What are expenses outside of the funeral home?

These expenses are called cash advances items.  They are charges that a funeral home adds to the contract for a family and are paid out to different providers such as death certificates, cemeteries, florists, newspapers, clergy, crematory fees, grave digging, musicians, etc.  The funeral home wants to make this difficult time as easy and worry free as possible, so to help the family most funeral homes take in these charges in one payment then disperses the payments to the providers which saves the family time and stress. Just a side note, common needs for certified death certificates would include insurances, deeds, titles, financial accounts (checking, saving, retirement, investments, pensions, etc.), as well as other financial and personal dealings.  For any further questions call Hewett-Arney Funeral Home in Temple (254) 778-3200.

Justin Arney 
Hewett-Arney Funeral Home
Temple, TX

How can I best be prepared for my family?

Families are going through so much at the time of loosing a loved one.  The best way to be prepared is to have a complete prearrangement in place with a funeral home.  Your family won’t be asking themselves those difficult questions such as, ‘is this what he/she would have wanted’ or ‘how will we be able to pay for this’.  In the pre-need file kept at the funeral home all of the families questions would be answered in a funeral booklet and if fully completed, would have a funded pre -need policy which would leave very little or no financial burden for the family to work through.  You should visit with a funeral director or pre-need counselor to discuss all your options and payment plans.  For any further questions call Hewett-Arney Funeral Home in Temple (254) 778-3200. 

Justin Arney
Hewett-Arney Funeral Home
Temple, TX

What is the difference between funeral and cremation service prices and is embalming required?

The biggest differences are the casket, embalming, funeral home service charge, and cemetery costs that you have for a full funeral service.  You can literally save thousands of dollars by choosing a cremation service in place of a funeral service.  Many people don’t realize there is also an option of having a funeral service followed by a cremation. This type of service would have a ceremonial or wood casket with a choice of having a viewing.  After the service a cremation is performed saving you money at the cemetery, as well as giving you other options of memorialization. Texas law requires that if the deceased is held over 24 hrs or in transport he/she must be embalmed or refrigerated.  When having an open casket viewing by the public or burial in a mausoleum it is required by the state of Texas that embalming be performed.  Direct burials and cremations do not require embalming. For any further questions call Hewett-Arney Funeral Home in Temple (254) 778-3200.

Justin Arney
Hewett-Arney Funeral Home
Temple, TX

What are the differences in caskets?

Your main choice is between metal, wood, or composite.  With metal there are different gauges of thickness, the thicker the gauge the stronger and more durable the casket.  There is also a choice of gasketed or non-gasketed metal caskets.  Gasketed caskets will seal closed and help resist against moisture.  When choosing a wood casket it is usually for the warmth and beauty of the wood. Since wood is porous by nature it is not able to seal with a gasket.  Of course there are many colors, designs, types and interior choices as well.  There are many other composite materials that are used in making some styles of caskets for instance fiberglass or polymer, but the most common caskets are metal and wood.  There are also many custom pictures, emblems, and monograms to customize a casket for instance fireman, police, military, religious and others. For any further questions call Hewett-Arney Funeral Home in Temple (254) 778-3200. 

Justin Arney
Hewett-Arney Funeral Home
Temple, TX

Why do I need a grave liner or a vault?

Some cemeteries require a grave liner or a vault to be used for burial of a casket or urn.  The grave liner is usually made of concrete or thick metal and is primarily for protecting the casket from the weight of the earth and machinery now used at cemeteries.  Vaults perform this duty as well as having a gasket and protective lining to resist against moisture. Their reason for the requirement is to have less maintenance of the space after burial, for a safer and more uniform cemetery. Families may choose to purchase a liner or vault even if the cemetery does not require it. This personal choice by the family is for the peace of mind that their loved one is better protected from the elements of burial.  For any further questions call Hewett-Arney Funeral Home in Temple (254) 778-3200. 

Justin Arney
Hewett-Arney Funeral Home
Temple, TX

What can I do with my loved ones ashes after cremation?

In most cases a simple plastic utility urn is provided with a standard cremation.  Some families choose to purchase a nicer urn for a service or to keep their loved ones ashes.  Others choose to scatter the ashes at their loved ones favorite place.  Things to consider when scattering ashes would be, is this an authorized or allowed place to scatter ashes.  For instance private property with the owners permission, at sea, or if you are choosing a public area you should be mindful of people around you and if it is a State or National park, etc. Another option is to have the ashes buried in ground or inurned in a columbarium at a cemetery.  You can also divide the ashes if requested.  There are many special ways to memorialize with cremation such as using the ashes to create a gem for jewelry, having ashes made into an artificial ocean reef, or made into a keepsake figurine as well as many others. For those of you wondering, there are no permits required for transferring or driving ashes out of the state of Texas.  Most airlines allow ashes to be carried onboard and the US postal service allows for transporting ashes through registered mail.  For any further questions call Hewett-Arney Funeral Home in Temple (254) 778-3200. 

Justin Arney
Hewett-Arney Funeral Home
Temple, TX

What are most military veterans and their spouses’ death benefits?

Veterans who can provide a document DD214 or letter of separation showing honorable discharge are entitled to have a military detail to provide folding the flag and playing TAPS at the service.  The Government will provide a headstone or marker at no charge.  State or National cemeteries provide the veteran with a burial or nitch space, open and close the grave, and concrete grave liner as needed.  We have a State Cemetery located in Killeen, TX.  Currently a spouse or dependent of a veteran may be buried or inurned with the veteran for a $300 cemetery charge. Retired military (20 years or more) honorably discharged will be provided the same as a veteran as well as pallbearers and a 21-gun salute (some military branches have different criteria).  In some cases the Government will assist with private cemetery space, transportation, and some funeral expenses. We would be happy to help you with requesting your military documents DD214 and pre-registering at the State or National cemetery.  For any further questions call Hewett-Arney Funeral Home in Temple (254) 778-3200. 

Justin Arney
Hewett-Arney Funeral Home
Temple, TX

Why do people prearrange funeral services?

Funeral costs increase nearly every year due to inflation.  Prearranging a service locks in the cost and saves you and your family money over the years. Prearrangements also give you payment options that may not be available at the time of death. Doing this helps to take the financial burden of the service away from your family who would be left to work through the financial details and payment at such a difficult time.  It is also helpful to make your final wishes known to your family, this allows them to honor and fulfill your wishes and gives them the peace of mind that everything was done correctly and as you wished.  For any further questions call Hewett-Arney Funeral Home in Temple (254) 778-3200. 

Justin Arney
Hewett-Arney Funeral Home
Temple, TX

Do funeral homes accept Life Insurance to pay for funeral services?

Most funeral homes will accept an assignment from life insurance to help ease the financial burden of the family.  In most cases it is a form the family will sign stating a certain amount of the policy should be paid to the funeral home. The funeral home then does the rest of the work with the company as well as with claim forms.  If you are planning on using a policy to pay for a funeral make sure and ask the director up front, there are some funeral homes that won’t accept assignments. Other ways of paying for services include cash, check, credit cards, pre need policies, and in some cases other financial arrangements can be made.  At this time there is a $250 death benefit reimbursement from Social Security for a surviving spouse or dependent child to receive.  Many funeral homes will also accept pre need policies from other funeral homes.  For any further questions call Hewett-Arney Funeral Home in Temple (254) 778-3200.

Justin Arney
Hewett-Arney Funeral Home
Temple, TX

Which Funeral Home is right for me?

Some people choose funeral homes for the convenience of location, for the tradition of using a certain funeral home, and for many, price is a big factor.  A person should call around to local funeral homes and talk with the funeral director who will serve their family.  In many cases you will be able to tell in your conversation if you feel comfortable with the professionalism of the director and funeral home.  You should leave the conversation feeling that all your questions are answered, less worried about choices needing to be made, and that your loved one will be well cared for.  Every funeral home and funeral director in Texas must be licensed and have a general price list to provide upon request.  For any further questions call Hewett-Arney Funeral Home in Temple, TX at (254)778-3200.

Justin Arney
Hewett-Arney Funeral Home
Temple, TX