Exactly what is embalming and why should I consider it?
Embalming is the complete disinfection, preservation and restoration of human remains. The embalming procedure replaces body fluids with preservative solutions and is performed respectfully by a licensed funeral director. Although not a legal requirement, embalming is routinely practiced to preserve the deceased and protect the health and safety of family and friends throughout the visitation and funeral period.

If I want to be cremated, can I still have visitation and a funeral?
Cremation does not exclude either visitation or a funeral service. Often families choose to have cremation after visitation and a funeral service. When cremation takes place before the service, the ashes may be present for a memorial service. Ashes may be buried, entombed, scattered or kept by the family.

Should children attend visitation and the funeral?
When a death occurs, family members are struggling with their own loss. They may feel uncomfortable and unprepared to cope with the needs of the children in the family. Unfortunately, many well-meaning adults decide that children should be shielded from death and funerals and do not include them in the funeral rites.

We know that if children are old enough to love, they are old enough to feel the pain of loss. Even young children notice that a family member is missing. They are aware that normal family routines have been disrupted and that the adults in their life are distracted and upset.

The "experts" urge us to:

• provide children with simple age appropriate information.
• offer children the opportunity to attend visitation and/or funeral.
• never force a child to attend who does not want to go.
• learn about how children grieve.

Once again, we encourage parents and caregivers to ask about our Children's Information Program. Many families report that our professionally prepared educational resources have provided sensitive, supportive, guidance when explaining death to their children.

How does the funeral home manage charitable donations?
Many families wish to designate an organization or church to receive donations in memory of their deceased loved-one. The Armstrong Funeral Home will provide a card with the charity's name and the donors' name(s) and address as a permanent record for the family. Most families find these cards are a great help with the preparation of thank you notes.

The donor is responsible for forwarding the donation directly to the charity in a pre-addressed envelope which we provide.

Please tell me about the contract that we sign.
Our contract with you outlines the services and products to be supplied by the funeral home. The contract is accompanied by an invoice detailing the amounts charged for each service and product to be provided, as well as cash disbursement estimates.

What do you mean by "cash disbursements"?
For the convenience of the family, the Armstrong Funeral Home will act as an agent for those cash disbursements purchased from a third party. Cash advances include such items as newspaper notices, documentation fees, flowers, clergy/organist honourariums, cemetery and crematorium charges. On prearranged contracts, disbursements are shown as estimates only. The final billing to the family after the funeral will invoice only the exact fee charged by the third party for their service(s).