From the beginning of recorded history, societies have honored those who died with a traditional ceremony. According to beliefs at that time, the purpose of the ritual was to send the deceased on his or her journey into the afterlife.  Today, however, many experts agree that the benefits of a service are for those who are left behind after a death. A "closure" of sorts must occur to help survivors adjust to their loss and recognize that a death has occurred. A funeral service provides the opportunity for friends and family to celebrate the life that was lived and allow the healing process to begin.

Funeral costs vary depending on the funeral home and type of service selected. There are two types of costs associated with a funeral: (1) services provided by the funeral home and (2) merchandise such as a casket or urn. All charges involving the funeral home's services and merchandise are available from our professional staff. We will provide a general price list with all charges.

Yes. Today, pre-arrangement and prepayment of funerals are becoming more common. Prearranging will provide you with more time to review your options and give you a choice in your own funeral service. Pre-arrangement will provide you with the peace of mind that everything has been taken care of, relieving your family of the emotional and financial burden that often comes with making arrangements when a loved one passes away. Oftentimes, making arrangements in advance also guarantees a service and funeral at today's prices, free from inflation. At Riemann Family Funeral Homes, we will assist you with your pre-arrangements.

Caskets are made of either metal (bronze, copper or steel) or wood. Prices vary, depending on the exterior and interior materials used. Bronze, a semiprecious metal, is more expensive than steel. Mahogany, a rare hardwood, is more expensive than the readily available softwood pine.

Embalming is the temporary preservation of a deceased's remains. It is not required by law, but is common practice when a viewing is planned.

Yes. In fact, Riemann Family Funeral Homes will do more than just assist you with securing these benefits. Our staff is trained to complete all necessary paperwork to begin the benefits process and to follow through to ensure that the benefits are secured in a timely manner.

Before cremation occurs, the death certificate must be completed and signed by the attending physician or medical examiner, and all civil and medical authorities must have issued all required permits. In addition, necessary authorizations to cremate must be obtained from the next of kin or authorizing person and no objections to the cremation can be raised. The cremation then takes place and the cremated remains are placed in the designated container or urn selected for final disposition.

Gulf Coast Funeral Homes, Inc. offers a wide variety of cremation containers and caskets to meet each family's needs.

Services are held at the discretion of the family. Many choose to have a traditional service first, followed by the cremation.

There are many options to consider with a cremation. A family can choose to bury the remains in a cemetery, store and display them at home in an urn or scatter them in a place special to the deceased. It is advisable to check local restrictions on scattering remains on public property and obtain permission for private property.

By making arrangements in advance, you were able to express your own wishes and relieve this emotional burden from your family. By funding your funeral in advance, you also relieved the financial burden from your family. Usually, these arrangements can be reestablished with another funeral home and nearly all funding vehicles are transferable by the owner.

Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body, retards the decomposition process, and enhances the appearance of the body disfigured by the traumatic death or illness.

 Embalming makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, thus allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them.

Please give us a call. The professional staff at Riemann Family Funeral Homes is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.