Northern Star Mortuary Inc. - Independently Family Owned and Operated



	Frequently Asked Questions What to do when a loved one transitions- The first step is to contact Northern Star Mortuary, Inc. at 913-400-3766/ 400-3767 or 400-3768 we available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to assist you with the details and offer our guidance. Unanticipated death at home or elsewhere- In these situations you should immediately contact 911. Police and emergency medical personnel will then determine the appropriate steps to take. Generally the authorities can release your loved one directly to Northern Star Mortuary. In some situations, however, your loved one may need to be taken to the medical examiner’s office. This occurs when the cause of death may not yet be known. Anticipated death at home- Today, many people with terminal illness are more comfortable at home under the care of hospice in the final stages of life. In this situation, you should inform hospice that Northern Star Mortuary, Inc. is the funeral home of your choice. Hospice will then supervise the necessary legal requirements. Often, when someone is faced with a terminal illness, the family will decide to make arrangements in advance, saving them the time and emotional decisions needed at the time of death. Death out-of-state- If your loved one transitions out to state, you should call Northern Star Mortuary, Inc. at (913) 400-3766. We can then coordinate the transfer with a local funeral director at the place of death. Death at the hospital/nursing home- When death occurs at the hospital or the nursing home, inform the staff that Northern Star Mortuary is the funeral home of your choice (Most hospitals will allow you 72 hours before a decision must be made). Is embalming required and what is the purpose? Federal law and state law differ on this matter. Federal law does not require embalming under any circumstances. However most states require embalming when death was caused by a reportable contagious disease, if your loved one is transported from one state to another by common carrier or if final disposition is not made within a prescribed number of hours. Embalming sanitizes and preserves your loved one, retards the decomposition process and enhances the appearance of the body disfigured by traumatic death or illness. Embalming makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, thus allowing family member’s time to arrange and participate in the type of services most comforting to them; it also is a safety precaution for the attending family and friends. Must I give permission to embalm? You do not have to give permission to embalm. Under the Federal Trade Commission rules and regulations it is a violation to charge for embalming unless: State or local law requires embalming, the family gives the funeral director expressed permission to embalm prior to embalming or exigent circumstances exception applies. At Northern Star Mortuary, Inc. we will not embalm your loved one until you sign our embalming authorization form at the time of the arrangements. As a consumer you have the options to compare prices at other funeral homes, or shop around for the best funeral service provider available. If you choose not to use our services you will only be charged for the transfer without the added cost of embalming. Who regulates funeral homes? Funeral homes are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission and State licensing boards. What information will I need to submit to the funeral director during the arrangement conference? During the arrangement conference vital statistics and obituary information will be obtained, you will need to bring your loved one's date of birth, place of birth, social security number, place of employment, mother's maiden name, father's name, veterans discharge papers (DD-214), if a veteran, last grade completed, address of residence, names of living survivors (parents, children, sisters, brothers), name of officiating clergy, insurance information, any organizations your loved one belonged to, name of primary care physician, church affiliation, cemetery information (if you have already chosen your burial plot with a cemetery). If you have chosen the clothing for your loved one, then you may bring those items with you (e.g. dress, suit, underclothes, jewelry, wig, glasses, etc.) What can be done prior to death occuring? You can record and express your wishes with our "Gift of Love Program", which allows you to make your arrangements in advance exactly the way you want them. This booklet contains valuable information your family will need during the arrangement conference. What is the difference between a funeral and a memorial service? A Funeral is a rite (ceremony) with the body present. A Memorial service is a rite (ceremony) without the body present and is conducted in the memory of the deceased. I've never arranged a funeral before. What do I need to know? At some time in our lives, most of us will make or assist in making funeral arrangements. This will not be an easy time, but we offer these tips for smart planning: Be an informed consumer and ask questions Choose an independent funeral home and a licensed funeral director Discuss all service and payment options during the funeral arrangements Make sure you receive a copy of the funeral home's General Price List Be prepared and make decisions and organize details in advance of need Plan a personalized and meaningful ceremony to help you begin healing I live in the State of Missouri, however I want Northern Star Mortuary to serve my funeral needs, can they provide the services? Yes, Our staff is licensed in the state of Missouri, if your loved one transitions in Missouri we will transfer from the place of death to the mortuary, the funeral director can meet you at your home or at the mortuary to make the funeral arrangements. Your loved one will then be funeralized at the location of your choice. Is there a compensation program for victims of violent crimes? Yes, This program provides financial assistance to victims of violent crimes for Funeral expenses. The program is administred by the Office of the Attorney General. Office of the Attorney General-Crime Victim's Compensation Board What is the difference between a grave liner and a burial vault? A grave liner is an outer enclosure which offers protection from the earth load but without sealing qualities, a burial vault offers the sealing qualities. If your questions isn't listed here, please call us: 913-400-3766. We're confident that we've got an answer to your question.