Hauger-Zeigler Funeral Home: Somerset, PA

I've never planned a funeral before. What things should I consider in choosing a provider?
It is important to choose a provider whose staff is helpful, knowledgeable, experienced and professional -- one that can provide the facilities, information, guidance and options that best meet your family’s emotional, spiritual, cultural and economic needs.

Can a funeral be personalized?
Yes. Whether the ceremony is elaborate or simple, today’s funerals are often individualized to reflect the life lived. Personalization can be achieved by incorporating music, family photos, mementos, accomplishments, passions, hobbies or activities that characterized their unique qualities.

What factors should be considered in selecting the day and time of the funeral?
Some religious practices and customs require that the decedent be buried within 24 hours. Otherwise, it is customary to allow enough time for out-of-town guests to make travel arrangements to attend the service. (See Lodging )Family and friends should also have enough time to read the obituary and arrange for time off from work. While some people may want to get through the service as quickly as possible, saying good-bye is an important part of accepting loss and letting go.

What is the importance of visitation?
Visitation is a critical step in the healing process. By establishing visitation hours and inviting friends and family to your home after the funeral service, it often gives people the chance to exchange stories about the deceased, reinforcing how much that person meant in everyone’s life.

Does a service have to be performed by a minister? What if I don't have one?
There is no requirement that a clergy member must perform a funeral service. If desired, Hauger-Zeigler Funeral Home can locate a clergy member from the denomination of your choice to perform the service. The funeral home will arrange a meeting between the clergy and the deceased’s family before the service in order to tailor the service to the family’s wishes.

Is embalming always required?
No. While embalming may be required by a specific state’s law in certain circumstances, in general, it is not always required. Your funeral home may require embalming if you select certain funeral arrangements, such as a funeral with viewing. Additionally, certain religious cultures do not allow embalming.

Should there be an open casket?
While it is entirely your choice, viewing the body can help bring closure to friends and family, allowing them to accept the death. Having an open casket may make the grieving process easier. Some people feel that children, in particular, benefit from viewing the deceased. If the person suffered before death, it is also advisable to view the body so one’s memory of that person in their discomfort can be replaced by the memory of the deceased in peace.

When the casket is open, how should the deceased be presented?
Since this is the last time family and friends will see their loved one, the viewing should leave fond memories. Appearance should be as natural as possible. For example, if the individual wore glasses, leave their glasses on. Jewelry is appropriate, as are any other items that were meaningful. Clothing should be respectful and dignified. Because visitation is frequently held during evening hours, it is recommended that the family have a private visitation earlier that day. At that time, the family has an opportunity to see their loved one before other friends and family members.

Can funeral services be held anywhere?
The most common sites for holding funerals are churches or chapels in the funeral home. Another option is to hold the entire ceremony at a graveside or at another outdoor venue of significance. Occasionally, funeral services are held at a family residence.

Can we still have a funeral service if cremation is chosen?
Absolutely. No matter what type of disposition you choose – burial or cremation – a funeral or memorial service is a celebration of the life that has been lived. It offers family and friends the opportunity to pay tribute to their loved one as well as an opportunity to grieve in a supportive environment.

What do I do if my loved one dies out of state?
If your loved one's death occurs in another state, we recommend calling us first. There is no need to contact a funeral director in the state where the death occurred and doing so may actually result in unnecessary additional expense. Once you contact the Hauger-Zeigler Funeral Home, our staff will immediately make the appropriate arrangements to bring your loved one home. Through the support of our professional organization, Selected Independent Funeral Homes, we have contacts in all fifty states and many parts of the world to whom we entrust the care of the loved ones of the families we serve.

Why are funerals so expensive?
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, it also includes 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.

Contrary to popular belief, funeral homes are largely family-owned with a modest profit margin.

Why is the selection of a Funeral Home so important?
The death of a loved one forces you to deal with a world of unfamiliar decisions at a time when you are emotionally most vulnerable. Since you must depend in large part on guidance from your funeral director, it's important that you have the utmost confidence that the funeral director is open, honest and has your best interests at heart when helping you plan a funeral.

What are some things we should bring when making funeral arrangements?
It is helpful prior to coming into make funeral arrangements to compile some lists. Such as: Family information (parents names, spouse, siblings, and childrens names), which is used for drawing up obituaries and death certificates. Social Security number for notification of the death; as well as, information regarding life insurance, bank accounts, property and motor vehicles. All of which are used for getting the proper amount of death certificates.