Welcome : General Information : Frequently Asked Questions

Pre-Planning

When Death Occurs

Funeral Arrangement Conference

Funeral Service / Burial Questions

Cremation Questions

Funeral Cost Questions

Embalming Questions

General Questions

Pre-Planning

Is there a charge to meet with a Family Service Advisor or to place pre-arrangement information on file with a funeral home?

No. Consultation with a Family Service Advisor is a complimentary service.

Can a Family Service Advisor come to my home for my appointment?

Yes. The pre-need appointment can take place in the offices of the funeral home or in the convenience and privacy of your home.

What happens if I move after making pre-arrangements at Osceola Memory Gardens?

Most of the time, your funeral arrangements can be transferred to another funeral home when you move. We may even be able to recommend a funeral home in your new community.

Can I transfer my or my loved one's pre-arrangements from one funeral home to Osceola Memory Gardens?

Yes, this can be done anytime including at the time of death.

What can be done prior to death occurring?

In the case of an imminent death, families can still meet with a funeral director to record wishes and make pre-arrangement decisions.

Can I make pre-arrangement decisions at an earlier age when death is not imminent?

Yes. Families can meet with a Family Service Advisor to record wishes and make pre-arrangement decisions years in advance of death. These decisions can also be pre-funded through a pre-need trust which freezes the cost of the services, thus guarding against future inflation.

When Death Occurs

What should we do when a friend or family member has died?

If the individual died in a nursing home or hospital, notify the medical staff that Osceola Memory Gardens is the funeral home handling arrangements so they can have you sign any necessary release paperwork. They will contact us to make the necessary arrangements.

What do we do if death is anticipated at home?

Today, more people with terminal illnesses are electing to die at home under the care of hospice. In this situation, you need to notify Hospice that Osceola Memory Gardens is the funeral home of your choice, they will then take care of all necessary legal requirements. Many times when someone has a terminal illness, the family will elect to make prearrangements with us so that they are not overwhelmed with the many important decisions at the time of death.

What happens if there is an unanticipated death at home or elsewhere?

In these situations, immediately call 911. The police and emergency medical personnel will then determine the appropriate steps to be taken. Often, the police can release the deceased directly to our funeral home. However, in certain cases, the deceased may need to go to the Medical Examiner's office so that they can determine the cause of death.

What do we do when death occurs away from home?

If the death occurs outside of Florida, you should first call Osceola Memory Gardens. We can coordinate with a local funeral director at the place of death. Osceola Memory Gardens often can save families money by having our firm handle the arrangements.

Who makes the call to the funeral home when death occurs locally or out of town?

Usually a staff member of the hospital, nursing home or hospice nurse will contact the funeral home. The funeral director will then start the process of making the funeral arrangements with the family.

Funeral Arrangement Conference

• Military Discharge Papers (Form DD214).
• Recent Photograph for newspaper & preparation purposes.
• Clothing.
• Jewelry & personal items - these items can either be brought to the arrangement conference, or on the day of the visitation. You will be given a receipt for such items which will also list your requested disposition.
• Photographs to create a Memorial Video – Ask the funeral director for more information.
  
  

Funeral Service / Burial Questions

What is the difference between a funeral and memorial service?

The only difference between these two services is whether or not the body is present. A funeral service is conducted with the presence of the body and a memorial service is conducted in memory of the person, without the presence of the full body.

Why is a funeral service important?

In the earliest recorded times, societies honored the dead through ceremonies. According to beliefs at that time, the purpose of the ritual was to properly send the decedent on the journey into the next life. Today, however, psychologists and other experts agree that the benefits of the funeral are for those left behind; those who must reconstruct their lives following their loss. Before family and friends can fully adjust to their loss, survivors must express their grief in ways meaningful to them. They must face, openly and realistically, the fact that death has indeed occurred. The funeral provides the opportunity to do exactly that.

What type of funeral do most people choose?

Most people prefer a traditional funeral with a visitation in either the funeral home or church followed by a service. However, we offer a number of different choices to make the service meaningful to you. Memorial services, cremation, military or fraternal tributes are just a few of the options we have available. We try to honor any special preferences or requests.

What times are available for a visitation?

While we provide guidance with respect to visitation periods, we leave the actual time up to the family. Visitations may extend to multiple days or may take place in just an hour or so before the funeral service. Morning, afternoon and evening hours are available during the week or on weekends. It all depends upon the needs of the family.

Where can a funeral be held?

Traditionally, funerals are held in a church, which is still a common practice today. However, there are several other options. Funeral services may be held at the funeral home in our Chapel or can even be held at the gravesite or cemetery chapel.

How can a funeral be personalized?

It is becoming more common to tailor a funeral service to the personality of the deceased. Prayers and remembrances offered by family and friends, favorite music, treasured belongings, memorial videos, pictures and mementos can all play a major role in making the final tribute fitting and moving. The family can choose to assemble a display containing family photographs, favorite possessions, items from a hobby or awards the deceased received. These items help shift the emphasis of the services to the memories of the person's life, rather than on the circumstances of his or her death. Personalization can also be added by simply choosing the most appropriate services and products available from the funeral home.

What cemetery options are available for burial?

Most funerals conclude with earth burial, which is burying the remains contained in a casket into the ground. Purchases made for this option generally include a casket, a vault, a cemetery plot and a headstone or grave marker. Above ground entombment is provided in mausoleums, buildings designed and maintained to house human remains. Mausoleums are becoming increasingly popular and affordable. Osceola Memory Gardens offers mausoleum crypts at our cemetery which vary in price range. In many instances, mausoleums are less expensive than earth burial. We also offer Private Estates. Please see the “Cemetery” section of this website for more information regarding cemetery options.

Cremation Questions

What is cremation?

Cremation is the process of reducing the human body to bone particles and ash through the application of direct flame and intense heat.

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.

Can I have a service or viewing with cremation?

Yes, just because someone is interested in cremation does not mean that the family cannot have a viewing and funeral service. Everything is available from a traditional funeral ceremony followed by cremation and then burial to a memorial service after the cremation has occurred.

Is a casket necessary for cremation?

Florida law does require that the body be held in a rigid, leak-proof container for dignified storage, transfer and handling. Today, we have a variety of cremation caskets and containers that are very economical and manufactured specifically for cremation.

What are the legal requirements for cremation in Florida?

There are three basic legal requirements which must be met before a cremation can be performed in Florida. First, at least 48 hours must elapse between the time of death and the time of the cremation. Second, a legally authorized individual must give permission for the cremation in writing. Third, the District Medical Examiner must give approval for the cremation which requires a completed death certificate for their review.

What can be done with the cremated remains?

You have many options. The cremated remains are placed in an urn and can be buried in a cemetery, placed in a columbarium niche, kept at home, scattered on private property or at least 3 miles offshore. Our staff can assist you in exploring those options.

How long does the cremation process take?

It depends on the size of the individual and the type of cremation container or casket. Typically, the process takes 2 to 3 hours at a normal operating temperature of 1600 to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit.


What happens following the cremation process?

Following the actual cremation, all bone particles and other materials are retrieved from the cremation chamber by sweeping them into a stainless steel collection pan for cooling. Once cooled, all metal materials (metal casket parts, hip joints, & bridgework) are removed by both visual inspection and use of a strong magnet. The remaining bone particles and ash are then reduced into a small, consistent size and placed in the selected urn.

What do cremated remains look like?

Cremated remains resemble coarse beach sand. They are typically light gray in color. The cremated remains of an average size adult would weigh between 5 to 8 pounds and usually take up 200 cubic inches in volume or less. Except for some minuscule amounts of cremated remains which cannot practically be removed from the cremation chamber, all cremated remains are placed in the selected urn. If the amount of cremated remains cannot fit inside the selected urn, then any excess cremated remains would be returned in a temporary urn supplied by our crematory.

Funeral Cost Questions

How may I learn about funeral costs?

Funeral establishments are required to give current retail price information known as the General Price List.

How much do funerals generally cost?

Funerals today are about options. Part of "being prepared" is knowing the costs so you will feel comfortable with your choices. We are willing to discuss specific costs with you over the phone or in person. Advance planning helps you prepare for the expense and allows you to set aside funds over time.

We have invested in our families by having the ability to offer two convenient locations, a lunch/dining facility, and ample parking for any sized family. Osceola Memory Gardens offers options to fit every family of religious, cultural, and socioeconomic background.

When people talk about the cost of a funeral they often include costs that they may have incurred for expenses at the funeral home, flowers, a luncheon at the funeral home or alternative facility, cemetery costs, obituary costs, honorariums to the church, clergy, and organist. As you can see the cost of a funeral is primarily dependent on each family's specific needs.

At Osceola Memory Gardens, we have consistently priced our services at a level where we can serve families of every economical background. Since 1958, we have often been able to save the families we serve hundred’s and in many cases thousand’s of dollars.

At Osceola Memory Gardens, it is our goal to serve each family with care and compassion while offering goods and services that your family will value.

Why do funerals seem 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.

Embalming Questions

What is the purpose of embalming?

Embalming sanitizes and temporarily preserves the body, retards the decomposition process, and enhances the appearance of a body. 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.

Is embalming required by law?

No, in Florida embalming is not required by law. However, embalming is required if the family has selected a funeral service with a public wake or viewing. In most instances, embalming is also required if the deceased is to be transported from one state to another by common carrier. For example, if an individual passes away in Florida and is to be transported by airplane to Ohio for burial, embalming would most likely be required.

General Questions

Why do people talk about closure when it comes to dealing with death?

Death ends a life, not a relationship. Coming to terms with the death of a family member is extraordinarily difficult and a lifelong experience. Parents may discuss ways to lessen the impact their death will have on their family. Ideas of no visitation or no funeral may be considered but clergy will acknowledge that this will not lessen the pain or consolation you will receive following the death of a loved one. Love will come from your closest friends that come to pay their respects and want to be there for you at this difficult time. Coming to terms with a family members death (closure) allows you to continue your life knowing that the spirit of your loved one will live on inside of you forever.

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 meant by immediate disposition?

Immediate disposition is the interment, entombment or cremation of the remains without ceremonies. Immediate disposition usually includes transfer of the remains to the funeral home, preparation and filing of the necessary documents and transportation to the cemetery or transportation to and from the crematory.

How do people select a funeral home?

Almost always by reputation, location and cost. The way a funeral home serves families is readily known in most communities. If you need a funeral director and for some reason do not know one, the reference of a relative or friend who has been served satisfactorily is one wise way to make a decision. The best way is to know in advance whom you would select and then visit the funeral home, examine the facilities, meet the staff and understand the ways in which your needs will be served. We encourage you to stop by Osceola Memory Gardens for a tour of our facilities and to speak with a member of our staff to answer any questions you may have.

What do licensed funeral directors do?

Funeral directors are caregivers and administrators. They make the arrangements for transportation of the body, complete all necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the body. Funeral directors are listeners, advisors and supporters. 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.

If you have any other questions, please call us at (407) 847-2494 or email us.