Frequently Asked Questions

It is common to have questions about the funeral process. This section answers some commonly asked questions to help make this process easier for you. If additional questions arise, please feel free to contact us directly at the funeral home.

What is a funeral?
A funeral is a ceremony for a deceased person, prior to cremation.  A funeral gives the opportunity for family and friends of the deceased to gather and mourn the passing of their loved one, to share cherished memories, and to celebrate their life.  A funeral is a vital first step in helping the bereaved heal after the loss of someone special.

What type of service should I have?
If no pre-arrangements have been made, the type of service is entirely up to you, but it is best to consider what the deceased may have wanted.  Services are usually held at a funeral home or a place of worship.  There are a wealth of different services, ranging from traditional religious or military services, to something a little more unique.  Our funeral directors are more than happy to work with you to figure out what would be the most appropriate.

Can I personalize a funeral?
Of course you can! In fact, more and more people are opting for non-traditional, personalized services.  There is no one way to celebrate somebody’s life. Let the funeral director know exactly what your desires are and they will honor your wishes.

What areas do we serve?
We are located in Winston Salem at 2901 Lyndhurst Avenue, located between Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and Novant Forsyth Medical Center. The area we serve can be considered much larger than a traditional funeral home. We can easily assist a family within 50 miles of Winston-Salem. We can serve Greensboro, Kernersville, Walnut Cove, Walkertown, Waughton, Lexington, Winston Salem, Clemmons, Lewisville, Yadkinville, Rural Hall, King, and Mt. Airy.

Do we need to have an obituary notice and what is included in one?
It is highly recommended to have an obituary notice that is either posted in a local newspaper or online.  We can publish your obituary and photo on our website; offering the opportunity for friends and family to write their condolences and messages to the family.  An obituary lets the public know that a death has occurred, and provides them with information about the service.  Obituaries generally include the deceased’s full name, age, city, and date of birth, as well as the city they were living in when they died.  It also includes the name of the deceased’s spouse, along with the names of anyone else significant in their lives, such as parents, children, or grandchildren.  Space may be limited in a newspaper obituary, but you might also wish to include a short sentiment on the life and legacy of the deceased.  An online obituary or memorial website offers you the chance to add a lot more about the deceased. 

Who are funeral directors and what do they do?
Funeral directors are in charge of all the logistics following a death.  They complete all the necessary paperwork, make arrangements for the transportation of the body, and put into action the choices made by the family in regards to the funeral service and the final resting place of the body.  Beyond all of this, funeral directors are there to provide emotional support and personal guidance in the wake of a loss.

What happens if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend?
We are here to help. Funeral directors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

What if a death occurs away from my home town?
We can arrange to have the remains transported from anywhere in the world.  We will assume responsibility and make the proper arrangements to have the remains return to the community.

What is embalming and what purpose does it serve?
Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body. It also slows down the decomposition process and enhances the appearance of a body impacted by a traumatic death or illness.  Embalming gives time to the family of the deceased to arrange a service, and allows for the possibility of an open-casket viewing.

Do I need to have an embalming?
No. In fact, some religions forbid embalming. Some countries do require embalming by law in order for remains to leave or enter the country.  If it is not against your religious custom, embalming is generally recommended, especially if there is an extended gap between death and cremation.

How long does the cremation process take?
On average our directors can fulfill the family's wishes with around a 3-4 day turn around. There are a lot of logistics involved with cremation and, because cremation has much to do with third parties, there are exceptions to the average. The actual cremation process, once the body is placed in the retort takes around 4 hours to complete. It is not unusual if the process takes up to 10 days.

How much does a funeral cost?
The cost of the funeral depends on the services selected.  The average cost of a funeral is between $5,000-$7,000; however, the most basic of services can cost as little as $1000.  The cost includes all professional services including transportation, embalming and other preparations, the use of a facility for the ceremony, and the purchase of an urn. Affordable Cremations take all forms of payment. Affordable Cremations requires payment before the Cremation is started.

Why are funerals so expensive?
Funerals are labor intensive  A funeral's cost extends beyond the merchandise, and includes the services of the funeral director. Their role in making the necessary arrangements, filling out forms, and dealing with all the other figures involved after a death (doctors, lawyers, insurance companies).  Funeral directors work an average of forty hours per funeral, and the cost of operating a funeral home is included as well.  Funeral homes are a 24 hour operation, with extensive facilities that need to be maintained and secured.  

How does this website work?
The information that a family enters into our planning application is usually information that a traditional funeral director would gather during the first arrangement conference. Because of our streamlined and efficient information gathering, we can usually eliminate the first arrangement conference. Our goal is to make the decision-making as simple as possible. If you have any questions please feel free to call Affordable Cremations at 336-831-0058.

What do I do if I am not satisfied with the way a funeral was handled?
Funeral Services in the United States is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission, they can be reached by telephone at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) or you can fill out a form online at www.ftc.gov.  In Canada, funeral services are regulated provincially and this information can be found on the Canadian Consumer Information website at www.consumerinformation.ca.

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