Funeral & Burial Questions
Why have a funeral?
There are many good reasons why funeral rituals have been part of nearly every society and culture throughout time. A funeral service can even be held for those who have chosen cremation.
Funerals:
Are the first step in the healing process
Provide social support for the bereaved
Allow the bereaved to embrace and express their grief
Reaffirm the value of the person who passed away
Honor the life of the deceased
Provide a time to say goodbye
What do I need to know to arrange a funeral?
Making funeral arrangements can be an emotionally wrenching process. After all, it is usually done when the loved ones are in their earliest stages of grief.
Here are some tips to make the process go smoothly:
Be an informed consumer and ask questions. Keep in mind that all mortuaries and cemeteries are not the same in terms of their fees, level of service and available options.
Choose an independent funeral home and a licensed funeral director.
Make sure you receive a copy of the funeral home’s General Price List.
While making the funeral arrangements, be sure to get a clear understanding of all service and payment options.
If possible, make decisions and organize details in advance of need.
Work with your funeral director and clergy to plan a personalized and meaningful ceremony.
How do I arrange a funeral if I live out of the area?
Olive Tree Mortuary understands that the person responsible for making funeral arrangements does not always live nearby. If you cannot make the funeral arrangements in person, we can assist you over the phone or online at this website.
Can I make the arrangements for my own funeral while I’m still alive?
Yes! This is called pre-planning or pre-arranging. Click here to learn about the benefits of planning ahead.
What does the funeral director do?
Funeral directors are caregivers and administrators. They make the arrangements for the transportation of the deceased, complete all necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the deceased.
Funeral directors have experience assisting the bereaved in coping with death. They are trained to answer questions about grief, recognize when a person is having difficulty coping, and recommend sources of professional help.
Are all funerals the same?
No, all funerals are not the same. Funerals can be elaborate or simple, public or private, religious or secular, military or civilian. In fact, there are a wide range of funeral practices, and these are influenced by cultural and religious traditions, costs and personal preferences.
Why have a public viewing?
Viewing is an important part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Viewing can aid the grief process by helping the bereaved recognize the reality of death.
Should children participate in a public viewing?
Provided the process is clearly explained to the child in advance in age-appropriate terms, then experts advise that children should be encouraged to participate in a public viewing. However, the activity should always be voluntary and children should never be forced to view the body of the deceased.
Embalming Questions
What is embalming?
Embalming is a way to sanitize and preserve the body of the deceased by treating it with chemicals that forestall decomposition.
Why embalm?
If there will be a public viewing of the deceased, embalming enhances the appearance of someone who was disfigured by traumatic death or illness.
Embalming also makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition of the body. This allows family members time to travel (if necessary) and make arrangements for the type of service that is most comforting to them.
Is embalming required by law?
No. However, most states require embalming when death is caused by a reportable contagious disease or when the body is to be transported from one state to another by a common carrier, or if final disposition is not to be made within a prescribed number of hours.
Cremation Questions
Can you have a funeral if you choose cremation?
Yes. The funeral is a ritual that can be very comforting to the bereaved, and allows surviving friends and family the opportunity to honor the deceased with a memorial service. A funeral does not require a burial.
Cremation can actually increase your options when planning a funeral, because it allows for flexibility in the types of tributes that reflect the life being honored. But this doesn’t mean that aspects of traditional funeral services have to be discarded.
What do you do with the cremated remains?
Cremated remains are commonly placed in an urn and then placed in an indoor or outdoor mausoleum or columbarium, interred in a family burial plot, or included in a special urn garden.
Another option is to scatter the remains, such as in a designated cemetery garden or at a place that was special to the person. But keep in mind that in some areas, laws are in place regarding the scattering of human remains so be sure to check into this before moving forward with your plans.
Where can I get more information on cremation?
Olive Tree Mortuary can assist you with all aspects of the process, including transfer of the deceased, arrangements for the funeral or memorial service, and more.
For more technical information about the cremation process, visit the Cremation Association of North America.
Funeral Cost Questions
What does the average funeral cost?
The cost of a funeral depends on the services and products chosen (i.e. type of casket, flowers, use of viewing facilities, etc.) and the mortuary provider.
In Southern California, most cemetery-affiliated mortuaries charge approximately $10,000 for a typical funeral. Those who choose to use Olive Tree Mortuary, an independent, family-owned mortuary, are able to obtain the same services for much less.
Please note that cemetery and monument charges are in addition to this.
What recourse does a consumer have for poor service or overcharging?
Funeral service is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission and state licensing boards. In most cases, you should first discuss problems with the funeral director. If this does not resolve the issue, you can contact the funeral service help line at the National Funeral Directors Association for assistance.
What to Do If Death Occurs
What should I do if a death occurs at home?
In Southern California, Olive Tree Mortuary is available to assist you at any hour, seven days a week. Please call us at 714-739-1961 and we will provide the assistance you need.
Will someone come right away to pick up the body?
If you request immediate assistance, yes. However, your family may wish to spend a little time with the deceased to say goodbye. We will be there when the time is right for you.
How do I get the remains if they are being held by the County Coroner?
In California, there are many situations in which a death automatically becomes a coroner case. Olive Tree Mortuary has strong, long-term relationships with the Coroner’s offices and Health Departments in all Southern California counties, including Orange County, Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and San Diego County. We can handle transferring the deceased from the Coroner to the mortuary for you.
What do I do if a loved one dies out of California? Can Olive Tree Mortuary still help?
Yes. When death occurs away from home, Olive Tree Mortuary can help you with out-of-state arrangements and transfer the deceased to the location that you prefer. Please call 714-739-1961 for assistance.
What do I do if we want to hold the burial overseas?
Olive Tree Mortuary has extensive experience shipping bodies overseas, and we’re known for our ability to expedite this process. In fact, if we are able to begin the process on a weekday, we can usually have the body on the plane within three days.