Since the founding of Hoven Funeral Home, our policy has been to provide full information to the public concerning funeral arrangements.

What is the purpose of a funeral?
Funerals are an important step in the grieving process, as well as an opportunity to honor a life lived. They offer surviving family members and friends a caring, supportive environment in which to share thoughts and feelings about the death. Often funerals are the first step in the healing process.

What all is included in funeral costs?
Costs for a funeral service include the professional services of the funeral director and staff, embalming, use of facilities and/or equipment for visitation and funeral ceremony, transfer from place of death to funeral home, necessary vehicles, an average-priced casket and concrete vault. Most costs do not include such cash disbursements as purchase of cemetery lots, grave opening/closing, clergy honorarium, musicians, paid obituaries, certified death certificates and monument expenses.

Certainly the cost of your funeral can fall below or above the average cost, depending on the merchandise and service selections you choose. Your selection of services, which can vary from a traditional funeral service to a memorial service, will also affect your funeral cost.

Can I get any assistance with the funeral costs?
FIA Social Services awards financial assistance to individuals who meet a number of criteria. To qualify, you, and all other family members who share your responsibility for the funeral, must be receiving at least one of several benefits, and have insufficient savings to pay for the funeral.

The FIA Funeral Payment will provide a limited amount, which may provide a contribution towards a more traditional funeral.

How do most people pay for funeral expenses?
Many families rely on life insurance to pay for funeral expenses. A large number of families use funds that were set aside in funeral pre-arrangements ahead of times. Others may pay with cash, money orders or certified checks, or a credit card.

How much will Social Security pay towards my funeral expenses?
The Social Security Administration may pay a lump sum death benefit of $255.00 to the surviving spouse provided that the deceased and their spouse were living together at the time of death. Entitled dependent children may be eligible to receive the lump sum death benefit if the deceased was receiving monthly benefits at the time of passing.

Further information regarding benefits that you or your family may be eligible for can be obtained by calling the Social Security Administration directly at (800) 772-1213 or visiting their website at www.ssa.gov.

Will the Veterans Administration pay for my funeral expenses if I am a U.S. Veteran?
Each veteran, other than dishonorably discharged, is entitled to a burial flag and a government grave marker. In certain circumstances, a veteran may be eligible for benefits. These may include a burial and plot allowance and in certain circumstances, transportation expenses. If the death is ruled to be service connected, there may be additional funds available.

What is the difference between a funeral and a memorial service?
A funeral always involves the presence of a deceased human body. A memorial service is any service, which commemorates a death, but the body is not present.

Can I still have a funeral service if I choose cremation?
Yes. Cremation opens the doors to a number of different funeral options. From traditional services to contemporary celebrations, cremation gives you the flexibility to personalize the services for yourself or a loved one.

The act of cremation is simply a form of disposition, taking the place of a full body burial. While you may desire a direct cremation with no services, many people choose to have visitations and/or a funeral ceremony prior to the cremation. Others choose to have a memorial service with the urn present.

Is embalming required by law?
Except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law. However, embalming may be necessary if you select certain funeral arrangements such as a funeral with viewing. If you do not want embalming, you have the right to choose an arrangement that does not require it, such as closed casket services, immediate burial or cremation prior to your service.

Can funeral arrangements be planned and, if desired, pre-paid in advance?
Yes. Referred to as “preplanning” or “prearranging”, many people find that preplanning fives them peace of mind knowing that their wishes will be respected and the burden lessened on their family at the time of their death. Others find that they need to protect their assets from the state and assure that their funeral expenses will be taken care of.

Preplanning your funeral consists of meeting with the funeral home, to allow them to gather biographical information for a death certificate as well as any information you would like included in obituary notices. At this time, you can also choose the type of service desires, the type of casket, concrete outer burial container or cremation urn. Once your prearrangements are made, you may prepay your funeral to secure the price at today’s cost. The interest that accumulates on your funds is then used to offset inflation. Here at Hoven Funeral Home, we also work with insurance companies and trusts. We guarantee that your funds will be secure and protected.

What will happen to my prepaid arrangements should I decide to move?
Most prepaid arrangements are established using an irrevocable contract to protect the funds from being acquired by the State, the funeral home or the family before the death occurs. Your arrangements, however, are easily transferred to another funeral home should you decide to leave the area.