Q. How are funeral services priced? 

A.The cost of services is determined by the type of service chosen and the individual components of that service.  Shackelford Funeral Directors offers convenient service packages consisting of items that are chosen most often by the families we serve.  A service package includes all components of a particular type of service for a single fee.  Examples of different service packages would include the traditional funeral service, graveside service, forwarding to another funeral home, receiving from another funeral home, immediate burial, and cremation packages.  Individual service components may also be purchased separately from our itemized general price list.  The cost of a service is based on the actual expense related to the specific items chosen, as well as a percentage of operating expenses.

Q. Dad wants to be cremated, but I want to have a visitation and service for him.  Can we do both? 

A.Yes you can!  Cremation is nothing more than a means of final disposition.  Many people recognize the need to have a time for family and friends to come together and share their feelings and experiences following the death of someone they love.  Most also understand the importance of planning some type of personalized ceremony that remembers and pays tribute to a life that has been lived.  A traditional visitation and service may be planned with the body present, or a memorial service may be planned following cremation.  Your funeral director will be able to discuss different options that are available to you and answer any questions you may have.

Q. What options are available to pay for a funeral? 

A.Many people choose to pre-arrange and pre-pay for their funerals in advance.  Death is one of the certainties of life, and preparations must be made for its eventual occurrence.  By pre-paying, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your family will be protected from future price increases. 
For payment at the time of death, Shackelford Funeral Directors offers many options for your convenience.  We accept assignments on life insurance, and will take care of all details involved in the filing of claims.  If the deceased person was not insured, we accept cash or personal checks.  In addition, some of our locations also accept credit and debit cards.  While we do not offer in-house financing, those wishing to make payments over time may make those arrangements with a bank or other financial institution.  Payment or the securing of payment is requested at the time arrangements are made. 

Q. How does pre-arrangement work? 

A.You may pre-arrange today for a funeral to be delivered at an unknown date in the future.  Your wishes and selections are recorded and kept in a personal file.  When death occurs, we can go to your information and determine exactly what is to be done.  If you choose to pre-pay for the services and merchandise selected, you pay at today’s price.  Your money is then invested in an irrevocable trust that earns interest until death occurs.  The trustee then releases the money to the funeral home to pay for the funeral.  The funeral home receives from the trust the cost of the funeral on the day it is delivered.  For example, if you select a service and merchandise that totals $5,000.00 today, and at the time of death that same service and merchandise totals $5,600.00, the trust would pay $5,600.00 to the funeral home.  The payment would consist of the $5,000.00 principal amount plus $600.00 in interest earnings.  If there is more money than is needed in the trust to cover inflation, that excess may be used to upgrade the service or to pay for different third party services, such as flowers, honorariums, or paid obituaries.  The excess may also be refunded to the family if no other expenses are incurred.  If there is less money in the trust than is needed to cover the pre-selected services and merchandise at the time of death, then the funeral home must provide the pre-selected services and merchandise for the amount that is in trust, and discount any remaining balance.  Pre-arrangement can definitely provide peace of mind and inflation protection to the person who is pre-arranging as well as to their immediate family members.  For more information, please contact one of our Directors.

Q. Do I have to have a vault?

A. There is no state or federal law that requires the purchase of any type of outer enclosure. Some cemeteries do require the use of an outer enclosure for the casket because it supports the weight of the earth and helps to keep the grave from sinking in over time, reducing cemetery maintenance. Your funeral director can explain to you the different types of outer enclosures available and any requirements concerning their use.

Q. Do wood caskets seal?

A. Wood caskets typically do not feature a rubber gasket around the opening that makes them resistant to the entrance of water found in the ground around the gravesite. Wood is a porous material, which renders a gasket ineffective. If this is a concern, the use of a vault will protect the casket from elements found in the soil at the gravesite. Some wood caskets are available with inner liners constructed of metal with a rubber gasket around the opening of the liner.

Q. Can I change interiors from one casket to another?

A. Casket interiors are permanently installed during the manufacturing process and cannot be transferred from one casket to another. If another color is desired, your funeral director can tell you whether or not the casket you have chosen is available in a different color.

Q. One casket looks as good as another. Why is there such a big difference in cost?

A. The price of a casket is determined by many things. The material from which the shell of a casket is constructed, the design of the shell, the type of fabric used in the interior and the way that fabric is stitched, whether or not it has a gasket around the opening, the type of hardware (handles, mounts and corners) used on the casket, and the amount of hand detailing (brushing, pin striping, custom finishes, etc.) all contribute to the final cost of the casket. Caskets are very similar to any other type of merchandise; the quality is reflected in the price.

Q. What is the difference between a grave liner and a vault? Isn’t one just as good as the other?

A. A grave liner has a single purpose. It is a load bearing container that is designed to support the weight of the earth and help keep the grave from sinking in over time. A vault serves two purposes. It is a load bearing container just like the grave liner, but it has the addition of a sealing mechanism that makes it resistant to the entrance of water found in the soil around the gravesite.

Q. I will not be able to gather the photographs for the memorial DVD tribute in time for the service. Can I do it at a later time?

A. You may bring the photographs in at your convenience following the service and we will be glad to produce the memorial DVD tribute for you as a family keepsake.