Every person who comes through the doors of McMichael Funeral Home, Inc. receives the same attentive service.
First and foremost, we listen to you, provide suggestions if you need them, and otherwise help you to arrive at the decisions you need to make during this challenging time. Our goal is that you leave knowing you've done your best in trusting McMichael Funeral Home, Inc. to care for your loved one.
We know that decision-making during the hours following the loss of a loved one is difficult. We offer the extensive information below because we know that many are not fully aware of the services available today. We hope it helps make your funeral planning just that much easier.
We are honored to offer the following services:
Funerals are an important step in the grieving process and an opportunity to honor a life lived. They offer surviving family members and friends a caring, supportive environment in which to share thoughts and feelings about the death. Often funerals are the first step in the healing process.
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• Collapse - Traditional Funeral
The advantage of choosing a traditional funeral is that it follows a familiar pattern so families will know what to expect. A traditional funeral can make it easier for families and friends, because there is an established etiquette for the different stages of the ceremonies involved.
- Calling hours or visitation
- A formal service in a funeral home or church
- Procession with a hearse to escort your loved one to a cemetery
- Earth burial or entombment of the casketed remains in a mausoleum
Some of the costs associated with a traditional funeral will include:
- Personal services of the funeral director
- Embalming, dressing, cosmetology and hair arrangement
- Use of funeral home for visitations and the funeral service
- Hearse and other funeral vehicles
- Casket, vault and other goods and services
• Collapse - Personalized Funeral
We take great care to offer services to those in our community who are seeking more personal ways to express grief and say goodbye to a loved one. We do not seek only to ‘dress up’ the traditional funeral services, but listen closely to our families, and create truly unique, completely personal services for your loved one.
Some popular ways in which our client families have personalized funerals include:
- Display arts, crafts, or other personal artifacts that were cherished by the deceased.
- Lead the funeral procession past some of the deceased's favorite spots.
- Hold the funeral in a favorite spot of the deceased.
- Playing favorite songs during the Calling hours or service.
- Releasing balloons, at the interment, as a celebration of the life and ethereal spirit of the deceased.
- Presentation of a personalized photo display, digital or video memorial.
- Family and friends are invited to write letters containing their unspoken thoughts, which are then placed in the casket with the deceased.
- Online guest books. All comments left by Web site visitors are noted to the funeral register for the family.
- Live music played at services.
- Audio recording of the services.
• Collapse - Veterans Services/Military Funeral
All veterans qualify for military funeral honors and many veteran benefits, regardless of their rank or the place of burial. The local VFW branch coordinates with us for each veteran service.
The following groups are also eligible for military honors:
- Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.
- Former military members who served on active duty and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
- Former military members who completed at least one term of enlistment or a period of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve, and who departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
- Former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
Personalized Complete Care
Those who serve in the military may be eligible for special funeral and burial benefits because of their honorable service. Our staff is experienced in completing the necessary paperwork involved, and gladly takes the responsibility to do so – relieving the family of this burdensome task.
We at McMichael Funeral Home are completely committed to providing families of the veterans in our community with unsurpassed service.
Specialized Veterans’ Services and Merchandise
Our Veterans are honored by the local VFW Memorial Squad, and an honor guard, specially trained in the military rites and procedure. We use both the local VFW Memorial squad and an honor guard from the local arsenal that is specially trained in funeral procedure.
- Flag holders
- Military emblems on caskets and vaults
- Printed prayer cards, memorial folders, obituary bookmarks, and Register books, all displaying the proper military insignia
• Collapse - Direct Burials
Direct burial includes local transfer of the deceased to the funeral home, required authorizations, services of funeral director and staff, transportation of the deceased by livery to local area cemetery. Our prices do not include cemetery charges.
• Collapse - Nationwide and International Services
If your loved one dies far from Benton, we will help you return their body to you. And, should you wish a loved one returned to their birthplace, or to another location for interment or entombment, we can make all the arrangements for you. Call us at (570) 925-2385 to discuss your needs.
• Collapse - Limited Services Options
Every family is unique. We listen not only with our ears, but with our hearts and will consider all your financial and emotional constraints in designing a funeral or memorial service that suits your needs. No matter what your budget or your vision for your loved one’s service, we’re here to help.
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• Collapse - Tribute Videos
Our Life Tributes program offers a customized and animated video and a dedicated website honoring your loved one’s life. Each part of the Life Tributes program uses photos of your loved one combined with one of our various themes to create a memorial DVD that is yours to keep. This can be shown at the viewing or at a funeral service and can be viewed online.
• Collapse - Personalized Register Books
Families have a choice of several Register Books that provide a place for visitors to sign in at services. The books are personalized for each individual with a memory page and a page for a family record. Funeral service and burial place information are also recorded in the Register Book.
• Collapse - Memorial Folders
We create folders to distribute to friends and family at services or to include in thank you notes. These folders contain a verse chosen by the family along with information about the loved one. A photo of the loved one may be included in the folders.
• Collapse - Prayer Cards
Prayer Cards are personalized with birth and death information about your loved one. A verse, chosen by the family, is printed on the cards. These are handed out at services and many families choose to have extra cards printed to give to those who may not have been able to attend services.
• Collapse - Thank You Notes
Thank you notes or acknowledgement cards are personalized for our families. Families choose from a selection of note cards and choose a message to place on the card. We are able to make these note cards available to the family long after the service is over.
• Collapse - Keepsake Tributes
Various Keepsake Urns and jewelry are available for families who wish to memorialize portions of cremated remains.
• Collapse - Balloon Release
We can arrange for balloons to be released at the interment to celebrate the life and spirit of your loved one.
• Collapse - Live Musicians
Arrangements can be made to have local musicians perform during services at church, funeral home and cemetery. Most familiar songs can be requested.
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Cremation is a means of preparing the human body for final disposition and memorialization. Whether you choose burial, or cremation, you can still have a traditional funeral, or a simple memorial service, with or without the cremated remains.
You can also select direct cremation, which includes local transfer of the deceased to funeral home, required authorizations, services of a funeral director and staff, transportation of the deceased by livery to local crematory, an alternative container for cremation and the return of the cremains to the funeral home.
If you want to arrange a direct cremation, you can use an alternative container. Alternative containers encase the body and can be made of materials like fiberboard or composition materials.
We plan for every aspect of life: going to college or university, our career path, getting married and having children; buying a home. We plan our vacations, and our retirement. We buy insurance for when the unthinkable happens: fires, accidents and floods.
But, because most of us do not like to think about death - we avoid making important funeral decisions in advance. This is one of the biggest oversights made in a life well-lived. Such inattention can cost your loved ones money, time, and emotional strain.
The Heartbreaking Results of Inattention
During our longstanding service to the community we've repeatedly seen the confusion and heartache that can occur when no plans have been made. Conversely, we've also seen the peace-of-mind brought by thoughtful end-of-life preparation – not only for the one making the plans, but also for those who will be left behind.
Of course, pre-planning is a thoughtful gesture. But, it’s also practical:
- It allows you to make unhurried informed decisions while your emotions are at rest.
- It requires you to organize your important documents so your survivors will have the information they need, and so insurance or other benefits due you won't be overlooked.
And, if you choose to invest in a pre-payment plan, you not only protect against the higher costs tomorrow may bring, you also assure funds will be available when they're needed most.
Advance planning allows you to:
- Choose a reasonable budget
- Have the option to set aside the funds over a period of time
Funds set aside against future cost are held in a state-approved trust account or top-rated insurance company until required. Pre-payment is not required, however; many families simply prefer to record the details for future use.
Either way, there is no charge for making pre-arrangements.
• Collapse - What are the Advantages to Pre-Planning?
There are many advantages to arranging your funeral, cremation or cemetery services in advance:
- You protect your family from having to make such decisions at a difficult time.
- You make your wishes known to your loved ones.
- You make your own decisions about the type of service, merchandise and price.
- You prevent emotional overspending by family members who can only guess what you might have wanted.
- Your funeral, cremation or cemetery prearrangement is transferable to other firms all around the country.
- You lock in today’s prices for services that may not be needed for many years.
All of the ceremony, burial, or cremation arrangements can be made at one time in our offices, or in the comfort of your own home. Call us today at (570) 925-2385 for an appointment. Our pre-arrangement specialist will be honored to assist you in creating the perfect pre-need solution for you.
If you’d like to complete the process online, through our state-of-the-art interactive advance planning tool, click here.
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"Honoring Those Who Served"
We are deeply dedicated to serve the Veterans in our community. Our staff realizes the importance of military service – and the necessity to honor the personal commitment of veterans.
All veterans’ families will be relieved of the burden of completing and filing all the necessary paperwork to receive Veteran’s benefits. Our staff will obtain the flag to drape the casket, the grave marker, and arrange military honors at burial in the cemetery of your choice; including burial at the local National Cemetery (should that be the desire of the family). We will also assist you in processing the paperwork for the Military Burial at Sea option. For further information on our dedicated service to Veterans and their families, please call us at (570) 925-2385.
FAQ for Veterans and their Families
• Collapse - What is included in a Veteran's burial benefits?
Burial benefits available include:
- A gravesite in any of the 125 National Cemeteries with available space
- Opening and closing of the grave
- Perpetual care
- A Government headstone or marker
- A burial flag
- A Presidential Memorial Certificate
All are at no cost to the family.
Some veterans may also be eligible for Burial Allowances. Cremated remains are buried in National Cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed remains.
The VA suggests that if burial will be in a private cemetery and a Government headstone or marker will be requested for the veteran’s grave, that the family apply for one in advance so that the application can be placed with the veteran's military discharge papers for use at the time of need.
Gravesites in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries cannot be reserved in advance; however, reservations made prior to 1962 will be honored. Families are encouraged to prepare in advance by discussing cemetery options, collecting the veteran’s military information including discharge papers, and by contacting the cemetery where burial is desired.
• Collapse - Are Veteran’s dependents eligible for burial benefits?
Burial benefits available for spouses and dependents buried in a National Cemetery include burial with the veteran, perpetual care, and the spouse or dependent's name and date of birth and death will be inscribed on the veteran’s headstone, at no cost to the family. Eligible spouses and dependents may be buried, even if they predecease the veteran.
• Collapse - How do I arrange for Military Funeral Honors?
Upon the family's request, the law requires that every eligible veteran receive a military funeral honors ceremony to include folding and presenting the United States burial flag and the playing of Taps. The law defines a military funeral honors detail as consisting of two or more uniformed military persons with at least one a member of the veteran's parent service of the Armed Forces.
All you need to do is inform the funeral director of your wishes, as it is our responsibility to request military funeral honors on behalf of the veterans' family. Please be aware that local Veterans’ organizations may assist in the provision of military funeral honors at local cemeteries. When military funeral honors at a national cemetery are desired, they are arranged prior to the committal service by the funeral home.
• Collapse - What kind of headstone will the Government provide?
The Veterans' Administration furnishes upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a Government headstone or marker for the grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world.
Flat markers in granite, marble, and bronze, and upright headstones in granite and marble are available. The style chosen must be consistent with existing monuments at the place of burial. Niche markers are also available to mark columbaria used for inurnment of cremated remains.
• Collapse - What is the Presidential Memorial Certificate?
A Presidential Memorial Certificate is an engraved paper certificate, signed by the current President, to honor the memory of honorably discharged deceased veterans. It is given as an expression of the country’s grateful recognition of the veteran’s service in the United States Armed Forces. Eligible recipients include the deceased veteran’s next of kin and loved ones, and more than one certificate may be provided. Our staff will assist you in the completion of the required paperwork.
• Collapse - How can I be buried at sea?
Burial at Sea is a means of final disposition of remains that is performed on United States Navy vessels. The committal ceremony is performed while the ship is deployed. Therefore, family members are not allowed to be present. The commanding officer of the ship assigned to perform the ceremony will notify the family of the date, time, and, longitude and latitude once the committal service has been completed. Should you desire a burial at sea, our staff will prepare the required paperwork.
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