If you’re considering a cremation at a funeral home in Penn Township, PA for your eventual disposition or for a recently deceased loved one, you should learn more about the laws surrounding the practice.

Though cremation laws can vary from state to state, there are several basic ideas and rules that apply to almost every cremation all around the country. For example, there are laws about authorization. In most states the next-of-kin, or “authorizing agent,” can authorize cremation. The authorizing agent must complete, sign and submit an authorization form before the cremation can take place.

You are required by law to have a cremation permit. Once the death certificate is completed and the cremation authorization is filed, the county will issue a cremation permit. Cremation permits cost anywhere from $10 to $40 depending on the county. All cremation providers are licensed and certified, as there are specific rules and regulations in place to protect consumers and ensure safe handling of the deceased.

There are also laws about caskets, viewings, and handling of remains. Caskets are not required by law for cremations, but most states have laws stating that a rigid container must be provided for the cremation. These containers only have to be combustible and strong enough to support a body when being placed into the cremation chamber. Families viewing the cremation is not regulated by law, and therefore varies from crematory to crematory. Confirm with your chosen provider as its not guarantees. Laws about what you can and cannot do with cremated remain can vary greatly from state to state. However, most have similar general ideas like you cannot commingle cremated remains unless by deceased’s request, and you can only scatter cremated remains with appropriate authorization from the local authorities.

What about the costs? Crematories are obligated to provide clear and concise descriptions of all services included each cremation price, as people who gave recently suffered a loss might be more susceptible to bad business practices. Cremations range in cost depending on the service and merchandise.

Body transportation from state to state is also under a law. If the body is transported over a period of 24 hours or more after the death, embalming may be required. There are airline funeral shipping businesses that also have specific regulations and rules such as the purchase and use of a designated aircraft mortuary-shipping container. Finally, there are lots of laws protecting cremation consumers, from laws prohibiting crematories and funeral homes making false statements about body guarantees or cremation merchandise purchasing. If you want more information, check with your local or state government.

Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. can answer any more questions you may have about cremation laws, or Penn Township, PA funeral homes. We have years of industry experience and would love to use that expertise to help you in this sensitive area. Please stop by and visit us or give us a call to learn more about what we can do for you.

Grief almost always takes a long time to pass, from months to even years, and it presents differently from person to person. Grief can be extremely difficult to handle, even long after you leave the funeral at a funeral home in North Versailles, PA.

How do you know when your grief is too much for you to handle all on your own? Use this list of ten signs to know if you might need to seek extra help or counseling for your grief.

• Escapism – Staying busy or trying to escape to avoid feeling sad is not a long-term solution. Eventually, you will need to face your feelings. If you are don’t feel up to doing so on your own, it may be wise to ask for a helping hand.
• Thoughts of Hurting Yourself – Feeling you want to hurt yourself should not be ignored and must be addressed with a professional.
• Numbness to Emotion – Grief comes with a range of emotions, from sad and confused to even happy. Each emotion is acceptable during periods of mourning, but numbness is not. If you are feeling entirely numb and unable to feel any emotions, it may be time to seek help.
• Hallucinations/Voices – It may be comforting to imagine your lost loved one is with you but hearing voices or seeing things that aren’t there is always a cause for concern. Be especially wary if what you are seeing, or hearing is accusing or angry.
• Avoiding Time with Loved Ones – Sometimes it’s easier to process grief on our own, but it’s also important to be with loved ones. If you find yourself consistently avoiding other people, you should consider counseling.
• Inability to Move On -There is nothing to be ashamed of about not being able to move on. Sometimes we all need a bit of help.
• Sudden Changes in Behavior – If you find that you don’t recognize the choices you’re making or the person you’ve become, this may be cause for concern. Keep and eye out for irrational anger, excessive drinking, and drug use.
• Fear of New Relationships – Apprehension of new relationships due to the fear of loss is common when grieving. However, in order to move forward and continue to grow, we must forge new relationships.
• Inability to Continue Normal Activities – If you are unable to perform normal activities like going to work or school, or even eating or sleeping, you many need a help with coping.
• Loss of Enjoyment – You shouldn’t stop living your life completely during grief. You’re still allowed to pursue your interests and goals. If your grief is preventing you from pursuing activities that you enjoy, or enjoying things you normally would, you may just need help finding your way forward.

If you want to learn more about how to deal with grief, or have questions about North Versailles, PA funeral homes, just reach out to Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. We are happy to do whatever we can for you in your time of loss.

Obituaries are a traditional way to let family and friends publicly celebrate the life of the deceased and announce the death in a compassionate manner. That’s why, no matter if you’re having a non-traditional memorial service or hosting a service in a funeral home in North Versailles, PA, you most likely need to write an obituary for the deceased.

But how do you write an obituary? What are you supposed to include?

Start with an announcement of death. Obituaries usually start with basic information such as the name, age, and place of residence of the deceased. This is followed by the death announcement, including the time and place of death. Most people choose to use a softer word or term that “death,” such as “passed away”, “died”, “went to be with the Lord” etc. Many people are unsure whether or not to list the cause of death in the obituary. At the end of the day, the cause of death is only the family’s business, and does not need to be shared unless the immediate family chooses. However, if the death was sudden and unexpected, listing the cause of death in the public obituary might field questions and repetitions at the funeral.

Next is the biographical sketch. Many people are tempted to write a full account of the deceased’s life. While some people may find that interesting or helpful, the obituary is only meant to detail the most important aspects of his life. Some key pieces to include are the date and place of birth, parent’s names including mother’s maiden name, date and place of marriage, birth name of spouse, education, work, and military service. Feel free to list events chronologically, or to take a more creative approach. Don’t forget to mention specific important relationships and the effect the deceased had on people’s lives. For example, did he have a great sense of humor? Did he always make time for the kids? Was he an exceptional host, golfer, singer?

These other tips can help when it comes time for you to write an obituary:

• Service Times – While tradition varies on this element, most obituaries include funeral information so people can attend if they choose. List the essentials: time, full date and place of service along with the name of the officiate; time, full date and place of burial or interment if applicable; and finally, time, full date and place of visitation.
• Family – As the saying goes, the funeral is for the living. The same can be said for the obituary, so a key element is listing the surviving family members and loved ones. Take care to not forget anyone, but don’t feel the need to list every single member of the extended family.
• Special Messages – Most people choose to include a special thank you or message at the end. This may also include a prayer or poem.
• Photos – Include a photo. While this adds to the cost, it is a lovely way to remind people of their connected to the deceased.

Just get in touch with Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. if you want to learn more about obituaries or North Versailles, PA funeral homes.