Funeral FAQs

What do I do when someone passes?


  • Home:

    When a person dies at home, you should notify the Walter Sanders Funeral & Cremation Services immediately. They will advise you of the proper procedures to follow in having the body transferred from the residence. 

  • Hospital/Nursing Home/Hospice Center:

    When a death occurs at a hospital, the family should first authorize the hospital to release the body to the Walter Sanders Funeral Home. The funeral director will discuss with the hospital authorities any procedures that are necessary to have the body transferred. 

  • Autopsy:

    If the family grants permission for an autopsy, the person responsible or the next of kin must sign a statement authorizing the autopsy 

    In some circumstances the coroner or medical examiner may require the autopsy. In all deaths it is advised that the family contact the funeral director at Walter Sanders Funeral Home.

  • Clergy:

    It is proper to notify the clergy following the death. They can offer words of reassurance and make themselves available for consultation and convenience to the family. 

  • Funeral Director:

    The family may call the funeral director at any hour of the day or night. They are prepared to offer qualified personnel to assist the family. 

  • Funeral Director:

    The family may call the funeral director at any hour of the day or night. They are prepared to offer qualified personnel to assist the family. 

  • Death Away From Home:

    When a person dies away from home, it is good practice for the survivors to immediately contact the funeral director in the area where the deceased resided. The funeral director can properly advise the family in returning the body to the local area. 

  • Relatives:

    When a person dies away from home, it is good practice for the survivors to immediately contact the funeral director in the area where the deceased resided. The funeral director can properly advise the family in returning the body to the local area. 

  • What is the purpose of a funeral?

    Funerals provide surviving family members and friends a caring, supportive environment in which to recognize the death of a loved one, and to share thoughts and feelings about that person. Funerals are the first step in the healing process. The ritual of attending a funeral service provides many benefits including: 


    • Providing a social support system for the bereaved
    • Helping the bereaved understand death is final and that death is part of life
    • Integrating the bereaved back into the community
    • Easing the transition to a new life after the death of a loved one
    • Providing a safe haven for embracing and expressing pain
    • Reaffirming one's relationship with the person who died
    • Providing a time to say good-bye

    It is possible to have a full funeral service even for those choosing cremation. The importance of the ritual is in providing a social gathering to help the bereaved begin the healing process. 

  • I've never arranged a funeral before. What do I need to know?

    At some time in our lives, most of us will make or assist in making funeral arrangements. This will not be an easy time, but we offer these tips for smart planning: 


    • Be an informed consumer and ask questions
    • Call Walter Sanders Funeral & Cremation Services anytime day or night
    • Discuss all service and payment options during the funeral arrangements
    • Be prepared and make decisions and organize details in advance of need
    • Plan a personalized and meaningful ceremony to help you begin healing
  • What do funeral directors do?

    Funeral directors at Walter Sanders Funeral & Cremation Services are trained caregivers and administrators. They make the arrangements for the transportation of the deceased, complete all necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the deceased. 


    Funeral directors are listeners, advisors and supporters. They 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. 

  • What types of funeral services exist?

    Every family is different, and not everyone wants the same type of funeral. Funeral practices are influenced by religious and cultural traditions, costs and personal preferences. These factors influence whether the body will be present at the funeral, if there will be a viewing or visitation, and if so, whether the casket will be open or closed, and whether the remains will be buried or cremated. 

  • Why have a public viewing?

    Viewing is part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Many grief specialists believe that viewing aids the grief process by helping the bereaved recognize the reality of death. Viewing is encouraged for children as long as the process is explained and the viewing is voluntary. 

  • How much does a funeral cost?

    Funerals can range from $1200 and up depending on the services selected. We would be very happy to assist you in selecting a service that is reflective of your loved one's life and tailored to the financial resources available. Call us today at 919-934-6661 to schedule a free consultation. 

  • What is the purpose of embalming?

    Embalming sanitizes and preserves the deceased, retards the decomposition process and enhances the appearance of someone disfigured by traumatic death or illness. Embalming makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, thus allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them. 

  • Is embalming required by law?

    No. Most states, however, require embalming when death is caused by a reportable contagious disease or when a deceased is 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. 

  • Is cremation a substitute for a funeral?

    As more people are choosing cremation, funeral service professionals are striving to give consumers a true sense of what their many options are for a funeral service. Often funeral directors find that people have a preconception that they have fewer choices for a ceremony when selecting cremation for themselves or a loved one. Therefore, they request direct cremation and deny the surviving friends and family an opportunity to honor them with a memorial service. In actuality, cremation is only part of the commemorative experience. In fact, cremation can actually increase your options when planning a funeral. Cremation gives people the flexibility to search for types of tributes that reflect the life being honored. But this doesn't mean that aspects of traditional funeral services have to be discarded. Even with cremation, a meaningful memorial that is personalized to reflect the life of the deceased could include:


    • A visitation prior to the service
    • An open or closed casket
    • Special music
    • A ceremony at the funeral chapel, your place of worship or other special location
    • Participation by friends and family

    Commonly, cremated remains are placed in an urn and committed to an indoor or outdoor mausoleum or columbarium; interred in a family burial plot; or included in a special urn garden. 


    Cremation also gives families the option to scatter the remains. This can be done in a designated cemetery garden or at a place that was special to the person. Today, cremated remains can even become part of an ocean reef or made into diamonds.

  • Where can I get more information on cremation?

    e can assist you with the necessary information for a funeral or memorial service with a cremation. For more technical information about the cremation process, we encourage you to view information on-line at the National Funeral Directors Association. 

Allow us to serve you by calling (919) 934-6661
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