INDUSTRY INSIGHT
FUNERAL SERVICES
I
recently saw a friend of mine from out of state . He said to me , “ You ’ re a funeral director — why wasn ’ t I told about all these extra charges on my mom ’ s funeral bill ? I didn ’ t expect them . I was really surprised .” Answers immediately came to me . That funeral director assumed : ” That ’ s the way we do things here ,” ” It ’ s our standard procedure ,” ” It ’ s our custom .”
I can ’ t and don ’ t assume . People handle a close family funeral , on average , once every 17 to 20 years .
Third-party charges are for items that some families have us arrange prior to a funeral . Third-party charges are sometimes known as cash-advanced items . These charges , which are not our funeral home ’ s charges , can vary widely , both in amounts and scope . We help families navigate through their options and final wishes . We also keep the families arranging the funeral informed about those charges .
THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE VARIOUS THIRD-PARTY CHARGES WE HAVE TAKEN CARE OF ...
NEWSPAPER NOTICES
Pittsburgh is rare in that there are two daily newspapers , the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh Tribune Review . The cost for each depends on length of the notice , number of days the notice runs , and other things like photos or logos of various organizations . There are also many local papers , like the Valley News Dispatch or the Butler Eagle , that some families want to utilize . Some weekly local papers run death notices . We also handle out-of-town publications .
SPONSORED CONTENT
THIRD-PARTY CHARGES
Due to the cost of newspaper death notices , some families are foregoing newspapers and simply using social media to announce a death in their family . We run notices on the permanfuneralhome . com website at no charge to families . Family and friends can leave condolences , memories , photos and videos on an individual ’ s website notice .
DEATH NOTICES VS . OBITUARIES
There is a difference . A death notice is the paid notice announcing a death . An obituary is a news article that a newspaper can run about people who have really interesting stories . There is no charge with an obituary , and the family often has little say over it because it is a news article .
CERTIFIED COPIES OF DEATH CERTIFICATE
Pennsylvania death certificates are $ 6 from a local registrar . Certificates are needed for insurance policies , bank accounts , transfer of vehicles or real estate , pensions and survivor benefits , investment accounts , and IRAs and 401K plans . Death certificates from the Bureau of Vital Records are $ 9 each .
CEMETERY CHARGES
Many families request assistance with cemetery arrangements . Cemetery charges can include the cost of the grave , mausoleum or cremation niche ; opening and closing charge ; and setting of a memorial or headstone . The charges vary widely between cemeteries .
CHURCH AND CLERGY CHARGES
We handle setting up services with different churches and clergy . Fees , honoraria and donations vary tremendously . These charges can include organists , cantors , solo vocalists , musicians and altar servers .
FLOWERS
Flowers have been a symbol of love and sympathy for generations . We help facilitate ordering flowers for the family . Our website also allows family and friends to directly order their flowers for a funeral .
FUNERAL LUNCHEON
We have helped families plan a special memorial meal . These have taken place in many different venues . We have also helped families with food orders between visitation hours too .
MISCELLANEOUS
Our funeral home has helped families with ordering dove releases , cremation jewelry and keepsakes , fingerprint jewelry , and copies of a family DVD honoring the deceased . We have also helped obtain grave marker engraving .
We strive for “ no surprises ” at Perman Funeral Home . Our staff members will help your family arrange a meaningful , affordable and memorable farewell .
This Industry Insight was written by Frank Perman , licensed funeral director , supervisor and owner of Perman Funeral Home and Cremation Services , Inc ., 923 Saxonburg Blvd . at Rt . 8 in Shaler Township . Mr . Perman believes that an educated consumer makes the best decisions . Questions can be made to him at 412.486.3600 or email at frank @ permanfuneralhome . com .
Fox Chapel Area | Summer 2016 | icmags . com 37