- Q. Is the Hallett Funeral Home a full service funeral home, and just what does that mean?
- A. We are a full service funeral home, as are most funeral homes. It just means that we provide any type of service that a family needs. That may include funerals at the funeral home, in churches, at a graveside or what we call basic cremation or medical school donations.
- Q. What is basic cremation?
- A. Occasionally we have a family who really wants to do as much as they possibly can themselves. In other words they are prepared to arrange for memorial services, handle the disposition of the ashes after cremation and whatever other details are necessary.
- Q. If a family isn't prepared to do all that, how do you handle it?
- A. Of course, there are additional charges in that case, but we would do everything necessary to help the family that needs our help and that would include writing and submitting obituaries, procuring the necessary paper work, and making all arrangements for services or burial of ashes. In short, whatever we can do for you we will do.
- Q. I understand there are veteran's benefits?
- A. You are right, and we will file all the necessary paperwork with the Veterans Administration, as well as Social Security. An honorably discharged veteran is entitled to a flag, a marker for his or her grave if there isn't one present, and sometimes a plot allowance stipend for disabled veterans. We are very fortunate to have the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne for the benefit of veteran's, their spouses, and any dependent children. If that is an option the veteran chooses, the cemetery provides the grave, the opening of that grave, outer burial container, and installation of the marker. They will save a space next to the veteran if there is a surviving spouse. That is at no cost to the veteran or spouse. In addition there are sometimes funds from the towns if necessary for a veteran's burial.
- Q. We go to Florida every winter, but we want to have our services here. How do you handle that?
- A. That is a good question and the answer can save you, literally, thousands of dollars. If something should happen when you are traveling or wintering elsewhere, do not contact a local funeral home. Rather, call the funeral home that you intend to have perform the services for you. The Federal Trade Commission requires all funeral homes to have a basic overhead charge. If you call that local funeral home, their charges to you will start with that basic charge. If we make a call to a funeral home in your area, they will work for us as our agent and the cost will be substantially different. There are also nationwide services we can contact that will save a substantial amount of money.
- Q. Is there a good reason to plan ahead?
- A. Yes, most definitely. We call that making pre-arrangements and many people do it. In fact, a recent study showed that 79% of all people who made pre-arrangements were glad they had done it. It helps to gather the necessary information and to settle many questions ahead of time. Families are often scattered these days and perhaps it means it can be done at a time when most of the members of the family can be involved. It is hard to plan anything long-distance, but particularly when there has been a death and people are upset and confused. A couple or individual can make the arrangements for themselves.
- Q. Is it true that many of the funeral homes on Cape Cod are all owned by the same big company?
- A. Yes, that is the sad truth and personally, we don't think that is a good fit for Cape Cod. We feel that the focus of a big company is their investors and that is not, in our view, condusive to good funeral service. Our focus is the family that comes to us for help and we intend to be there this year, next year, and every year after to help you in any way we can. That surely was the intent of our dad when he started the funeral home in 1959 and we, his daughters, have seen no reason to change that.
- Q. What are things to consider when choosing a funeral home?
- A. There are so many answers to that, it is hard to know where to begin.
- Do you like where the funeral home is?
- Do you like how it looks?
- Are there private or outside spaces for very upset people to escape to for comfort?
- Will it be easy to find if you have out of town friends or family who wish to attend the services?
- Has the funeral home been there for awhile?
- Do you know their reputation?
- Are you comfortable when you go into the funeral home?
- Q. My mother is an artist and we would like to display some of her work during the calling hours. Is that possible?
- A. It certainly is possible and it is a wonderful tribute to her. We have special equipment for displaying different types of art. We also have ways to display photos or examples of a person's hobbies. Anything that speaks about the life, talents, or interests of that person is wonderful and makes the services so much more meaningful.
- Do you have questions that we haven't answered? If you do, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Questions & Answers
