Frequently Asked Questions

Funerals at Ritchie & Johnson can cost from a few thousand to over six or seven thousand dollars. Many services are involved depending on the services requested. Some of the more common services that affect the total cost include: transfer-of-remains, embalming, cosmetic preparation of the deceased (grooming, hairdressing, casketing), local transportation to the cemetery, and services of the staff, and the funeral merchandise.

Funeral costs may be paid by cash, check, VISA, MasterCard, or an assignment of verified insurance benefits. Many families choose payment plans available through preplanning. This important decision can limit or eliminate the financial burden when the death of a loved one occurs. For more information, visit our Preplanning Page.

In some respects, funerals are similar to other major celebrations like weddings or milestone birthdays in the sense that they require detailed, deliberate logistical and financial planning. The details and cost will vary according to the tastes and budget of the consumer. A funeral home is a 24-hour, labor-intensive business, that includes extensive facilities like viewing rooms, chapels, limousines, hearses, etc. Moreover, the cost includes not only merchandise, like caskets, but the services of a funeral director and staff in making arrangements; filing appropriate forms; dealing with doctors, ministers, florists, newspapers and others; and seeing to all the necessary details. All of these expenses must be factored into the cost of a funeral. Often, funeral homes are largely family-owned with a modest profit margin.

THIS ANSWER IS NOT INTENDED TO BE AN EXHAUSTIVE, LEGAL RESPONSE, JUST BRIEF, GENERAL INFORMATION. In many cases, funeral costs are paid by the estate of the dead. If there is no will or the estate does not have enough funds to cover expenses, then whoever signed the funeral contract will be responsible for paying the outstanding amount. Other than family, there are veteran, union, and other organizational benefits to help pay for funerals. In most states, some form of public allowance is available from either the state, county, city, or a combination but keep in mind that any assistance is contingent upon meeting eligibility requirements and that benefits may be minimal. You should not necessarily expect that any of these sources will pay thousands of dollars toward a funeral. For example, the Social Security death benefit is a lump sum of only $255. It goes to a surviving spouse who was living in the deceased person’s household at the time of death, or, if living apart, was receiving certain Social Security benefits on the deceased’s record. If there is no eligible spouse, it may go to a child who is eligible for benefits on the deceased’s record in the month of death. No qualifying recipient means no payment.

The best solution is to plan financial arrangements for your funeral before death occurs. We highly encourage that you consider preplanning to alleviate the stress that comes with being unprepared financially in an already stressful event. Contact us at (304) 252-3115 to go over your personal situation or to discuss preplanning options.

Yes, we do. The staff of the Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor is trained to complete all necessary paperwork to begin the benefits process and will follow through to ensure that the benefits are secured in a timely manner.

You decide on the details of the service. If your wishes have been expressed in a pre-plan or expressly stated to your family, the funeral service will be conducted according to your wishes. If no wishes have been relayed, the service is decided by the family. The service is usually held at a place of worship or at the funeral home chapel. Services may vary according to religious denomination or the wishes of the family. A private service is by invitation only where selected relatives and a few close friends attend. A memorial service is a service without the body present and can vary in ceremony and procedures according to the family’s community and religious affiliations.

Certainly – we recommend it. It is a celebration of your life or your loved one’s life and should be performed according to your desires. We encourage you to meet with us to discuss options to assure that this special day meets your wishes.

A viewing is not required; however, it is traditional to some cultures. Also, many grief professionals believe that it helps in the grieving process in that the act of viewing the body brings a reality to the death. When death becomes real, we are forced to grieve and can no longer deny what has happened. Gradually, traditions are changing as more people choose cremation and direct burials. Whether to have the body present and the casket open can be a difficult decision particularly since different family members can have completely opposing views.

Call us at (304) 252-4115. The Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you need immediate assistance, one of our staff will be available as quickly as possible.

Contact us immediately at (304) 252-4115. We can provide assistance in the event of a death anywhere in the world. Ritchie & Johnson will take responsibility and manage arrangements for the return of the deceased person to their community. We may engage the services of a funeral director in the place where the death occurred to act as our agent. Funeral directors are trained and experienced in handling the necessary details when this happens.

Obituaries are not required, however, it is helpful to friends and the community to have an obituary notice published announcing the death and type of service to be held. The notice is normally placed in a local newspaper or on the Internet. Currently, the Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor staff enters the basic information about the deceased in the local newspaper and the full version on the Obituaries Page of this website.

TIP: You can subscribe to receive all new obituary announcements from Ritchie & Johnson by clicking the Subscribe to Obituaries button at the right on the Obituaries Page. You can enter either your mobile phone number or your email address to receive the announcements.

Funeral directors are administrators, caregivers, and advisors. They make the arrangements for transportation of the body, complete all necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the body. They are listeners, advisors and supporters who have experience assisting the bereaved in coping with death. Funeral directors are trained to answer questions about grief, recognize when a person is having difficulty coping, and recommend sources of professional help. They can also connect survivors with support groups at the funeral home or in the community.

Funerals and memorial services are the customary ways in which we recognize death and its finality. They are held for the living to show respect for the dead and to help survivors begin the grief process. They also give mourners a chance to share stories, create memories, fulfill religious beliefs and customs, participate in a support system, and gather at a peaceful place during a time of confusion and uncertainty. That being said, some people, before their death, request that there be no service for them. It is not a requirement, it is a choice.

Embalming is a chemical process that sanitizes and preserves the body, slows decomposition process, and enhances the appearance of a body disfigured by traumatic death or illness. It makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, thus allowing family members time to arrange and participate in a service for the deceased. Embalming the body enables mourners to view the deceased if they wish.

No. But, certain factors of time, health and possible legal requirements might make embalming either appropriate or necessary. Note that embalming may be required if the deceased is being transported by air to another country where local laws need be observed; however, under most circumstances, it is your choice. The decision may depend on such factors as whether the family selected a service with a public viewing of the body with an open casket; or to enhance the deceased’s appearance for a private family viewing; or if the body is going to be transported by air or rail, or because of the length of time prior to the burial.

No, it is an alternative to burial in the ground or entombment for the body’s final disposition and often follows a traditional funeral service.

Cremation is typically less expensive, however, as with traditional burial, the family will decide how much or how little to spend on a cremation service. There is a wide selection of choices and price ranges for cremation services and merchandise.

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 another authorized person. Regulations in many states also require that a certain number of hours must have transpired since the death occurred (usually 24 to 48 hours). After these conditions are met, the cremation takes place and the cremated remains are placed in the designated container or urn selected for disposition.

There are several options to consider with a cremation. A family can choose to bury the cremated remains in a cemetery, store and display them at home in an urn, or scatter them in a place special to the deceased. Many cemeteries have created areas specifically for cremated remains. These areas may be in a mausoleum, in a columbarium, in a ground burial area or in a cremation garden offering even more choices. It is necessary to check local restrictions on scattering cremated remains on public property or private property.

Yes, there are many ways to memorialize a decedent after cremation. One option is burial of the urn, marked with a bronze memorial or sculpture. There are also memorialization options available, including keepsake urns, columbarium niches and cremation benches. The Ritchie & Johnson staff can review with you the choices available to meet the needs of your family or the wishes of your loved one.

Absolutely, you can. Cremation does not prevent you from having a visitation and a funeral service. It is merely one option for the final disposition of the body.

Whether you choose to scatter the cremated remains (cremains) or place them in an urn, it is important to choose a final resting place. This provides your family and friends with a focal point to assist them in remembering the life that was lived.

A mausoleum is a building in which remains are buried or entombed in crypts above ground. Mausoleum crypts are both clean and dry in contrast to traditional underground burial areas. They offer a viable alternative for those who simply have an aversion to being interred in the ground. Furthermore, mausoleums allow for a maximum number of entombments in a minimum amount of space. The most famous mausoleums in history are: India’s architecturally stunning Taj Mahal, the ancient Catacombs outside Rome, Italy, and of course the Great Pyramids of Egypt.

A columbarium, often located within a mausoleum, chapel or in a garden setting, is constructed with numerous small compartments (niches) designed to hold urns containing cremated remains.

A niche is a small space in a columbarium or mausoleum or niche wall that holds an urn.

Caskets are made of either metal (bronze, copper or steel), wood, or composite materials and are available in a variety of styles and colors. The cost depends on the exterior and interior materials used similar to the price of furniture. For example, bronze, a semi-precious metal, is more expensive than steel and mahogany, a rare hardwood, is more expensive than the readily available softwood pine. There is also the option of adding personal touches to most caskets which can increase the final price.

Legendary singer, Aretha Franklin’s casket cost about $30,000. The solid bronze Promethean casket was made by the Batesville Casket Company in southeast Indiana. It took approximately 150 hours to build, customize, and polish it. Although it looks gold-plated, the company says only the hardware is plated with 24-karat gold. The rest of the plating used 48 ounces of polished bronze.

Yes. Not only do we highly recommend it, but preplanning your funeral is, in fact, one of the most caring things that you can do for your family. It provides a clear picture of your final wishes and relieves them from having to worry about how you would prefer to be remembered, where to find things, and what to do during an emotional and stressful period. Also preplanning can include prefunding to alleviate financial burden on your loved ones in the event of your death. The Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor staff can assist you with your preplanning needs. Read more benefits here on our Preplanning Page and feel free to call us at (304) 252-4115 or email us through our Contact Page to arrange a consultation.