What to Do if There isn’t a Funeral Home in Your Area
When most people talk about funeral planning, they assume that you (or your loved ones) live in a city where funeral services are readily available. All metropolitan centers and mid-sized cities have several funeral homes to choose from, usually in a variety of religious denominations. However, as towns get smaller and more rural, there is a chance that your town won’t have a funeral home, a cemetery, a crematorium, or any other type of facility that can help you with the funeral planning process.
The Accessibility of Funeral Homes
Funeral homes are accustomed to providing body transportation, whether it is from a hospital, from one facility to another, or even over state lines via car, train, or airplane. This is often done across a city and for even longer distances. In fact, although it comes at a cost, there is almost no limit to how far you can move a body (although going over state lines usually requires embalming first).
Funeral homes are also accustomed to working with individuals in areas near theirs where they may be limited (or no) funeral services. Many funeral companies have outreach programs designed to make the process as easy as possible, and will come to your home to help you make the plans. You might also find that there are smaller, privately-owned cemetery facilities in your neighborhood that will allow you to lay your loved ones to rest nearby.
While it isn’t always ideal to have to set up funeral plans from a distance (and to have to visit a grave in another town or city), there are resources to help you through this process. Most funeral directors are happy to answer any questions or concerns you have about accessibility and the careful handling of the body.
The Best Advice for Individuals in Small Towns
If you live in a small town or a remote location where there isn’t a funeral home, your best option is to pre-plan your funeral. By finding a funeral home that is willing to work with your unique geographic situation ahead of time, you can take care of issues related to transportation and cost.
You can also lay any fears to rest during these pre-planning stages. Because moving a body requires coordination between authorities, as well as release authorization forms and fees, it’s usually best to have the details worked out ahead of time, freeing you to attend to your grief. By asking the questions that matter, finding the perfect resting spot, and purchasing the right burial package before death occurs, you can save a lot of time, money, and hassle for the entire family.
Rural areas have fewer amenities when it comes to everything, from restaurants and city services to stores—however, that doesn’t make the people who live there any less important. Funeral homes know this and plan for it, and you can look in your outlying region to find the right one for all your burial and cremation needs.
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