Frequently Asked Questions

There are over 50 details to work through when planning a funeral. Making wise choices that are very personal requires that you be adequately informed. While information is available through a variety of sources, a funeral director is your one source to answer all of your questions and handle all the details in a time of need. With so many details to take care of and arrangements to coordinate, a funeral director can step in and make sure everything is handled completely and professionally. At Pape Funeral Home, we are dedicated to serving your needs.

As funeral directors, we are care givers and administrators. We make the arrangements for transportation of the deceased, complete the necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and disposition of a body.

On a more personal note, we are also listeners, advisors, and supporters. Pape funeral directors have many years of combined experience in helping families in grief cope with death. We are here to support your personal needs, answer questions about grief, recognize when there appears to be difficulty coping, and recommend sources of additional assistance.

A licensed funeral director must adhere to the ethics and standards established by our profession, including having the recommended years of preparatory and continuing education. It also means that families are treated professionally and will receive the very best care.

A funeral is an important way to celebrate a life well-lived, recognize a family’s loss, and a significant change in our lives. A funeral is not a day in a lifetime but a lifetime in a day.

Funerals are recognized ways for the living to show respect for the dead and to help surviving family members begin the grieving process. A funeral is also a way to say goodbye to the loved one with dignity and respect.

Visitations are part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Research shows that having a visitation surrounded by caring and supportive people, helps families with the grief process.

Viewing is also encouraged for children, as long as the process is explained and the activity voluntary. Children can benefit from viewing the deceased, as their imaginations can often make the appearance of the body worse than it really is.

Since this is the last time family and friends will see this person, a visitation and viewing can leave positive memories, with the deceased closely appearing as they did in life. Pape Funeral Home can coordinate public and private family viewing’s that meet each family’s specific needs.

A burial plot is the location where the deceased will be laid to rest. Typically this is in a cemetery. There are many considerations when evaluating a plot. Here are just a few of the questions you might consider when selecting the best plot for your personal needs:

1. Does the plot meet the requirements of your religion?
2. What restrictions are placed on burial vaults?
3. Does the price include perpetual care and maintenance?
4. Are other plots available in the same location to provide for the burial of my entire family?
5. Do I want a ground burial or mausoleum burial and are both available?
6. Are the type of monuments and memorials at cemeteries restricted?

Many cemeteries have restrictions on monuments and memorials. They can also restrict the placement of flowers and remembrance items. At Pape Funeral Home, we can help you understand and comply with these restrictions while keeping in mind your personal desires.

A grave liner is a reinforced concrete wall that is used to prevent the grave from sinking or collapsing. Most cemeteries do require grave liners.

Like a grave liner, a burial vault is used to protect the grave from sinking or collapsing. However, a burial vault is a more substantial option which usually costs more than a grave liner. A burial vault is normally sold with a warranty, whereas a grave liner is not warranted.

We, at Pape Funeral Home, make every effort to customize a funeral or memorial service precisely to individual tastes. There are many ways to have a service unique including personal eulogies, special music, display of personal items and pictures, and more. Pape Funeral Home will work with you to ensure the service is as personalized as your family wants it to be.

As a general rule, you should allow enough time for out-of-town guests to make travel arrangements and arrive in time for the service. Area guests will normally be able to accommodate a shorter time frame. Oftentimes, however, we must coordinate with churches, clergy, musicians, and cemeteries to help ensure that there are no scheduling conflicts or time restraints. It is advisable not to set any time for services until speaking to a funeral director to avoid a potential conflict. We at Pape Funeral Home will coordinate your planning, and work with your family and the aforementioned entities to help ensure that everyone is included.

Pape Funeral Home will assist you in planning your entire service from beginning to end. A funeral service can be held in a church or at the funeral chapel. Other options can include holding a graveside service or a service at a family residence.

A member of the clergy is not required to perform a funeral or memorial service. However, if a clergy member is desired, we can locate one if you do not already have a minister, as well as ensure the clergy understands your wishes.

Unfortunately, many people wait to make plans until someone dies. We understand that funeral planning is a difficult process, but preplanning in advance can help everyone. For more information on preplanning, please click here.

Not a problem. A funeral director is available by phone 24 hours a day, 365 days each year to serve your needs. We will respond immediately, or as the individual situation requires. Our normal business hours are Monday – Saturday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. Sundays and holidays are by appointment only, unless there is a visitation scheduled. Pape Funeral Home are closed on Sundays to allow its employees to attend church services and spend time with their families.