	Yes, we can assist you with out-of-state arrangements. When a death occurs out of state call us first. We can handle every detail over the phone. We have a network of professional funeral directors across the country that we work with that are reliable and will help ensure prompt transfer of your loved one back home. Depending on the distance we will drive to place of death or use an airline to fly into Mitchell Field in Milwaukee. By calling us first we are typically able to save any duplication of fees and keep costs to a minimum.



	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.



	What government agencies help defray final expenses?
	We will help gather the necessary information to apply for financial assistance from Social Security, Veterans, retirements and any others.



	Do you accept credit cards?
	Yes, we accept Visa, American Express, MasterCard and Discover.



	How many people can comfortably fit in your facility?
	We have 5 different areas for services ranging from rooms for intimate settings to an area that can accommodate up to 300 people. We are able to make arrangements for other facilities if needed to accommodate larger groups.

RACINE WISCONSIN FUNERAL SERVICES