Oxford Hills Funeral Services, Funeral Costs

Oxford, Maine

Funeral Costs

It is your right, and our desire, that you have as complete an understanding as possible regarding the cost of our services.

The biggest factor is the time element in terms of our personnel and the use of the funeral home facilities.

The maintenance of this service is unending; that is, it must be available 24 hours every day of the year. Therefore, ours is a 168 hour week and not the 40 hour week which is the accepted standard.

Many phases of our work are apparent; others are not. The following analysis of some of these details will help you to understand that no two funerals are exactly alike. Traditions, customs, social standing, personal feeling, financial ability and a multitude of other influences affect each funeral. Our services must conform to each individual family's wishes and their personal and religious needs.

Our General Price List is available here.

Generally, funerals are divided into five catagories.

A. Professional Services

1. Complete Arrangements, Supervision and Direction of Funeral

a.	Meeting with the family to: Secure vital statistic information Obtain obituary information Complete itemized cost agreement Select casket of their choice Oversee all aspects of the funeral
b.	Coordinate times of the following services as needed:
	Clergy Necessary Automotive Equipment Hairdresser Civic Associations Fraternal Organizations Cemetery or Crematory Vault Company Lodges or other organzations Veteran Associations
c.	Complete Death Certificate with vital statistic information
d.	Obtain the signature and medical information from the attending physician or medical examiner (coroner)
e.	File completed and signed certificate with Registrar of Vital Statistics in municipality where the death occurred, and obtain a Burial Permit and as many certified copies as necessary, for the family's needs.
f.	Call obituary information to all newspapers requested by family.
g.	Care for all flowers (deliver to home, cemetery, or local nusing home).
h.	Remove all flower cards and sympathy cards for family to acknowledge.
i.	Print folders or memorial cards when applicable
j.	Complete all necessary forms such as: V.A. for flag V.A. for allowance V.A. for marker State and Federal forms required by law Cemetery or Crematory Social Security
k.	Answer all telephone calls - give out funeral information to family, friends, lodge members, business associates, and florist with regard to funeral services to be held.

2. Preparing and Care of Deceased, Including Embalming When Necessary

a.	Hygienically prepared to insure protection to personnel and the public.
b.	Embalming
c.	AIDS, CONTAGIOUS DISEASES - require special care and treatment in excess of regular embalming practices.
d.	Shampooing and Shaving
e.	Dressing and Casketing
f.	Applying cosmetics. Extra care is necessary with regard to bruises, cuts, abrasions, and burns.
g.	Hairdressing (professional hairdresser may be requested at additional charge)

3. Professional Personal and Non-Professional Assistants

a.	Assist in all of the above items
b.	Arrange flowers for best appearance
c.	Have door attendant during all visitations
d.	Assist in conducting the funeral service according to the family's wishes.

	The above services require an average of 80 man-hours per funeral. The licensed Funeral Director is available following the funeral services to assist the family in filing all types of insurance and government firms. In addition to all of the above, there is a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer, a competent and understanding person to answer the telephone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A funeral home does not close on weekends and holidays!

B. Use of Facilities

1. Fixed Overhead

This item is our monthly bills totaled for the year and divided by the number of services that were held that year. Included in fixed overhead: Taxes, Spcialized Continuing Edication, Cleaning, House Cleaning and Supplies, Building Maintenance, Yard Maintenance, Surgical Instruments, Inventory of Caskets, Maintenance of Autos, Stationery Supplies, Advertising and Promotions, Utilities (light, heat, telephone, air conditioning), Insurance (Fire, Theft, Liability, Auto, Casualty, Workmen's Comp, Unemployment Comp), Office (Full time staff with up to date computer technology).

2. Funeral Home Facilities & Equipment

This charge is made for time during arrangements, visitation period(s) and the day of the service. It is used for Capital Improvements: replacing carpeting, drapes, chairs, furniture, funeral equipment and any other item not covered in the fixed overhead. No allowance for Church Service.

3. Preparation Room

Embalming (when necessary), Dressing, Disinfection and Sanitization, Placing in Casket, Necessary Fluid and Supplies, Applying Cosmetics.

C. Merchandise

1. Merchandise Includes

a.	The casket of your choice
b.	The outside receptacle (vault) of your choice. (Most cemeteries require concrete receptacles.)
c.	Any clothing the family may choose. (We at Oxford Hills Funeral Services would prefer to use the person's own clothing if it is at all possible.)
d.	The Memorial Book
e.	The Funeral Folder
f.	Acknowledgement Cards

D. Cash Disbursement

This represents all of the monies that we may advance for you, such as cemetery or crematory charges, all hired autos, clergy honorariums, air transportation, newspaper charges, church offerings, singers, organists, certified copies of the death certificate, etc.

E. Transportation

1. This Item Includes:

Complete cost and depreciation of the service car and its operation, our hearse and limousine for the families we serve.

If you have any questions on this information or any other aspect of the funeral, feel free to call us at (207) 743-0270.