Funerals fill an important role in mourning the loss of a loved one. By providing surviving family and friends an atmosphere of care and support; they’re given a safe place to share thoughts, feelings and memories. This helps those impacted by the loss begin the grieving process.

Funerals encourage unity by acting as a reminder of our own mortality. Traditionally, funerals have been recognized as rituals for the living to show their respect for the dead, but it serves much more. Through the exchange of sympathies, funerals call for compassion among the community-reminding us that we are all one part of a whole.

Overcoming pain is never easy, but a meaningful funeral or tribute will help. You can have a funeral service even for those choosing cremation. Planning a personalized ceremony or service brings people together and initiates the healing process.

The purpose of embalming is to create a natural, life-like appearance of the deceased to help start the grieving process.  It also gives family and friends the opportunity to say goodbye to their loved one.

No. Except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law. Embalming may be necessary, however, if you select certain funeral arrangements i.e. service with a viewing, or if the deceased will be transported over long-distances. Any arrangement in which the deceased will be outside of refrigeration for an extended period of time presents a health risk to the public – embalming serves to negate that risk.

If you do not want embalming, you usually have the right to choose an arrangement that does not require you to pay for it, such as direct cremation, or immediate burial.

Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body. Embalming makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and final disposition, allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them. However, funeral providers are strictly prohibited from making any claims that a product or service will indefinitely preserve the remains.

Yes. Florida law requires a deceased to be buried, refrigerated, or embalmed within 24 hours after death.  We generally use refrigeration for cremation, however, for those requesting a public visitation or service with the body present prior to cremation, embalming is required for the health and safety of the general public.

A casket is not required for a direct cremation. In this situation, an inexpensive alternative container will be used. The alternative container is made of a readily combustible material and is used to encase the body for safe transport.

If you select services that include a public visitation prior to the cremation process, you have the option for a rental casket.

Yes. We started out as a casket store and have continued to maintain prices that help families by presenting them with affordable options.

Because casket stores have had such a dramatic impact on the funeral industry, funeral homes are doing everything possible to discredit casket retailers in an attempt to eliminate options for consumers. However, the funeral industry is regulated to combat this. Therefore, funeral homes cannot directly eliminate the consumer’s rights to compare prices or purchase caskets elsewhere.

Though we are also a full-service funeral home, we’ll deliver anywhere in Florida and supply the same caskets that you’d get at another funeral home at a much lower cost. We understand the financial difficulties families face when shopping for funeral services which is why our prices are generally 40-60% less than other funeral homes.

Corporate owned funeral homes are governed by a board of directors who value commission-based profit. With their focus on financial gain, they’re not as sympathetic with families. Most corporate chains will even mislead customers by disguising ownership. After purchasing the property, they continue to use the local business’ name to create the illusion of a family-owned establishment. In truth, they don’t understand the passion and commitment it takes to serve a grieving family.

Unfortunately, many funeral homes are owned by large publicly traded corporations. To that effect, market research confirms that majority of these funeral homes tend to be significantly more expensive. The reality is many of the funeral directors at these locations are trained to up-sell a family merchandise because they receive a commission. As an independently owned funeral home, we prioritize family and community above profits.

As a consumer, you’re encouraged to ask the funeral director if their funeral home is independently owned and operated or part of a chain.

Central Florida Casket Store & Funeral Chapel is part of a growing trend across America to make more financially informed decisions about funeral arrangements. We offer consumers the opportunity to make an important decision-making process as easy as possible by offering a selection of beautifully crafted caskets, monuments, markers, urns and flowers for every need and financial situation.

Yes. There are multiple reasons as to why a family would seek relocation. Whether the nursing staff contacted the wrong funeral home, the selected funeral home’s prices are too high, or you’d simply prefer making arrangements with someone else; you shouldn’t feel obligated to stay at the original location.

A funeral home can’t stop you or hold the body for ransom – it’s against the law, the same as kidnapping. However, it’s important to note that you may be liable to pay for the services of the initial removal and for embalming if you authorized it.

It’s your money. If you sign a contract, you have 72 hours to cancel it; after all, you were under duress.

Depending on the deceased’s location, the individual requesting services will give us a call to bring your loved one into our care.

If the deceased is located in a hospital, the legal next of kin will need to contact them to give us permission to perform the removal. If the location is a private residence, you may be asked a few additional questions to determine accessibility for our staff.

Unless additional time has been requested by the family, we will come to you as soon as possible. Upon arrival, you may be asked to set a time during office hours to go over arrangements.

We are available by phone 24/7. If you wish to notify us of a passing and/or request services transporting your loved one to our funeral home, please call: (863) 669-1617