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.
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