Saying goodbye to a loved one who has died is one of life's most meaningful rituals. It can also be one of life's most difficult times, when grieving families face a host of strange, new responsibilities.

Few people really know how to plan for death or what to do exactly when death occurs. It is only natural for families to have many questions. As caring neighbors and respected professionals, we take pride in being there for you when you need a helping hand.

When you have questions, but don't know who to ask, turn to your local funeral director. We're a neighbor - and a friend - who can help.

THE ROLE OF THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR

Those privileged to serve others through their work as funeral directors are caregivers of the greatest measure ... they listen to the needs of the dying, cater to the wishes of the survivors and offer their services to those in emotional pain at life's most stressful moments.

They are your "mind," your organizational memory creator ... a director ... hired to walk beside you and your family during life's difficult challenges and partings.

Funerals and the personalized rituals which you and your family choose to honor and celebrate the life of your loved one, are arranged and conducted by specially trained, licensed funeral practitioners throughout the State of Maine.

To hold a Maine license, funeral practitioners must complete either one year of college and one year of an accredited mortuary school or two years of an accredited mortuary school. In addition, one must complete a minimum of 2,000 hours of apprenticeship in a Maine funeral home and must pass both a national and state board exam as well as a practical field test. Licenses must then be renewed every year with proof of continuing education credits.

The services of your licensed funeral director start with the gentle listening required to understand you and your family's needs. His/her care for the deceased may include:

• removing the deceased from the place of death
• preparing the deceased for public visitation and/or private family viewing (bathing, dressing, cosmetology, hairdressing, manicure, and in some instances because of trauma or disease, restorative art.)
• embalming
• transporting the deceased to the final place of disposition with care and respect
  Your funeral director will also arrange all details of the funeral services:
• contacting clergy and arranging with him/her an appropriate time and place for services
• writing obituaries
• helping families tailor the services to meet their emotional and economic needs
• contacting the cemetery/crematory, sexton, florists, fraternal organizations, memorial gift organizations
• working cooperatively with organ donation teams
• preparing all legal documents (death certificates, burial transit/cremation permits, medical examiner certificates, reports of death, social security and all VA benefits and in some instances, filing insurance paperwork)
• providing an emotionally and spiritually comforting environment for visitation and life celebration services
• transporting of family and friends in a cortege (funeral procession) to the place of final disposition

The funeral director's caring does not stop at the end of the chosen ritual for celebration of one's life. It extends to the depths of the family's needs. Many funeral homes offer aftercare programs and grief support groups, as well as referral services for those who may be in need of further counseling services.