QUESTION 1.

My wife and I spend our winters in Florida, travel, and stay for the remainder of the year in our hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. We are concerned that should one of us die while away from home, how are our remains returned to Pittsburgh for burial? Should we contact a local funeral director in the area where we are visiting at that time?

ANSWER:

If either of you were to die while traveling around the country on a vacation or living in Florida, you should contact your destination funeral director, in this case, the funeral director in Pittsburgh, PA. He is able to have your remains brought back to your hometown at a much lower cost than you could. Funeral directors work with nation wide shipping services that have a set fee for this type of service. Your savings will be considerable.

QUESTION 2.

The other night, while my wife and I were having dinner, the local cemetery called and asked if we would be interested in purchasing two caskets? Is there any advantage in purchasing caskets from a cemetery?

ANSWER:

NO. Your local funeral home usually offers discounts when merchandise, such as a casket, is purchased from them. Funeral homes can offer a wide variety of casket suppliers, where cemeteries are usually limited to one or two. Something as personal as buying a casket should be in an environment that shares a long tradition with and commitment to families.

QUESTION 3.

Why is it important to fund our pre-needed funeral with insurance instead of a trust program?

ANSWER:

Funding a pre-needed funeral with insurance allows you to remain the owner of the policy. You physically have the policy in your possession and have complete control over it. With a trust program you have to rely on the president of the trust to make the investment decisions for you.