42 THE QUEENS COURIER • COPING WITH DEATH • MARCH 2, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM coping with death How to handle a death that occurs away from home Whether you’re a snowbird going to a warmer climate to escape winter weather or you’re traveling on a business trip, it’s wise to prepare for the unexpected. Options for Cremation By: Paul Rudolph, Jr. What are my options if I choose cremation for myself or family member? This is a commonly asked question at the funeral home. Choosing cremation for final disposition is on the rise. There is a popular misconception that you can’t have a wake or a ceremony before you are cremated. The only difference between a cremation and a burial is that the loved one is brought to a crematory instead of a cemetery. Some cremation options are listed below. If you are interested in a traditional funeral, you can still have a viewing at a funeral home. A casket can be purchased or rented. You can still have a service before the person is brought to the crematory. This choice gives your family some closure while reducing the burial costs. Once the person has been cremated, the ashes can buried, scattered or kept in the home. Another option is to have the person cremated and then hold a memorial service at the funeral home. Due to change in laws in NY State, we can now accommodate small catered meals. Lastly, direct cremation is an option. In this situation, no funeral services are provided and the person is brought directly to the crematory. It does reduce funeral costs but it might not provide the closure a family needs. I am a Licensed Funeral Director and 87-34 80th St. Certified Cremation Arranger. Woodhaven, NY 11421 You can reach me at my office at Phone: 718-296-4343 (718) 296 4343 or email me at Fax: 718-521-0821 info@walkernf.com if any questions. Email: info@walkernf.com Accidents happen. People fall victim to new or existing medical conditions. Death is always an overwhelming event, especially so when it occurs away from home. Th at’s why it is wise to carry a wallet-sized card listing the names of your next-ofkin, the telephone number of your funeral director and stating whether any funeral prearrangements have been made. Most travelers wouldn’t dream of leaving home on an extended trip without carrying along copies of prescriptions, yet how many think to include personal information that would facilitate their fi nal arrangements if the unthinkable happens? Robert Ruggiero, a licensed New York City funeral director, off ers these suggestions to help cope with death away from home. Don’t leave the body. Th e most frequent response by family members experiencing a death away from home is to hurry home to begin funeral arrangements. However, most deaths that occur while traveling are sudden and require an investigation by the local medical examiner’s offi ce and police department. Th e family member traveling with the person who remains available to the authorities at the place of death will expedite the return process. If a person has died and family is not with the deceased, survivors should not fl y out to the place of death. Wi th today’s technology, there’s a good possibility that if identifi cation is required, survivors can save time by staying home and requesting another means to accomplish the necessary procedures. Appoint your hometown funeral director as the “point person.” Allow him or her to select the means of returning your loved one home. Your family funeral director is familiar with the necessary procedures to ease the process for you. If the death occurs overseas, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Consular Aff airs in Washington, DC (202-647- 5225) or the local Embassy can provide emergency assistance for Americans traveling overseas who encounter a tragedy of this nature. For more information visit the Bureau of Consular Aff airs website, https://travel.state. gov/content/passports/en/ abroad/events-and-records/ death.html Any expense will ultimately be the responsibility of the bereaved family but because of the State Department’s intervention, there may be no immediate upfront expense in most cases. For more information, you might want to call your family funeral director before leaving home. Courtesy of NYS Funeral Directors Association
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