FAQ
- What do we do immediately following the death of our loved one?
If the death occurred at home without medical assistance, i.e. Hospice, Home Health or a Physician, then call your funeral director and explain the circumstance. They can help determine who else should be notified. Usually the death occurs in a medical facility or under medical care. In those instances the people in charge will call your funeral director for you. The funeral director will help guide you through this difficult time. Your funeral director is available 24 hours a day and should be notified when the death occurs regardless of the time of day or night.
- Who does the obituary? What newspapers do we put the obituary in?
We at Mesa View Mortuary-Cemetery gather the information for the obituary at the time we meet with you. We will then send that information to all local and any distant newspapers that you direct. Many newspapers will not accept obituaries directly from families.
- How soon do we have to have the funeral?
Usually the funeral is held 3 to 4 days following the death. Factors to consider when deciding on the time of the service are, the distance that family members have to travel to attend the funeral, are there any holidays that would interfere with the burial, what is the schedule of the person that will officiate at the funeral. Yes, you can wait 7 to 10 days if you desire, however, families have expressed to us that the waiting can be very difficult.
- Where do we get the Death Certificates? How many will we need?
The state registrar in the county where the death occurred issues certified copies. We will obtain the information needed for the death certificate when you come for the arrangement conference. The Certified Copy of the death certificate will be needed for any claims for death benefits or to change any titles (real estate, vehicles, investments, etc.). We can help you get the number of death certificates that you feel you will need. Colorado charges $15.00 for the first copy and $6.00 for each additional copy that is obtained at the same time.
- We have life insurance. Where and how do we file the claim to receive payment?
If there is a local agent for that insurance company they can and will help you
make a claim for benefits. Mesa View Mortuary-Cemetery will also assist you in obtaining and filing the necessary papers. Usually the insurance company will need a certified copy of the death certificate, the original policy (or statement that the policy was lost) and their completed claim form.
- We don't have a church. Who conducts the funeral service and where is it held?
There are several ministers that would be glad to conduct the services for you either at our chapel or at the graveside. It is not required that a minister conduct the funeral service. You may desire to have someone in charge that will lead others in the funeral ceremony. We can assist this leader in planning the funeral service if they desire.
Funerals can be held anywhere there is room for people to gather. Normally they are held in our chapel, at a church, or at graveside. Some funerals have been held in the Sales Barn and the Rodeo Grounds! We can assist you in making the decision on the location of the funeral service that best meets your needs and desires.
- Can we have a viewing if what we want is cremation?
Cremation is a means of disposition. You may have a viewing prior to cremation and you may even have the body present for the funeral ceremony with cremation to follow. If you have a public viewing the body would have to be embalmed.
- What do I need to bring to the funeral home for the arrangement conference?
During the arrangement conference vital statistics and obituary information will be obtained so you would need to bring that type of information (social security number, father's name, mother's maiden name, years of formal education, birth date and place, etc.). You may bring the clothing at this time if the clothing is ready. Clothing usually consists of all the normal clothing that your loved one wore including underclothing with the exception of shoes.
- My spouse was a Veteran. What will the Veterans Administration pay?
As a rule of thumb the Veterans will provide honors at the graveside, provide a headstone, and a flag for burial purposes. If the veteran died in a V.A. facility or under V.A. care or if the veteran was receiving a pension from the V.A. they may be entitled to more reimbursement. Please check the V.A. web site http://www.va.gov/ for information about benefits. Requirements for military honors are explained at www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil/.
- What does Social Security pay towards funeral expenses?
Social Security will pay a lump sum death benefit to a surviving spouse or dependent children. That amount is usually $255.00. To learn more about Social Security contact their web site www.ssa.gov/pubs/10084.
- What can I do to personalize the service?
We have many items available to help you personalize the service. One item is a large selection of music as well as the equipment to play cassettes or CDs. Another is a magnetic board on which you may place a collage of pictures to be displayed at the visitation and service. We also have the ability to put photos that you bring to us on videotape that can be played at the service. This can be kept after the service as a video scrapbook of your loved one. We have tables and equipment to display personal effects of your loved one at the visitation and service. That may be as simple as samples of handwork or a saddle and bridle; maybe some bales of hay and an irrigation shovel. We can assist you with many different options.
- Isn't cremation cheaper than burial?
It can be, but depending on the choices you make it can be similar in cost to an immediate burial service. As a general rule the crematory charge for the cremation process is usually less than a cemetery space. However something has to be done with the ashes after the cremation (such as scattering, burial, or keeping the ashes, or some combination there of). This choice may or may not increase the expense of the cremation.
A couple of words about cremation: cremation is irreversible so every effort should be made to accommodate everyone's needs prior to the cremation process, i.e. a time for viewing the body and having the body present at the service; and if you are considering scattering the ashes, that too is an irreversible act. You may want to consider your needs and those of others to have a place to remember your loved one on Memorial Day or other anniversaries, or you may wish to keep a small keepsake amount of ashes for this purpose also.
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