Q: According to Oregon law, when does a body have to be embalmed?

A: When the person died of a contagious or communicable disease.

Q: Are Home Funerals legal?

A: Families in Oregon can legally care for their own dead.

Q: What is the fee, if any, for a member of the clergy to conducting services.

A: Generally, the standard honorarium is $200.

Q: Do I have to buy a casket from the funeral home?

A: The funeral home has to accept the casket you want to use, and cannot charge you a handling fee or service charge if you provide your own.

What to do First

First, take the time to say goodbye If you are with them, this may be the last time you will be able to touch them or hold them. Do not let anyone rush you; if the hospital needs the room or the ambulance drivers are waiting, you must be firm and tell them you need a few minutes and do not appreciate being pressured. It may be hard to think clearly at this time, but these are precious moments that many people forget to give themselves. But wherever you are, whatever you are doing, do take the time to absorb the situation, feel your emotions and then collect yourself. This will help you proceed calmly.

If a person dies at home, at work, at a business or in a public place call 911; police must investigate all deaths that occur without medical personnel in attendance. If the person was under hospice care, call the hospice nurse first. If they passed away in the hospital, then the staff will contact the authorities if necessary.

The most urgent decision to make is organ donation; collection must be made within a few hours of death. If your loved-one signed a donor card, then under the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act the donation must be honored by survivors.

The next pressing decision to make is disposition of the body. This is an important decision not to be made without considering your options and your budget. The choices are: earth burial, entombment, cremation or donation to science. Each alternative has different services, rituals, conveniences and inconveniences, and all at different prices. The least expensive option is donating the body to science, but the body may be rejected due to organ donation, autopsy, age, physical condition or disease. Cremation allows the most time to arrange a ceremony and allows people greater flexibility to arrange for travel. When considering using a funeral home, you can call for a price quote over the phone. As difficult as this seems, it can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars. The Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to give you prices over the phone if you ask, without identifying yourself. These are just a few of many considerations, so if you must pay to have the body stored for a few hours or even a day or two while you seek input from friends and relatives regarding this decision it may be wise to do so.

These are the first and most important decisions to be made. If the deceased planned ahead and left instructions, then this will be a less stressful situation for their loved-ones. If you have left instructions for someone, make sure they have a copy, or know where one is.

"You've been to one regular funeral, you've been to them all," said Alex Ghia, who with two partners founded the Ghia Gallery a year and a half ago. "Maybe there's more flowers, or another limo, but basically they're all the same. We're offering something more personal."

~ From The Wall Street Journal, Monday, 7-15-91