Walker Funeral Home

Frequently asked questions

Q. What does a funeral cost?: A. This is impossible to answer without sitting down with the family and discussing their needs and wishes. No two funerals are exactly alike. Traditions, customs, personal feelings, financial ability and a multitude of other influences affect each funeral. We conform our services to each individual family's wishes and their personal and religious needs. We encourage pre-planning arrangements when emotions are not stressed.

Q. How do I choose a cemetery?: A. There is an old saying, "The acorn falls close to the tree." Many people choose to be buried close to their birthplace or near where they lived. Visit the cemeteries, ask their policies regarding monument and landscape placement, check their prices . Observe their ground maintenance. We can help you with this choice.

Q. Am I normal?: A. We are often asked this by grieving family members who have experienced sleepless nights, confusion, loss of appetite, and other disruptions in their daily routine. Yes, most likely you are normal. Each individual has their own time table for grieving. People need to accept their feelings and be patient with themselves as they learn to accept the reality of a loved one's death. Grief is a process not an event.

Q. What can I say to the family?: A. We often advise callers that just their presence is enough. Often silence and a warm hug or handshake is more appropriate than rehearsed or scripted lines. Statements like, "How are you doing?", should be avoided, as they tend to internalise the bereaved's thoughts to how bad they are doing. It is better to ask, "Is there anything I can do to help?" Funerals are for the benefit of the living. The expressed support and sympathy of the community can give the family great comfort at this difficult time. "Grief shared is grief deminished."

Q. What are your hours?: A. Like a police or fire department, we must be available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Q. Can the immediate family serve as pallbearers?: A. If that is their wish, of course. Typically, bearers (those who carry the casket) are friends of the family, fraternal or business associates or in the case of veterans, military units. The family members are needed to be in close support of the surviving spouse. As pallbearers, they would necessarily be separated from that role while moving the casket.

Q. Can I pre-pay for my own funeral?: A. Yes. Many people find that pre-funding a funeral gives them peace of mind that their final wishes will not burden their survivors. After pre-arrangements are made (service, burial casket & vault selection), we offer pre-payment as an option.

Q. Can I pre-arrange my own funeral?: A. Yes. There is a self pre-arrangement trend that is growing across the country and is reflected locally. We support and encourage this trend as it has many benefits:

1. YOUR needs and wishes are meet.
2. YOU can control the cost!
3. Burden is removed from your survivors.
4. They help you to put your house in order.
5. They eliminate hasty decisions at an emotionally confusing time.
6. The need to wait for distant relatives to arrive before making "at-need" arrangements is eliminated.
7. Most importantly pre-arrangements provide peace of mind for you and your family



Frequently asked questions Q. What does a funeral cost? A. This is impossible to answer without sitting down with the family and discussing their needs and wishes. No two funerals are exactly alike. Traditions, customs, personal feelings, financial ability and a multitude of other influences affect each funeral. We conform our services to each individual family's wishes and their personal and religious needs. We encourage pre-planning arrangements when emotions are not stressed. Q. How do I choose a cemetery? A. There is an old saying, "The acorn falls close to the tree." Many people choose to be buried close to their birthplace or near where they lived. Visit the cemeteries, ask their policies regarding monument and landscape placement, check their prices . Observe their ground maintenance. We can help you with this choice. Q. Am I normal? A. We are often asked this by grieving family members who have experienced sleepless nights, confusion, loss of appetite, and other disruptions in their daily routine. Yes, most likely you are normal. Each individual has their own time table for grieving. People need to accept their feelings and be patient with themselves as they learn to accept the reality of a loved one's death. Grief is a process not an event. Q. What can I say to the family? A. We often advise callers that just their presence is enough. Often silence and a warm hug or handshake is more appropriate than rehearsed or scripted lines. Statements like, "How are you doing?", should be avoided, as they tend to internalise the bereaved's thoughts to how bad they are doing. It is better to ask, "Is there anything I can do to help?" Funerals are for the benefit of the living. The expressed support and sympathy of the community can give the family great comfort at this difficult time. "Grief shared is grief deminished." Q. What are your hours? A. Like a police or fire department, we must be available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Q. Can the immediate family serve as pallbearers? A. If that is their wish, of course. Typically, bearers (those who carry the casket) are friends of the family, fraternal or business associates or in the case of veterans, military units. The family members are needed to be in close support of the surviving spouse. As pallbearers, they would necessarily be separated from that role while moving the casket. Q. Can I pre-pay for my own funeral? A. Yes. Many people find that pre-funding a funeral gives them peace of mind that their final wishes will not burden their survivors. After pre-arrangements are made (service, burial casket & vault selection), we offer pre-payment as an option. Q. Can I pre-arrange my own funeral? A. Yes. There is a self pre-arrangement trend that is growing across the country and is reflected locally. We support and encourage this trend as it has many benefits: 1. YOUR needs and wishes are meet. 2. YOU can control the cost! 3. Burden is removed from your survivors. 4. They help you to put your house in order. 5. They eliminate hasty decisions at an emotionally confusing time. 6. The need to wait for distant relatives to arrive before making "at-need" arrangements is eliminated. 7. Most importantly pre-arrangements provide peace of mind for you and your family