FAQs

Many people have questions that they may or may not feel comfortable asking their funeral director. We hope this will be of some help to you and if you think of something else you would like us to add to this list of questions, please contact us by email (Click on office@westfuneralhome.com to send us an email) or by telephone, 701-282-6699 in the West Fargo area or telephone, 701-347-4422 in the Casselton area. We will try to make it a part of our site's helpful information.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

WE WANT THE SERVICE AT THE FUNERAL HOME, BUT WHAT ABOUT FELLOWSHIP AFTER? At our West Fargo location, we actually have reception/luncheon space available. We can comfortably accommodate 100 people with options for more. We work with a licensed caterer to provide the food items of your choice. At


HOW CAN WE PERSONALIZE THE SERVICE AND MAKE IT MORE MEANINGFUL?  Services can be traditional or as unique as the life being celebrated. Below are a few ideas to consider.  Feel free to discuss your ideas with your funeral director.  Together, you can come up with a funeral arrangement that not only meets your budget but is a fitting tribute to your loved one.

     *  Custom Memorial Folders
     *  Memory Tables
     *  Picture Boards
     *  Family Videos
     *  Casket/Urn Personalization - embroidered panels and/or engraving
     *  Floral Arrangements
     *  Service Arrangements
     *  Musical Arrangements
     *  Display of hobby/craft items
     *  Family involvement in the service

WHAT DO WE DO IF OUR FAMILY DEATH OCCURS AWAY FROM HOME Our funeral home staff will arrange with another funeral home or mortuary, where the death occurred, to have preparation and transportation made back to our funeral home. We can also help you if you are planning to have a service prior to having the family member returned to your home area. Generally, it is best to have us handle the communications with the funeral home at the location of death.  This will likely save the family around $1000 depending on location.  

WHY IS A FUNERAL IMPORTANT?  For thousands of years, funerals have allowed survivors to express their feelings about the death of someone they love. The rituals provide comfort when things seem chaotic and out of control. The funeral is for expressing intense grief. For many, a visitation followed by a funeral or memorial service is the first step in the grieving process. It is a time when friends, family and other guests can come together to grieve openly and to support one another in a community environment. It is also a time to say good-bye. Viewing the deceased can bring a sense of closure to the bereaved who may be in shock and denial.

WHAT DOES A FUNERAL DIRECTOR DO?  As a licensed funeral director, we are on call and answer the telephone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  We hold normal office hours as well as working evening visitations and going on first calls in the middle of the night.  Specifically, we pick up the deceased and transport the body to the funeral home (anytime day or night); notify proper authorities - Doctor and Coroner; arrange, prepare, and secure death certificates; notify social security and veteran's administration; prepare and submit obituary to the newspapers of your choice; bathe and embalm the body; prepare the body for viewing including dressing and cosmetizing; position the body in the casket; assist the family with funeral arrangements and purchase of casket, urn, burial vault and cemetery plot; attending to the service details including ; assist with securing monument or marker; schedule the opening and closing of the grave with cemetery personnel ; coordinate with clergy, musicians, and lunch detail; order floral arrangements as the family wishes; provide aftercare or grief assistance to the bereaved.

WHAT IS EMBALMING?  It is a process that sanitizes and preserves a dead body. It delays the decomposition process and allows time for viewing and services by the family prior to burial or cremation. It restores a life-like appearance to the body and can enhance the appearance of a body that has undergone a traumatic death or illness. This process can take anywhere from one to six hours to perform. The time spent embalming depends upon the severity of damage to the body, whether it be from traumatic injuries and or by not being able to perform it immediately after notification of the death.

IS EMBALMING REQUIRED WHEN A PERSON DIES?  No, however most states insist on embalming under certain circumstances such as when the death is caused by a contagious disease or if final disposition is not made within a certain time frame. (ND Law requires that the body be embalmed if final disposition is not reached within 48 hours or 72 hours with refrigeration) Embalming preserves the body, often allowing more time for arrangements. It is necessary if there will be a visitation. If the deceased is to be directly buried or cremated, embalming may not be necessary.

HOW DO WE CHOOSE THE RIGHT CASKET? There are many styles of caskets. When a casket is chosen, it usually reflects the deceased's personality, life style, religion, profession, organizational affiliation or hobby. By personalizing the funeral, even with the casket, it adds more meaning and helps facilitate the healing. Interior options can also help personalize the casket. Special features include embroidered interior panels, outside engraving, hidden memento drawers, decorative corners and special keepsakes for the surviving family members.

THERE ARE SO MANY TYPES OF CASKETS TO CHOOSE, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? There are two general types of caskets, metal and wood. Some select the metal for its beauty and durability. Metal caskets come in two types of construction, non-protective and protective. A protective metal casket has a gasketed seal, designed to make the casket resistant to the entrance of exterior elements such as air and water. The bottoms and sides of the metal caskets are electronically fused together with 19 feet of continuous seam weld. This type of weld adds to the casket's strength and guards against ground seepage. The metals are hand brushed on each end of the casket. The metal caskets have adjustable beds that fully support the body and allow for a more proper and natural positioning. Many of the metal caskets feature premium velvet interiors with thick, rich pile that is soft and easy to adjust. There is a center sealing mechanism that locks the head and foot panels. Almost all caskets come with a memorial tube and an Identi-kit for identification of the deceased.Metal caskets are usually made of four materials.
   **Steel, typically the least expensive of the metals, is available in varying thicknesses, measured in gauges. Gauge refers to how many sheets of steel measure one inch; the lower the gauge number, the thicker the steel. Casket choices usually range from 16 gauge, the thickest, to 20 gauge, the thinnest. These caskets are popular choices among consumers due to strong eye appeal, durability and affordability. Carbon steel caskets are priced to fit any budget and come in a wide variety of styles and colors.
   **Stainless Steel, a more familiar and medium priced material, is a combination of carbon steel, chromium and nickel in premium grade and carbon steel and chromium in basic grade. Chromium offers greater protection against rust and is the key element in the production of stainless steel from ordinary carbon steel. It causes the formation of a protective film which makes the steel resistant to oxidation and various types of corrosion.
   **Copper, also naturally rust resistant and durable, is not as strong as bronze and is less expensive. Copper, however, does not have the strength and stability of carbon steel. Great care must be taken in the manufacturing process to prevent waves on the surface of the casket. Material thickness is measured similarly to bronze with a 32 ounce copper being the rough equivalent of an 18 gauge steel. Copper caskets come in either natural brushed or painted finishes.
   **Bronze, an alloy of copper and zinc or tin, is naturally rust resistant and the hardest and most durable of all metals. With the price of zinc and the cost of blending the copper with the zinc or tin, this makes it the most expensive casket. The advantage of bronze over steel caskets is its longevity and resistance to corrosive elements. The longevity of this metal is evident in the fact that bronze artifacts have been found dating as far back as 3500 BC. The 32 ounce bronze is equivalent to the 18 gauge steel while the 48 ounce bronze is equal to the 16 gauge steel. Bronze caskets normally come with a natural brushed finish, however, some models are painted.

  **Others prefer wood because of its natural appeal and the fact that no two woods caskets are alike. An interesting fact about the wood used for casket manufacturing, is that the number one grade wood is reserved for casket manufacturing and number two grade wood is the type of wood used by the highest quality of furniture manufacturing. Furniture manufacturers are not allowed to use the type of wood reserved for casket manufacturers. When you compare the actual number of board feet in a casket versus the same amount of board feet in fine furniture, the casket will undoubtedly be much less expensive than the fine furniture and that the wood in the fine furniture isn't the quality of wood in the casket. So when you are selecting a wood casket, you can be assured you have the highest quality of wood available.  Wood caskets do not seal. There are many types of wood to choose from, such as mahogany, walnut, cherry, maple, oak, ash, pecan, poplar and pine. Like fine furniture, wood caskets are available in many finishes. Stained, semi-or high gloss lacquer, which may be sprayed or rubbed to a high polish. Prices are based on the particular species and interior materials. All hardwood caskets can be used for cremation. Any metal hardware pieces can easily be removed from the outside of the casket. Craftsmen hand sculpt casket corners and complete the final sanding of wood caskets to maintain consistent quality. All scrap wood and defective pieces are used to heat the plant and dry kilns thus eliminating waste. These caskets also come with a memorial tube and an Identi-kit for identification of the deceased. Adjustable beds fully support the body and allow for more proper and natural positioning.

HOW WILL I DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO CREMATE? Cremation is a highly personal choice. For some, it is a departure from family burial tradition. Choosing cremation is a reflection of an individual's beliefs and preferences. There are various reasons why people choose cremation over burial. These reasons range from environmental concerns to religious beliefs. Feel free to ask for more information from your funeral director.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR A BODY TO BE CREMATED AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THE REMAINS? During cremation, the body is exposed to intense heat (1400 - 2000 degrees Fahrenheit) for a period of two to three hours. During this time all matter is consumed with the exception of bone fragments, metal casket hinges, jewelry or prostheses. Cremation time will always vary with the size and weight of the body being cremated. After the cremation is complete, the cremated remains are allowed to cool and then removed from the cremation chamber. The utmost care is taken when removing the cremated remains from the chamber. Special brushes, rakes and other equipment are used. It is important to note that it is impossible to recover entirely all of the remains. A small amount will always be left behind and commingled with the next cremation. After the remains are removed, large bone fragments are then processed in a grinder and then placed inside a temporary plastic or cardboard container or an urn that the family may have chosen earlier when making arrangements. The cremated remains look similar to crushed seashells and can weigh between four and eight pounds depending upon the size of the person cremated. Each cremation is done separately. Non-combustible items that remain after the cremation, such as metal, jewelry, etc are removed and disposed of in a non-recoverable manner in accordance with applicable laws. Since you will be unable to recover any non-combustible items after cremation, you must notify your funeral director prior to cremation if you would like jewelry or other items removed from the deceased.

DO I NEED TO IDENTIFY THE BODY BEFORE IT GOES TO THE CREMATORY?  Due to the permanent nature of cremation, positive identification of the body is required before cremation can take place. Many states require a waiting period before a body can be cremated. If your state does not have such a law, a funeral home can institute that requirement as well because of the liability that exists with your choice of cremation.

WHAT IF SOMEONE HAS A PACEMAKER OR OTHER MEDICAL DEVICES IN THEIR BODY THAT IS TO BE CREMATED? Certain medical devices such as pacemakers and radioactive implants can be potentially hazardous to cremation personnel during the cremation process. Pacemakers can explode from the extreme heat in the chamber. It is very important that you inform the funeral director prior to cremation if your loved one has any type of medical device in their body. They must be removed prior to cremation. It is possible to recycle pacemakers and prostheses.

IS IT REQUIRED THAT I PURCHASE SOME TYPE OF CONTAINER FOR THE CREMATION AND IF SO, WHAT KIND OF CONTAINERS ARE AVAILABLE? Yes, due to the nature and history of diseases, no crematory will accept a body without a container of some sort. Furthermore, with the rules of OSHA, again because of the nature and history of diseases, it is required that the body be in a container away from the people handling the cremation. It is also important to remember that we need to preserve the dignity of the deceased persons body, that it must be clothed and in a container upon arriving the crematory. There are several containers available for cremation. The least expensive container would be a box with a lid to cover the body. There is also a insert like the box and lid with a fabric lining that you can put into a wooden rental casket. The box can then be removed with the interior and covered with the lid, to take the body to the crematory. For still a reasonably inexpensive price, you can have a more dignified container such as a cloth covered casket, an inexpensive wood casket made of pine or poplar, or a higher quality hardwood casket. Metal caskets are not allowed in the crematories, as they can ruin a crematory's functionability.

IF I CHOOSE TO BE CREMATED, CAN I HAVE A FUNERAL? Yes, cremation can take place either before or after a funeral depending on what type of service you choose. You can have a viewing, funeral/memorial service or burial.

WHAT SHALL I DO WITH THE REMAINS I RECEIVE BACK FROM THE CREMATORY? Most people choose to bury the cremated remains in a cemetery.  This allows for a final resting place where one can visit and pay respects for years to come.  Other options include scattering, placing them in a columbarium or keeping them as a memorial in the home.  If the remains are to be buried in the cemetery, you may be required by the cemetery to purchase an urn vault or outer enclosure.

WHERE CAN I FIND DIFFERENT STYLES OF URNS? We have several of the most popular styles of urns available at our funeral home for you to choose from. If you are not comfortable with any of those we have chosen, we have books from our urn companies that can help you make it even more personal and special for your selection. Engraving is available as well on most urns.