FAQ

When Death Occurs

 

What should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend?

You can call us at anytime. We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Who do I call if a loved one dies out of state? Can Klecatsky & Sons still help?

Yes, we can assist you with out-of-state arrangements, either to transfer the remains to another state or from another state to Minnesota.

Will someone come right away?

If you request immediate assistance, yes. If the family wishes to spend a short time with the deceased to say good bye, you may call us when you are ready.

Where is my loved one being taken?

Embalming is performed at our main preparation facility, located at Southern Funeral Home. If direct cremation is desired, the deceased is taken to our crematory facility at Klecatsky & Sons Funeral Home in Eagan.

What is the purpose of embalming?

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

Does a dead body have to be embalmed, according to law?

No. The State of Minnesota, however, requires embalming when: there is to be a public viewing of the body; death was caused by a reportable contagious disease; remains are to be transported by public transportation; or final disposition will not be accomplished within 72 hours after death.

Should I call my church/pastor?

If you prefer, we will contact your church to get preliminary available times for the funeral. We would suggest that the arrangement conference at the funeral home is the appropriate setting to select the date and time of service as other factors must also be taken into consideration. You will need to meet with church staff to plan scripture passages, music, luncheon, etc.

Funeral Arrangements

What purpose does a funeral serve?

It is customary to recognize death and its finality. Funerals are recognized rituals for the living to show respect for the dead and to help survivors begin the grieving process.

What do funeral directors do?

Funeral directors are caregivers and administrators. They make the arrangements for transportation of the body, complete all necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the body. Funeral directors are listeners, advisors and supporters. They have experience assisting the bereaved in coping with issues surrounding a death. We also link survivors with support groups within the community.

How long will the arrangement conference take?

Arrangements usually take 2 – 3 hours.

What do I need to bring to the arrangement conference?

• Your preference for day and time of visitation and funeral services
• Cemetery location (bring a deed if possible)
• Military discharge papers (DD214 or equivalent)
• Clothing – please include all undergarments, glasses, dentures, jewelry, etc.
• Current photograph for cosmetics and, if you wish, to display on our website or in the newspaper
• Listing of survivors for the obituary; you may list anyone you want, but remember, newspapers charge by the line. People to consider: spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, close friends, people you want to thank.

Why should we have an evening visitation? We do not think many people will come.

have a visitation in the evening, nobody will be able to come. Certainly some people will be at the funeral whether you have a visitation or not, but others may only be able to attend in the evening.

Who qualifies for Veteran’s Benefits?

Veterans, their spouses, and dependent children may qualify for benefits due to their military service. A copy of the veteran’s military discharge papers (DD214 or equivalent) is needed. In order to ease your paperwork burden, we will do the following things on your behalf:

• Contact and apply for burial at Fort Snelling, or any Veteran’s Administration (VA) Cemetery
• Apply for a VA marker at a government or private cemetery
• Apply for and acquire a burial flag for funeral services
• Apply for VA burial benefits
• Arrange for graveside military services (at minimum, playing of Taps and flag presentation)
• Complete and submit other VA paperwork as needed

Contact information:
Fort Snelling National Cemetery
7601 34th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55450
612-726-1127

Veteran’s Administration
Benefits 800-827-1000
www.va.gov

We have not picked a cemetery yet. How do we get started?

We have a list of local cemeteries and phone numbers available.

What do I need to do for Social Security?

The State of Minnesota files Social Security information electronically as part of the Death Certificate filing process. Typically, you can call Social Security about one week after the death and they will be able to finalize your paperwork or schedule a conference call to do so. The Social Security Administration can be reached at: 1-800-772-1213.

How many death certificates do I need?

Every situation is different. You will need certified death certificates for the following situations: Life Insurance, Pensions, Bank Accounts, Brokerage Accounts, House, Car, Boat, etc. – usually anything with the person’s name on the title. You should not need copies for Social Security or the Veteran’s Administration.

When do I get the death certificates?

The process usually takes 1 – 3 weeks. When laboratory tests are performed by the Medical Examiner, delays are possible.

What if I buy a casket from an outside vendor?

Historically, your local funeral home has also been the one source to provide your family with funeral related merchandise. We will always match any third party provider’s cost on merchandise items.

Where can I purchase a marker?

We offer complete marker and monument design, using a Minnesota company for granite marker production and an out of state vendor for bronze markers.

We already have a marker. What about final dates?

We can arrange to have marker dating done at the grave with a portable sandblaster. Engraving is completed throughout the year except winter months.

When will the marker be installed at the cemetery?

This depends on various factors: time of year, material, complexity of the design, etc. We will have an estimate for you at the time you place the order.

Complimentary Service Items

• We provide coffee, cups, paper products and a refrigerator in each of our funeral home lounges. If your family chooses to bring in food or another beverage, it must remain in the lounge area per order of the Health Department.
• We furnish each of our locations with a TV/VCR/DVD for playing family videos during the visitation and/or funeral ceremony. This monitor remains on-site.
• We have easels available in the event that you choose to bring in picture boards or memorial displays. Please let us know in advance how many you will need.
• We create an individualized obituary, memorial display and guestbook on our website.

klecatskys.com

Please visit our website. From the main page, you will find a link to the obituary of your loved one and a memorial page. Directions to the visitation and funeral service are also linked to the obituary page. We provide you, your family, and friends with the ability to "Light a Candle" in their memory. Simply click on the "Light a Candle" link and follow the three easy steps. You are welcome to repeat this process as many times as you want. You may e-mail this information and let others have the opportunity to do the same.

Cremation

What cremation options are available?

We perform the following services that include cremation at our Eagan facility:

• Traditional Funeral followed by Cremation
• Visitation followed by Cremation and Memorial Service
• Direct Cremation with Memorial Service
• Direct Cremation with no Service

Can I be cremated if I am Catholic?

Yes. The Catholic Church prefers the full complement of funeral rites with the body present, followed by cremation. The ashes are to be interred either in the ground or a mausoleum. Talk to your Priest for further explanation of the Catholic Burial Rights.

Is cremation a substitute for a funeral?

No. Cremation is an alternative to earth burial or entombment for the body's final disposition and often follows a traditional funeral service.

So, I have decided on cremation. Can I still have a funeral or a viewing?

Yes, quite often some sort of viewing precedes the actual cremation. We will provide you with the necessary information for a funeral with a cremation following or a memorial service.

Property & Privacy Policies

Personal Property and Jewelry Guidelines

At the time of death, your loved one may be wearing jewelry, clothes, glasses, holding religious articles, etc. We will document and make a list of the items that are brought to the funeral home. At the start of the visitation we will discuss which pieces of jewelry or mementos you will want to remove from the deceased. Prior to closing the casket we will invite a family member to be present when removing these items to ensure accuracy.

Privacy Policy

We take your right to privacy very seriously. For your protection we do not release addresses, telephone numbers, or any other non-public information without a written release from the next of kin.

Payment Policy

When is payment due?

Full payment for services and merchandise selected is due and payable at the time they are provided, i.e. the day of service. In order to assist your family, we will accept several payment options.

1. Cash or check.
2. Verified check on or before the day of service.
3. Visa® or MasterCard® Credit Cards
4. Proceeds from funeral insurance policies.
5. Proceeds from funeral trust accounts.
6. Irrevocable assignments of proceeds of in-force life insurance policies.
7. A payment plan arranged through a lending institution.
8. Payment through County Medical Assistance. This must be arranged before the scheduling of the limited services allowed.

Cash Advance Items

Cash Advance Items are items the funeral home will not profit from while obtaining them for you and your family. These charges include, but are not limited to expenses such as: Cemetery Costs, Flowers, Musician Fees, Clergy Honoraria, Funeral Notices, Motorcycle Escort, Reception costs, etc. All cash advance items are due and payable on the day service arrangements are made.

Please note:

• A 3% finance charge will be applied to the total amount charged on your credit card.
• If there is a bad check (NSF, Account Closed, etc.) written, the responsible party will be assessed a minimum service charge of $25.00.

When do I get my formal statement?

A preliminary statement will be given to you shortly after the funeral service. Occasionally it is necessary to make adjustments to the final bill for items not known as of the service date (i.e. overtime charges). We mail you an itemized statement including any debits or credits resulting from these changes when all expenses have been reviewed.

The funeral has been pre-funded. Where does the money go if there is extra? What if it is under-funded?

If the deceased is not on Medical Assistance at the time of death, then normal beneficiary rules apply. If the deceased is on Medical Assistance at the time of death, County Social Services will ask for a full account of funeral services and pre-funded proceeds. Money left after the funeral costs are paid will most likely be owed to the County. Any shortage of funds will be owed to the funeral home.

We are seeking county assistance for the funeral. What do we need to do?

Establish eligibility by contacting the County Social Services Office before making final arrangements. After the county has approved eligibility, we will meet with you to plan a limited service with the funds provided by the county. Note: Eligibility and funding vary by county. You will still be financially responsible for certain aspects of the funeral expenses.

Who pays for funerals for the indigent?

In Minnesota, some form of public aid allowance is available from each county. We are aware of the various benefits and can direct you on how to apply for them. Our funeral home often absorbs costs beyond what is provided by the county to insure the deceased has a respectable service.

What recourse does a consumer have for poor service or overcharging?

Funeral service is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission and state licensing boards. In most cases, the consumer should discuss problems with the funeral provider first. If the dispute cannot be solved by talking with the funeral director, the consumer may wish to contact the Funeral Service Consumer Assistance Program (FSCAP). FSCAP provides information, mediates disputes, provides arbitration, and maintains a consumer guarantee fund for reimbursement of services rendered. (To contact FSCAP, call 708-827-6337 or 800-662-7666.)

Is it right to make a profit from death?

Funeral directors look upon their profession as a service, but it is also a business. Like any business, funeral homes must make a profit to exist. As long as the profit is reasonable and the services rendered are necessary, complete, and satisfactory to the family, profit is legitimate.

Grief Support

Where can I get help for my grief?

Grieving the loss of a loved one is a normal, long-term process. We will be sending a representative of your family a series of continuing care books that have proven beneficial to many. Please read and share the information with your family. Our website also contains links to online grief support resources. If you feel you need extra help in dealing with your grief, here are other resources available for you and your family:

Center for Grief, Loss & Transition
1133 Grand Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105
651-641-0177
griefloss.org

Capital City Grief Coalition
797 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-227-4430 or 651-223-7544

Grief Camp for children:
Children’s Grief Connection
72351 Pine River Road
Willow River, MN 55795
877-226-7632
childrensgriefconnection.com

How do I talk to kids about death?

We have a flier available entitled, “Helping Children Deal with Death.” Ask your funeral director for a copy if they have not given you one. We have many additional brochures on related topics.

Funeral Pre-Arrangements

Through pre-arranging, we are able to assist families by eliminating some of the emotional pain and financial burden associated with the death of a loved one. All of our funeral directors are able to help you create a personalized funeral celebration through pre-arrangements at no charge. We have retained the services of Richard L. Graner of Good Life Consultants, Inc. to further assist you and your family with all the financial aspects of your funeral pre-arrangements, also free of charge. Richard can be reached any of our locations, by calling directly at 651-290-9703, or by emailing rich@goodlifeconsultants.com.