Many people are unfamiliar or unclear about funeral arrangements and/or traditions. Below, you will find our most frequently asked questions. We hope you find this list informative because we are committed to providing you with accurate and honest information to help you make the necessary decisions regarding funeral arrangements.

Q:	When death occurs, what should I do?
	When someone dies in a medical facility, usually the staff will take care of some arrangements, such as contacting the funeral home of your choice. You will be responsible for contacting friends, family and clergy. When someone dies at home or work, first call the emergency phone number in your area, usually 911; or if under the care of hospice, call that hospice organization instead of 911. Depending on the circumstances of death, the deceased will either be transported to the morgue for autopsy or to the funeral home of your choice. If your loved one was under medical care, please notify their personal doctor.
Q:	What do I do next and what does a funeral director do?
	Next, contact Pearson-Dial Funeral Home. That funeral director will help you: • Transport the body • Obtain a death certificate • Select a casket, urn or grave marker • Arrange a funeral, memorial or burial service • Prepare the obituary • Help you notify the deceased’s employer, attorney, insurance company and banks • Offer grief support or direct you to other resources
Q:	What is the purpose of a funeral?
	What is the purpose of a funeral? For thousands of years, funerals have allowed survivors to express their feeling about the death of someone they love. According to noted grief educator Alan Wolefelt, the funeral ceremony helps mourners: • acknowledge someone has died • say goodbye • remember the person who died and encourage us to share those memories with others • affirm the worth of their relationship with the person who died • provide a social support system • search for the meaning of life and death • offer continuity and hope for the living Psychologists and experts agree that the benefits of the funeral are for those left behind. The funeral is a socially-recognized forum for expressing grief in a realistic and meaningful way.
Q:	What does one do at a viewing or visitation?
	A viewing is a time when the body is present and friends and family can come and say their farewells. Those who attend may sign a guestbook, speak with family members and view the body.
Q:	How much time does it take to complete a cremation?
	Since we operate our own crematory, we are able to serve you more quickly- usually within 1-3 business days of your authorization and the County's issuance of a permit.
Q:	Why have a public viewing?
	Viewing is part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Many grief specialist report that viewing aids the grief process by helping the bereaved recognize the reality of death.
Q:	What will help you with the loss of a loved one?
	Share your grief with friends and family members. Participate in the funeral as much as possible, by planning a service that is personal and reflects your loved one’s life. The best way to begin the healing process is with a meaningful funeral, where you experience the support of others also share your loss. Locally, Hospice Satilla offers Bereavement Support Group meetings for our communites that we serve for those that have lost loved ones. Bereavement Groups are held at First Baptist Church in Blackshear every Thursday night. Times are 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. for children and families, and 7 p.m. until 8 p.m. for adults. Please call the Hospice office for more information at 285-2340. There are also a number of resources available online, including: The Compassionate Friends - The Compassionate Friends is a national nonprofit, self-help support organization that offers friendship and understanding to bereaved parents, grandparents, and siblings following the death of a child of any age. Beyond Indigo - Beyond Indigo is a grief-support resource site where individuals who have experienced a loss come to share through stories and message boards. The Grief Recovery Institute - The Grief Recovery Institute® has been helping people deal with the emotions caused by death, divorce, and other losses for 25 years. Growth House, Inc. - Growth House, Inc. is dedicated to improving the quality of compassionate care for people who are dying through public education and global professional collaboration. Hospice Foundation of America - HFA is a nonprofit organization that promotes hospice care and works to educate professionals and the families they serve in issues relating to caregiving, terminal illness, loss and bereavement.
Q:	Can you help us with sending memorials to the funeral?
	Yes, we can provide contact information for local florist and memorial gifts
Q:	What is the purpose of a vault?
	Outer burial containers enclose the casket and support the weight of the earth. Many are also designed to prevent water from entering the casket. Although no law requires that a burial vault be used, some cemeteries may require some kind of outer enclosure.
Q:	What is a memorial service?
	A memorial service is a ceremony commemorating the deceased without the remains being present. Although the body is not present during a memorial service, if a body is available a viewing may be held beforehand. Just as in a funeral, the body may be buried or cremated. Because the body is not present at the memorial, disposition may take place either before or after the service. You can hold a memorial service instead of a funeral, or in addition to it. For instance, you might have a funeral in the town where the person lived and died and a memorial service later in the town where he/she grew up.
Q:	Can you help with services for veterans?
	Yes. We can help you arrange services for a veteran. For more information on veterans' services, please visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Q:	What options are available through Social Security?
	We are able to guide you through all of the answers regarding Social Security. For more information, we encourage you to visit the Social Security Administration website.