Frequent Questions

Our compassionate family is here to support you during this difficult time. We understand the pain of losing someone you love, and we are here to provide bereavement and consolation services for the living. We also handle the necessary arrangements for the deceased's burial, cremation, funeral, or memorial services. Our dedicated team fulfills the roles of funeral arranger, funeral director, funeral attendant, and embalmer with utmost care and empathy.

The following list is not all-inclusive but describes some of our primary tasks:

Transfer of the deceased from the place of death to McLaughlin's

Professional care of the deceased, including embalming, casketing, and cosmetology

Consulting with family to arrange the desired services

Filing certificates, permits, and other required forms

Obtaining copies of the death certificate

Coordinating with the cemetery, crematory, clergy, celebrants, musicians, and anyone else involved in the services

Create and publish the obituary

Arrangements for clergy, music, flowers, transportation, casket bearers, and special fraternal or military services

Coordinate and manage the funeral or memorial service

Transfer of the deceased to all service locations

Assist the family with death-related claims, including Social Security, VA insurance, grief counseling

A traditional funeral involves a number of services which add to the total cost. Besides a non-declinable basic services fee, other charges may include removal/transfer of the body to the funeral home; embalming; other preparation of the body; use of facilities and staff for viewing; use of facilities and staff for the funeral ceremony; use of a hearse, service car, or van; a basic memorial printed package; metal casket, a vault or grave liner, and purchase of a cemetery plot.

A funeral or memorial service provides an opportunity for the living to show respect for the deceased and pay tribute to their life. It provides a framework to freely and openly express our beliefs, feelings, and thoughts about the death of our loved one. It gives us permission to grieve our loss, share in solidarity, and gain strength from others who are experiencing the same loss.

The four main types of funeral services include the traditional funeral service, the memorial service, the committal service, and the affirmation or celebration of life service.

Yes, cremation or burial is merely the disposition of the body. Funeral services are to honor and remember your loved one, regardless of disposition.

Pre-arranging funeral services can be done regardless of the final disposition. Pre-arranging is simply recording your wishes with the funeral home and prefunding if you choose to do so.

• Advance Directives - If the deceased left any written advance directives concerning the disposition of his remains and memorialization, you need to bring them with you. These instructions may be found in a will, or there may be a formally witnessed disposition directive, funeral pre-arrangements, or a pre-need contract.
• Military Discharge Papers
• Details on any cemetery property owned by the deceased or the family (grave plot, columbarium space, etc.)
• Recent photograph of the deceased and any personal effects that you wish to be included in the viewing or burial
• Specific information on the deceased:
• Full legal name
• Address
• Marital status
• Social Security number
• Date of birth
• Place of birth (city and state)
• Educational history (number of years of schooling)
• Armed Forces service dates and serial number
• Occupation or profession
• Parent's names, including mother's maiden name
• Next of kin and other survivors