Questions and Answers
What
is the significance of a funeral service?
From the
beginning of recorded history, societies have honored those who died
with a traditional ceremony. According to beliefs at that time, the
purpose of the ritual was to send the deceased on his or her journey
into the afterlife.
Today, however, many experts agree
that the benefits of a service are for those who are left behind after a
death. A "closure" of sorts must occur to help survivors adjust to
their loss and recognize that a death has occurred. A funeral service
provides the opportunity for friends and family to celebrate the life
that was lived and allow the healing process to begin.
How much does a funeral cost?
Funeral
costs vary depending on the funeral home and type of service selected.
There are two types of costs associated with a funeral: (1) services
provided by the funeral home and (2) merchandise such as a casket or
urn. These costs are reflected in our general, casket and outer burial
container price lists, which are available upon request.
We recognize this is a difficult time for
you. As a convenience, we offer payment methods of cash, checks,
credit/debit card payments through PayPal or an assignment of verified
insurance benefits.
Can
I make my funeral arrangements before I die?
Yes.
You can do so here on our website. Just click on the Funeral Pre-Planning forms tabs. Complete the forms and click send. Someone will contact you shortly after receipt.
Today, prearrangement and prepayment of funerals are becoming more
common. Prearranging will provide you with more time to review your
options and give you a choice in your own funeral service.
Prearrangement will provide you with the peace of mind that everything
has been taken care of; relieving your family of the emotional and
financial burden that often comes with making arrangements when a loved
one passes away. Oftentimes, making arrangements in advance also
guarantees a service and funeral at today's prices, free from inflation.
At Victory Funeral Services, we will be more
than happy to assist you with your prearrangements.
How many types of caskets exist, and why
are some more expensive than others?
Caskets are made of either metal (bronze,
copper or steel) or wood. Prices vary, depending on the exterior and
interior materials used. Bronze, a semi-precious metal, is more
expensive than steel. Mahogany, a rare hardwood, is more expensive than
the readily available softwood pine.
What is
embalming and is it necessary before services are held?
Embalming
is the temporary preservation of a deceased's remains. It is not
required by law, but is common practice when a viewing is planned.
Can a funeral home assist me with Social
Security benefits and Veteran death benefits?
Yes. In
fact, Victory Funeral Services will do more
than just assist you with securing these benefits. Our staff is trained
to complete all necessary paperwork to begin the benefits process and to
follow through to ensure that the benefits are secured in a timely
manner.
What is
involved in the cremation process?
Before cremation occurs, the death certificate
must be completed and signed by the attending physician or medical
examiner, and all civil and medical authorities must have issued all
required permits. In addition, necessary authorizations to cremate must
be obtained from the next of kin or authorizing person, no objections to
the cremation can be raised and a minimum of 48 hours must have
transpired since the death occurred. The cremation then takes place and
the cremated remains are placed in the designated container or urn
selected for final disposition.
Are
special cremation containers and caskets available?
Victory
Funeral Services offers a wide variety of cremation
containers and caskets to meet each family's needs.
Are the services held before or after
cremation?
Services are held at the discretion
of the family. Many choose to have a traditional service first,
followed by the cremation.
What happens to the cremated remains?
There are
many options to consider with a cremation. A family can choose to bury
the remains in a cemetery, store and display them at home in an urn, or
scatter them in a place special to the deceased. It is advisable to
check local restrictions on scattering remains on public property and
obtain permission for private property.
Victory Funeral Services, 1004 Martin Luther King
Drive, Kilgore, TX 75662 - 903-988-1122 phone 903-234-0511 fax --
dparline@sbcglobal.net