FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What purpose does a funeral serve? 

It is the customary way to recognize death and its finality and to celebrate a life that has been lived. Funerals are recognized rituals for the living to show respect for the dead and to help survivors begin the grief process.

What do funeral directors do? 

Funeral directors are caregivers and administrators. We make the arrangements for transportation of the body, complete all necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the body. Funeral directors are listeners, advisors and supporters. We have experience assisting the bereaved in coping with death. Funeral directors are trained to answer questions about grief, recognize when a person is having difficulty coping, and recommend sources of professional help. Funeral directors also link survivors with support groups at the funeral home or in the community.

Why have a visitation? 

This is a time where the family and friends can gather to remember and honor their loved one in a special way. When the casketed body is present it gives the family and friends an opportunity to confirm the reality of death and helps survivors to better cope with their grief and enables them to move forward with their lives. This visitation is also very viable when the body is not present, as if following a direct cremation.

What is Embalming? 

This is the process of preparing the body for burial and/or public visitation. It consists of disinfecting, restorative art, and short term preservation to allow for a delay between death and burial. It is simply a tool to allow this delay. In the state of Iowa, embalming is not required if the body is buried or cremated within 48 hours of death, and the death was not due to communicable disease. Again, it is simply a tool, and is not desinged to defy death.

Does a dead body have to be embalmed, according to law? 

No. Most states, however, require embalming when death was caused by a reportable contagious disease or when remains are to be transported from one state to another by common carrier or if final disposition is not to be made within a prescribed number of hours.

Do we need an outer burial container? 

Most cemeteries in the state of Iowa require the minimum grave liner when a casketed burial takes place. Grave liners are most times made out of concrete and house the casket in the ground. Iowa law does not require the use of the grave liner but most Iowa cemeteries do. They require the grave liner to be used not to protect its contents but to maintain the cemetery property. The grave liner does not seal.

Can we personalize our service? 

At Kaiser-Corson Funeral Homes, we encourage families to create very personalized services. It is important to acknowledge a life that has been lived and to offer to the community a way in which to celebrate that life. By offering services that are very personal and special, a unique life can be remembered and honored in a way that is comforting to the family and friends.

What should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend? 

Our Funeral Directors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Will someone come right away? 

If you request immediate assistance, yes. If the family wishes to spend a short time with the deceased to say good bye, it's acceptable. We will come when your time is right.

If a loved one dies out of state , will Kaiser-Corson still help? 

Yes, we can assist you with out-of-state arrangements, either to transfer the remains to another state or from another state. Remember when a death occurs away from home, call your hometown Funeral Director first.

So, I've decided on cremation. Can I still have a funeral or a viewing? 

Yes, quite often some sort of viewing precedes the actual cremation. Kaiser-Corson can assist you with the necessary information for a funeral with a cremation following or a memorial service.