Funeral 101

Many families choose to have the body embalmed and casketed for viewing, visitation, and a traditional church or chapel service. This allows the family to share in the viewing experience and adhere to their own personal and religious beliefs. Typically in Sioux Falls when families choose this type of service, there will be a normal viewing and visitation period at the funeral home. This may last for one day or several days depending on the wishes of the family.

On the day of the service, the casket, flowers and personal items are transferred to the church or chapel for the funeral service. This scenario gives the family and friends a final chance to say a last goodbye. Following the service, the family may go directly into the fellowship hall for a luncheon or period of fellowship and refreshments. The casketed body is then returned to the on-site crematory at Miller Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory for the secure and dignified cremation. After this, the urn that contains the cremated human remains is delivered or picked up by the family at an arranged time. Some families choose to bury the urn, while others may choose to scatter or maintain at a personal location.

You may choose to have a visitation with viewing the night before a memorial service. Directly following the evening of the viewing and visitation, the funeral directors will cremate the body and place the cremated remains into the provided urn. The urn will then be available the following morning for the memorial service and if the family chooses the burial.

As personal options become more pronounced, we find that some families choose to have the body cremated, followed by a memorial service. This option allows the family to cremate the body and still adhere to religious or personal ceremonial beliefs. When this is done, the casketed body is not brought to the church or chapel. Rather, the family may choose to have the urn present along with photo collages and personal items. With this option, many families in Sioux Falls still choose to have a period of visitation (without the casketed body present) at the funeral home. Again, this gives the family a chance to share thoughts and memories with old friends, neighbors, business associates, and other extended relatives. Following the service, the family will often time hold a public or private committal service at the cemetery.

This option allows for an immediate cremation, (with no public viewing) followed by a graveside service at the cemetery or final resting place. With this option, the family is still able to have a public visitation at the funeral home, usually the night before or just prior to the Committal Service taking place.

This option consists of a cremation taking place with no formal services whatsoever. At the time of death, we would schedule a time to meet with the family to complete the needed information for the death certificate and newspaper obituaries (if requested by the family). After all the authorizations have been completed and all legal requirements have been met, the body is cremated at the Sioux Falls Miller Funeral Home On-Site Crematory. The cremated remains are then given to the family at an appointed time. The family may still desire to have a public visitation and reception.

A full traditional funeral service is one that has traditional roots in the modern era. At the time of death, the family makes arrangements with the funeral director and also selects a casket and outer burial container or vault. Times are arranged for the funeral service, visitation, luncheon fellowship, and burial. For the visitation, a time is arranged usually the morning before the funeral service for the family to come to the funeral home for a period of a private viewing. After that, the stateroom is opened throughout the day for the general public to come and pay their respects. Time is also arranged for the family to be present at the funeral home to greet friends. On weekday nights, this is usually done at the funeral home between the hours of 4:00 to 6:00 or 5:00 to 7:00 pm. On Sundays, the family prefers to hold the visitation from 2:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon. The family, relatives, friends, and colleagues come to the visitation to have an opportunity to see the family, offer their support, and to share memories with them.

The funeral service may take place at the funeral home chapel, the church, or possibly another venue with ample seating availability if a larger venue is needed. On the day of the service, the funeral director sets up the space for the funeral and transports the casket. The casket is usually open in an appropriate area of the church for people to view. After the family arrives, there is normally a short period of visitation as people begin to come to the funeral. Prior to the services taking place, the family is escorted into a private area where the officiating clergy will have a time of prayer. Just before the service time, funeral directors will close the casket and will process with clergy, pallbearers, and family into the sanctuary to begin the service.

Funeral Services normally can range from 30 minutes to one hour. Following the service, the family has options of either going to the cemetery right away or having a fellowship and luncheon time before going to the cemetery. The burial at the cemetery may be open to the public or be a private service for family and inner-circle friends.

Families may choose to have a visitation time the night before, and then schedule a burial committal service to take place the following morning before the church service. The interment may be private or public. Following the committal service, the family will go to the church for the memorial service. Following the service, the family and friends typically go directly into the fellowship area for a luncheon and/or period of visitation and fellowship.

In lieu of having the funeral service take place at the church or chapel, some families prefer to hold the service at the graveside. This is usually a shorter service, and most often is led by a member of the clergy. The funeral director and family gather at a predetermined time, either at the funeral home or at the cemetery. They may wish to gather at the funeral home, have a last viewing opportunity, and then go in procession to the cemetery. The other option would be to meet at the cemetery, where the casket may be preset into place by funeral personnel. The graveside service would typically range in time between 10 to 15 minutes and could be public or private.

Many families choose to have the body embalmed and casketed for viewing, visitation, and a traditional church or chapel service. This allows the family to share in the viewing experience and adhere to their own personal and religious beliefs. Typically in Sioux Falls when families choose this type of service, there will be a normal viewing and visitation period at the funeral home. This may last for one day or several days depending on the wishes of the family.

On the day of the service, the casket, flowers and personal items are transferred to the church or chapel for the funeral service. This scenario gives the family and friends a final chance to say a last goodbye. Following the service, the family may go directly into the fellowship hall for a luncheon or period of fellowship and refreshments. The casketed body is then returned to the funeral home for the cremation. After this, the urn that contains the cremated human remains is delivered or picked up by the family at an arranged time. Some families choose to bury the urn, while others may choose to scatter or maintain at a personal location.

We will need a photograph to give to the media for printed obituaries. This must be sharp, clear of shadows, and not too dark. It does not have to be a black and white image. It is okay to use a group shot, or a shot with other people in it, as it can be cropped and altered. You may also want to bring in up to 25 photographs to be used for a professionally made DVD for the visitation. This also makes a nice keepsake for family members. Please keep in mind that the DVD may not contain copyrighted music.

You will probably want to bring the clothing to the funeral home when you come in for the arrangement conference. For a man, this may include a suit (pants and jacket), a shirt, a necktie, and all underclothing. Shoes are not necessary, although we prefer you bring in socks or slippers. If the person did not own a suit or did not regularly wear a suit, you may bring a nice long-sleeved shirt or sweater and slacks. For a woman, a dress or suit would be appropriate. It's best to bring in something with long sleeves and a higher neckline. If you bring in jewelry, please let us know if you would like us to remove this prior to closing the casket for the last time.

You will need to have the correct documentation for the death certificate. Current address, date of birth, place of birth, father's name, mother's first name and maiden name, race, and social security number. We will also need to gather information to include: the highest education level obtained, usual occupation when working, type of industry in which the person was employed, and marriage information.

The funeral director will be writing the obituary, so be prepared to gather the information on that. Many families prefer to write their own obituary, as they like to have more control over the content and also to personalize it further. If you would like to draft your own obituary, your director will be pleased to edit it for punctuation, etc. The obituary contains statistical data such as birthplace and city of residence growing up. It also included education where and when the person graduated from high school and college, for example. The obituary follows a person's life in chronological order. If you choose to do so, you may wish to include a paragraph detailing personal passions, hobbies or strong personality traits.

If you're making funeral arrangements for a Veteran, you will need to bring in a copy of the DD214, or paperwork showing that he or she was honorably discharged. This paperwork is used to obtain a military honor detail, a US flag for military honors, to apply for veterans' benefits (if available), and to obtain a military marker. If choosing a national cemetery, we will also need to fax these to the National Scheduling Office.

The legal next of kin will need to sign paperwork authorizing the cremation to take place. If the family members are not here at the time, we will make arrangements for this paperwork to be completed.

You may wish to bring in any active insurance policies that you have. At your choosing, the funeral director may assign the policy proceeds to cover funeral expenses or assist you in filing for these proceeds. You need not bring in a copy of the will, power of attorney, or other legal documents unless they pertain specifically to the funeral service itself. If you have copies of cemetery or monument papers showing that a person has paid for these services in advance, it may be helpful for you to bring these in.

Some churches are liturgical by virtue of their denominational structure. By liturgical, we mean that the funeral service adheres to a prewritten order of service, and one that will more likely include responsorial prayers and readings. In planning a funeral, a family should be careful not to attempt to interfere with the liturgical rituals of the church or select music that would not be appropriate to the church proper.

A non-liturgical service would be unscripted. The presiding officiant would not have a strict order of service with which to adhere. The family is freer to select speakers, eulogies, and the tone of the message.

Some services are done in a very traditional and dignified manner. The music follows a more classical or traditional tone and may be composed of slower paced hymns. Speakers delivering eulogies will be mindful of honoring the deceased and the family in the utmost manner of respect.

Some families may wish to have more of a celebratory service. This would incorporate music of an upbeat tone and may be contemporary or even traditional in nature. You may wish to incorporate speakers at the service, perhaps friends or colleagues who bring forth lighter natured personal reflections and humorous stories. In your meeting with the clergy or celebrant, you may wish to communicate that you would like a personal and happy celebration of the life that was lived.

Services do not have to be all alike. They can take place in a church, chapel, a grand hall, on a ball diamond or in a cave. The venue is a matter of your own choosing. Some families like to break out of the mold a bit with music, too. You may incorporate a marching band or choir. While this is certainly permissible, it is important to build in enough lead time in planning a complex service of a more unique flavor.

It is important to try to stay calm. The first issue at hand would be to contact other family members, notifying them of what just took place. After you have had that opportunity, place a phone call to the funeral home in your hometown that will be handling the services for you. This one call will be all you need to make to get things done. They, in turn, will call an associated agent where the death had taken place. The two firms will work together to take care of professional and transportation details. If death occurs outside of the United States, we will be steadfast in working with governmental agencies and embassies to assure a smooth transmission of paperwork and communication.

Your funeral home will gather detailed information from you pertaining to the death certificate. This information must be obtained before return transportation of the body can be made. Your funeral director will ask questions in order to complete the documentation for the death certificate. These questions will include full name, current address, date of birth, place of birth, father's name, mother's first name and maiden name, race, and social security number. We will also need to gather information including the highest education level, usual occupation when working, type of industry in which the person was employed, and marriage information. We will also need to know the intended place of burial.

Because of limited airline availability, it is important not to set a date for the visitation or the funeral until all airline flight arrangements have been completed and confirmed. Keep in mind that in some states, the death certificates must be signed by the coroner prior to making arrangements for flight.

If death occurs away from home and you have decided to cremate the body, you have two options. One option would be to fly the body home to allow other family members a chance to view and say goodbye for the last time before the cremation takes place. The next option is to have the cremation take place where the person died. If this is done, all authorizations must be signed there. As stated above, it is important to call your home town funeral home. We will make arrangements for the cremation to take place there, or to have the body brought back home.

Graves are purchased either beforehand or at the time of death; people purchase single spaces, double spaces or entire family plots, meaning they have enough spaces for the burial of other family members in the future. Traditionally, people are buried in their hometown or their current community where they have lived most of their lives. Military Veterans and their spouses sometimes choose to be buried at regional National Cemeteries managed by the Veterans Administration.

Most cemeteries require the use of a grave liner or burial vault. This keeps the ground from collapsing into the buried casket, protects the monument or headstone from tilting or falling, and also resists the entrance of water and other foreign materials. A few cemeteries do not require the use of a vault or liner. They may have special sections that are used or extra fees associated with the burial to pay for higher maintenance costs.

A vault is a lined and sealed receptacle that the casket goes into at the cemetery. It is typically constructed of at least 5,000 psi concrete and thermoplastic ABS. The most important mechanical properties of ABS are stability, impact resistance and toughness. Some vaults incorporate an added element of stainless steel, copper, or bronze.

A grave liner or grave box is used in lieu of a vault. It is typically made of lower grade cement and is not constructed to resist water. It has a cement slab that is placed onto the box to hold and preserve the integrity of the grave.

Committal services may be held before or following a funeral or memorial service. Some religious practices may not be in agreement with this practice, so it is recommended that you consult your clergy prior to making this decision.

Like funeral services, some committals are liturgical, while others are non-scripted. The committal service is typically a religious service, completing the last part of the funeral. Prayers are made, and liturgy is spoken to commit the body or cremated remains to the earth. A more celebratory committal service may take place as well. Some families choose to have a balloon release or music played at the cemetery.

If you would rather not have a ground-burial, you may wish to make use of a mausoleum. A mausoleum is a building or structure that is designed to hold casketed bodies. Typically located at a cemetery, the mausoleum will have either indoor or outdoor crypt spaces in which a casket may be permanently placed. A plaque is placed on the outer wall, indicating the name, birth date and death date of the individual. Some mausoleums are private and are also found on the grounds of a cemetery. These private mausoleums usually hold one to six or more family members.

A viewing is just that. It is an opportunity for family and/or friends to view the body. Visitation is typically a public event, a time to share the loss of and celebrate the life of someone very dear to us. The visitation is held with or without a casketed body present.

Most grief specialists strongly encourage a family to have a public viewing, as it helps the family and community to acknowledge the reality of death. It brings a sense of calm to many people, giving them a chance to say goodbye; it helps them start to come to terms with a life now changed through the loss.

As a rule, families will bring in a full suit of clothing for a man and a long-sleeved dress for a woman. Underclothing is also necessary to bring in. If you would prefer not to be so formal with the clothing, a full set of informal clothing is certainly acceptable as well.

Some people wear glasses every minute they are awake. We are used to seeing them with glasses on and the frames become a part of their look. To see them suddenly without them wearing their glasses would not be the same.

Think about hobbies, hunting or sports equipment, gardening tools, or collections. If the person had won awards in the past, you may wish to bring those. Don't forget about past military service items, musical instruments, or old yearbooks. Larger pictures will be placed onto easels; smaller photographs are usually mounted onto picture boards and placed onto an easel.

Yes. DVDs give people an increased opportunity to share memories and stories. We will have a DVD made for you. Simply bring in up to 25 photographs. Your personal DVD Tribute will be professionally created from your photographs and will be ready at the start of the visitation. Although it contains instrumental background music, please keep in mind that the DVD may not be made using copyrighted music.

You may, but you might be missing out on seeing a number of friends. By having the visitation the day or night before the funeral, it enables a great number of people to come and share time with the family that otherwise might not be able to make it to the funeral or memorial service.

Visitation does not imply viewing. People come to the visitation to have a chance to extend their condolences, share their stories, and offer their support and love in an informal setting. This embrace by the community empowers the family to begin moving forward in life in a healthier way.

Embalming is the science of sanitizing and temporarily preserving a deceased human body, forestalling the decomposition process and thereby restoring the appearance of the deceased for purposes of viewing or visitation and holding a funeral. Although a somewhat similar method was used in ancient Egypt, the practice grew in the United States in the 1860s during the US Civil War.

Immediately following the moment of death, our bodies, like any other living entity that has died, will begin to decompose.

Embalming sterilizes the tissues and chemically changes the composition and protein structure resulting in firming the body's tissue. When alive, our bodies are just above 98 degrees F. At death, we become the temperature of the room, approximately 70 to 72 degrees F. The difference in these temperatures is what we notice when touching someone who has died.

Restorative art refers to the restoration of a person's appearance prior to death taking place, or prior to an agonal illness. For purposes of visitation, restorative art is done in conjunction with the embalming process and restores the body to a restful, natural appearance.

When we are living, our bodies circulate blood through even the smallest of capillaries, giving the skin a reddish or pink undertone. After we die, with the blood no longer circulating, our skin and lips become very pale with no highlight of color. Cosmetics will be conservatively placed to restore a natural appearance to a person.

While it is traditional in the US to use "half-couch" caskets and not show the legs of the deceased, we find that at times children may want us to open the lower end of the casket to make sure the legs are still there. In the United States, full-couch caskets which show the entire body, are used more frequently for members of the Catholic clergy or Orthodox faith.

Not all religions do. Members of the Orthodox Jewish faith typically do not embalm. It is also not the practice to embalm for members of the Islamic faith, Hindu, Buddhist, or Baha'i faith.

Yes. Some families would rather opt for a private viewing for family members and inner-circle friends and colleagues only. This is not uncommon.

Generally, unattended deaths are investigated. Other circumstances may involve deaths due to injury (even if delayed complications result from the injury), poisoning, infectious complications, and of course, a death where foul play may have been a factor.

Not always. At the discretion of the office, a coroner may choose to do a series of exams and tests, including toxicology tests.

If the Coroner's Office does not order the autopsy, the family will need to make arrangements to have a private autopsy completed. This can be expensive.

Many times, you will find the role of funeral director passed down from generation to generation in a family. Other times, people may be influenced to become a funeral director due to the personal death of a family member or friend. In any case, we find it to be a calling of sorts. It is the strong desire to help others in need that becomes the driving force in choosing this profession.

Being a funeral director requires a person of complex abilities. Outside of the educational requirements, a funeral director must be a person of strong character, a good communicator, sensitive to others' needs, patient and professional, community-oriented, and artistic and creative, to name a few of the suggested assets. This career choice is also very demanding of time.

Yes, although the actual requirements may vary from state to state. An accredited school of mortuary science will have very thorough training on the many subjects that are involved in mortuary sciences.

Yes. For example, Worsham School of Mortuary Science, Chicago, is comprised of 50% women today, up from only 10% decades ago.

An applicant for a funeral service license must successfully complete the prescribed course of study from a college of mortuary science accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, Inc. In addition, the applicant must complete an academic course requirement of 60 semester hours of credit from an accredited college or university. The board requires coursework in each of the following areas:

Communications, Social science, Natural science, Business, and various electives. The applicant shall also serve 12 months supervised traineeship, and pass state and national board exams prior to being licensed.

Cemeteries are typically non-profit entities that are governed by a board of directors. Some are community-based; some are tied to a particular church or religious denomination, while others are operated by the city or county government. They are all regulated by state law as well as having their own set of rules and regulations.

Yes. The people digging the grave have methods of thawing the ground prior to digging. These methods can range from gas-fueled heating systems to burning wood over the grave to encourage thawing. Cemeteries need at least two business days to adequately prepare the space for burial.

A mausoleum is a building or structure that holds casketed or cremated bodies as a part of the final resting place. It can be intended for the community and be a rather large structure holding hundreds of casketed bodies, or it can be a private mausoleum, holding one to several family members.

A columbarium is much like a mausoleum, only it is constructed for the permanent placement of cremated remains. The urns are kept in individual spaces called niches.

Yes. In Sioux Falls, both Woodlawn and Mount Pleasant Cemeteries contain private mausoleums. Most notably, the mausoleum of US Senator Pettigrew can be found at Woodlawn. It is made of Tiffany quarried granite and contains the bodies of the Senator, his wife, and siblings. Hills of Rest Memorial Park has a community mausoleum. It is a spacious chapel-like structure that has both interior and exterior spaces available for entombment.

Hills of Rest, Mount Pleasant and Woodlawn all have given guided or self-guided walking tours in the summer or autumn months. Mount Pleasant and Woodlawn both contain the graves of a great number of Civil War veterans and historical civic leaders.

Yes. This procedure is called a disinterment. First, contact your local funeral home. They will generate the necessary permits and legal applications. Then, the funeral director will coordinate with the cemetery and the vault company. The grave must be reopened; the burial vault or outer burial container containing the casketed remains must be removed, and finally, the grave must be re-closed. If the vault or container is damaged in this process, it must be replaced by the family. Then, after transporting to the new area, the new grave space needs to be opened and closed. Please be aware that this complete process can be costly.

After careful security measures are met, the casket or container is placed into the crematory, where extreme heat and flame is applied. After a few short hours, the body is consumed. The operator then separates out any foreign material left from the casket, etc. The bone fragments remaining are referred to as cremated remains. The cremated remains are then processed and placed into an urn.

Yes. At Miller Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory in Sioux Falls, SD, only one body is cremated at a time.

In South Dakota, we have a waiting period of 24 hours after death has been pronounced before a crematory may cremate a body. If the death was unattended or other complicating issues are present, the cremation must also be authorized by the coroner or medical examiner. The cremation will not take place until all required authorizing signatures are in place.

The cremated remains are ash and bone fragments processed to a uniform particle and powder-like texture following the exposure of the deceased to several hours of intense heat and flame in a crematory.

It is your choice. The practical necessity may depend upon whether the family has selected a service with a public viewing of the body, whether there is to be a funeral service, or if the body is to be transported on a public airliner prior to the cremation taking place.

No. Again, it is the choice of the family. The crematory authority does require that at the very least, the deceased be cremated in a combustible, leak-proof, rigid, covered alternative container.

There is a choice of very affordable cremation caskets that are completely combustible, as well as ceremonial or rental caskets that are specifically designed to be used for a funeral service followed by a cremation taking place.

Yes. The rental casket is specifically designed to provide an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to purchasing a casket for a cremation funeral service.

Yes, absolutely. Arrangements can be made to tour the secured crematory and processing area.

No. Not all funeral homes have an on-site crematory. It is important to understand where the cremation is taking place when considering this service.

No, cremation is simply a method of preparing human remains for final disposition.

Visitation does not imply viewing. People come to the visitation to have a chance to extend their condolences, share their stories, and offer their support and love. This embrace by the community empowers the family to begin moving forward in life in a healthier way. It also offers the public, who may not be able to attend the memorial service, a chance to visit with you.

It's completely a matter of family preference. Many times when a family is split regarding the decision to cremate, a compromise may be achieved by having a traditional service first, followed by cremation.

Yes. An urn ark is frequently used to carry the urn to the front of the church and to the gravesite if the family wishes to bury the urn. You may use four pallbearers to carry the ark.

The cremated remains can be buried in a cemetery, placed in a columbarium or mausoleum niche, scattered at a place that was significant to the deceased, or kept at home. With any of these options, keepsake urns would be an additional option. A keepsake urn is a small urn usually an inch or two tall, containing a fraction of the cremated remains that the family could keep at home or scatter ceremoniously.

A columbarium is usually located at a cemetery or church. It can be either indoors or outdoors and is comprised of compartments designed to hold urns containing cremated remains.

If you are planning to scatter them, it is suggested that you scatter only a ceremonial portion. Over time, many families regret scattering the entire amount. They feel that having a place to go to, such as a cemetery, is helpful, healing and meaningful.

Because it provides a focal point for memorializing the deceased. To remember and be remembered are natural human needs. Throughout human history, memorialization of the dead has been a key component of almost every culture. The Washington Monument, the Tomb of the Unknowns and the Vietnam "Wall" in Washington, D.C are examples of memorialization which demonstrate that, throughout our history, we have always honored our dead.

Depending upon the cemetery's policy, you may be able to have the urn buried on top of the casketed remains of your spouse, or utilize the space provided next to him/her.

Yes, of course.

Some do not recommend cremation, while most permit the family to choose. Should you have any questions or concerns, we suggest you speak with a member of your clergy.

On-site cremation is a cremation that takes place in a crematory that is located within a funeral home. If the funeral home does not have a crematory of their own, the cremation may actually be "outsourced" to a place or person you don't even know.

Yes. Any active duty service member or any Veteran who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable may be buried in one of the national Veterans Administration cemeteries. The spouse or dependent child of the veteran may also be buried there if qualifications are met. The Veterans Administration maintains 131 national cemeteries and interred more than 118,000 Veterans and family members in 2012.

Arlington falls under a different jurisdiction than do Veterans Administration national cemeteries. Arlington maintains tighter or narrower eligibility standards that may only be fully determined and confirmed at the time of death.

Yes. Used as an option mostly for cremation services without a burial, military rites may be performed at the funeral home chapel, or if allowed, at the church. These honors are typically done without the three rifle volleys and consist of folding and presenting the flag to the family, and taps being played.

No, a Veteran is allowed only one honor detail.

Yes. Some veteran families choose to have partial rites. This would still include folding and presenting the flag, the presence of a color guard, and taps.

No. Neither the US Government nor the Veterans Affairs will pay for the funeral of a US Veteran.

The funeral expense or burial/plot allowance is restricted to qualifications. To name a few of the qualifiers, you must have a service-related disability or be eligible to receive pension or compensation or die under VA facility care. Families are encouraged to contact the VA to confirm eligibility. If eligible, the VA will pay up to $700.00 toward burial and funeral expenses (if hospitalized by VA at time of death), or $300.00 toward burial and funeral expenses (if not hospitalized by VA at time of death), and a $700.00 plot-interment allowance (if not buried in a national cemetery). This may be subject to change.

Yes. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will furnish a Government headstone or marker for the grave of any deceased eligible Veteran.

The Cremation Authorization paperwork, if not pre-signed directly by the deceased, will need to be signed by the spouse. In the absence of a spouse, it must be signed by all adult and capable children. The next of kin list descends from there. This paperwork must be completed prior to the cremation taking place. The funeral home views faxed signatures as legally valid. To further assist families, an authorization form may be emailed, signed, and emailed back to the funeral home.

The Crematory must wait a period of 24 hours from the time of death before it may cremate a body. (Pursuant to 34-26A-13). Following the 24 hour waiting period, all other required legal obligations must be met prior to the cremation taking place. There are to be no exceptions to waiving the 24-hour rule unless directed by the coroner in extreme cases of infectious disease, etc.

Scattering is permitted in South Dakota with restrictions. Cremated remains may be scattered over a public waterway or sea, or on the private property of a consenting owner. There are restricted areas to scattering, however.

1. Bear Butte: Cremated remains may not be scattered on or around Bear Butte. Leaving human cremated remains at Bear Butte State Park is completely prohibited.
2. South Dakota Badlands - National Park Service: A permit must be obtained from the Superintendent prior to the dispersal of any cremated remains. This permit does not constitute approval or permission. Further, scattering must be done at least 100 yards from any trail, road, overlook, or facility. The scattering of remains from the air is to be performed at a minimum altitude of 2,000 feet above ground level, and cremated remains cannot be scattered in developed areas or park facilities. Also, no markers or memorials are permitted.

If the death is such as is to be investigated by a coroner, the human remains may not be cremated by the crematory authority until the coroner has completed his investigation and authorization to cremate has been received in writing from the coroner of the county in which the death occurred.

A durable power of attorney will stay in effect, authorizing you as the attorney-in-fact to handle the affairs of business even after the individual becomes incompetent.

A Healthcare Power of Attorney allows you to make decisions regarding healthcare and treatment. Although it does not authorize you to make financial decisions, you can be authorized to do both at the discretion of the person drawing the document.

A will is an instrument that directs the transfer of property at the time of death. The person writing the will may direct specific individuals to receive certain items of value, or simply make wishes known that the property should be split or shared in equal portions or not.

In planning to make a will, you should consult an attorney to help you. You will want to make sure that it is correctly drafted, worded and signed. If not, the will could be administered differently than you had intended, or worse yet, could be thrown out completely and deemed to be invalid.

If a will is not valid, or if no will was created prior to a death stating how the property is to be distributed, the decedent is said to have died intestate. Assets held jointly with right of survivorship will transfer to the other holder. Insurance policies with a designated beneficiary will go to that beneficiary. Other solely owned assets will transfer in accordance with the Intestate Succession Laws. Generally, this means the property will pass to a surviving spouse and children, but not in equal shares.

After a person dies you will need to contact an attorney. He or she will need to know a few things about the estate. To save you time and money, here are some things you may want to prepare prior to your initial consultation:

The attorney will need to determine the value of the estate. You will need to take an "inventory" of assets all of the decedent's assets or property including real estate or land, automobiles, boats, money, stocks, jewelry, or other items of value. With this, you should also determine to whom money is owed; debts accrued prior to death and as a result of death taking place.

You will also need to identify the people or organizations named to share the estate. Your attorney may need to have complete names, social security numbers, addresses, and phone numbers of the individuals, so that he or she may notify them.

The attorney will handle the paperwork for the representative to be appointed, establish a tax ID number for the estate, publish a required notice to creditors, offer counsel as to which debts need to be paid first in accordance with the law, file accounts showing income and disbursements, and finally, will guide you in distributing the assets.

To assure accuracy, you may also wish to contact an accountant to help you with filing the last tax return. The decedent's last year income taxes will still need to be paid in most cases. The accountant will also give you advice on paying out proceeds of the estate to better benefit the recipient parties.

A time in which the family, funeral director (and in some cases, the pastor) meet to discuss and arrange the funeral services or in lieu of services, take care of final details concerning the deceased.

A named person or entity receiving the proceeds of a will or insurance policy.

Gifting the whole body after death to benefit the advancement of medical sciences. The University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine is the local recipient of such a gift.

A permit required for burial or cremation of human remains.

Used at the cemetery to prevent the grave from collapsing into the casket. The vault is typically constructed of concrete and thermoplastic ABS. The most important mechanical properties of ABS are stability, impact resistance and toughness.

Sometimes referred to as Third Party Expenses. These are expenses that come into play when looking at the overall costs of a funeral. Although they are not funeral home expenses, the funeral home may offer to advance payment of these items on your behalf. They may include charges for newspaper obituaries, flowers, cemetery fees, church fees, and gratuities, luncheon costs, and cost of death certificates. The funeral home will not charge you an added fee for advancing these payments; it is provided as a convenience for the family.

A Catholic priest officiating or celebrating a funeral mass. This term is also used to mean a non-clergyman who officiates a non-religious or semi-religious service.

A vehicle designed to carry a casket or urn ark to the cemetery or final place of disposition.

A private or public structure or building usually found at a cemetery, which is designed for housing cremation urns.

Usually done at the cemetery, the committal service is traditionally a religious rite committing the body or cremated remains to the earth.

If qualifications are met, the corneas of the eye can be donated at the time of death. Over 46,000 people each year have their sight restored or improved through the gift of cornea donation.

Regulated process using intense heat in a chamber to reduce human remains to bone fragments.

A paper that, when properly signed and dated, gives permission from the family for the crematory authority to cremate a human body. This itself does not necessarily complete all the needed details before a cremation can take place.

Ash and bone fragments processed to a uniform particle and powder-like texture following the exposure of the deceased to several hours of intense heat and flame in a crematory.

An area in a mausoleum that holds casketed human remains.

A document containing the statistical and death details of a deceased person. A certified copy contains a stamped official seal and is not a photocopy.

A published notification that a person has died. Generally found in newspapers and websites, it contains the name, date of death, and sometimes includes survivors and service times if available at the time of publication.

The act of reopening the grave which contains a body, whether casketed or cremated and moving the human remains to a different grave space within or outside of the current cemetery or place of burial. The grave is then reclosed.

The arrangements made to bury, cremate, or donate a human body.

The science of sanitizing and temporarily preserving a deceased human body, forestalling the decomposition process and thereby restoring the appearance of the deceased for purposes of viewing and holding a funeral.

The process of placing a casket in an above-ground mausoleum.

A personal reflection of the deceased, given usually by a family member or close friend at the funeral service.

A person legally named by the court to resolve debts and distribute the property of an estate.

This certificate may be used to close out accounts, etc., and is basically a death certificate without a cause of death listed. These may be obtained almost immediately without a waiting period. Like a death certificate, the cost is also $15.00.

A religious or non-religious ceremony with the casketed remains present, prior to burial or cremation.

Containing the casket, the liner is a simple cement box with a flat lid that is placed into the grave. This holds up the earth above a buried casket, preventing the grave from collapsing. It is not designed to resist water.

A stone or plaque set usually at the head of the grave, containing the name and dates of a deceased.

More involved than a committal service or service of interment, a Graveside Service refers to an abbreviated funeral service taking place at the cemetery itself in lieu of a church or chapel.

Hospice care is designed to give supportive care to people in the final phase of a terminal illness. Hospice care focuses on comfort and quality of life, rather than providing curative care. The program can be at home, in a hospital setting, or at a hospice facility.

A term used for the human body after death has taken place.

Placing the body, whether casketed or cremated, into the ground, normally after the committal service.

A small urn, usually an inch or two tall, containing a fraction of the cremated remains.

A casketed body placed in a stateroom or appointed area for the purpose of viewing and/or visitation.

A building or structure that holds casketed or cremated bodies, as a part of the final resting place.

A religious or non-religious ceremony without the casketed body present. May follow a burial or cremation.

A person's closest living relatives. The legal order of kin is specified in state law. For a grown adult, it begins with a spouse, then adult children, grandchildren, etc. If no spouse, children, or the like, the next of kin would be parents or siblings, then nieces or nephews, etc.

A space in a mausoleum or a columbarium designated for an urn, for permanent placement.

A term used to describe a biography of the deceased. Generally, this is published in a newspaper or several newspapers and is also placed onto a funeral home website and in the service folders. Sometimes the published obituary is shorter than the one found online or in the service folder to conserve costs for the family.

A crematory that is actually located within the funeral home building.

The cost for digging and refilling a grave, either from the cemetery or a designated digger.

A grave liner or a burial vault used at the cemetery to prevent the grave from collapsing into the casket.

Individuals who actively carry the casket or urn ark.

Specialized medical and interdisciplinary care for people with serious illnesses, designed to care for the patient as well as the family. Palliative care may include processes for curative treatment and is focused on relieving suffering in all areas of a patient's life.

A person legally named by the court to resolve debts and distribute the property of an estate.

A group of cemetery spaces typically purchased or arranged for a family.

A legal instrument authorizing a person to act on behalf of someone else in a legal or business matter.

A prearrangement involves services that are planned in advance for one's death. This can either be done simply or done in great detail and may include the choice of a funeral home, written lists of songs, pallbearers, casket and vault selections, location of the funeral, luncheon menu, cemetery information, and an obituary draft.

Funding which is set aside in a special funeral trust to pay for a funeral in advance of one's death.

A court procedure that legally establishes the validity of a drawn will, following a person's death.

A group of vehicles usually led by a funeral coach containing a casket, which moves in a ceremonial manner to the place of the funeral or burial.

A brochure or paper containing the service information, photos and the obituary of the deceased. It is handed out at the visitation and again at the funeral or memorial service.

Donation is the removal, processing, storage, and distribution of viable tissues from non-heart beating donors. Assists with burn cases, ligament repair, bone replacement, etc. One tissue donor can improve the lives of more than 50 people.

State and federal programs covering room and board, nursing care, therapy care, meals, and general medical supplies for persons of low income or funds.

A traditional service is one in which the embalmed body is placed in a casket, and a visitation or viewing takes place. A funeral service is then held with burial following.

Traditionally "urn-shaped," the urn temporarily or permanently contains and holds the cremated remains.

The urn ark is a carrier used to carry an urn to the front of the church or to the final resting place at the cemetery or mausoleum. Typically, four pallbearers are used for transporting the urn ark.

Used at the cemetery to prevent the grave from collapsing into the casket. The vault is typically constructed of concrete and thermoplastic impact-resistant ABS. The most important mechanical properties of ABS are stability, impact resistance and toughness.

A period of time, usually the day or night before a funeral or memorial service, when relatives and friends gather at the funeral home. It is a time of sharing and support for the community and family alike.