Evergreen Cemetery

5 Best Ways To Get Help With Funeral Expenses

January 23, 2018 By Evergreen Cemetery

5 Best Ways To Get Help With Funeral Expenses Often times when a close loved one passes away trying to figure out ways to get help with funeral expenses can be tough. When the person who has passed came unexpectedly, there may not have been any insurance or savings to help cover the costs. Sure you can take up a collection within your circle of family and friends, but there are even more ways to get help with the funeral costs that you may not have thought of.

In this article we’ll cover the 5 best ways to get help with funeral expenses using methods that everyone can take advantage of…

1. Save Money by Buying Ahead of Time

The best method to covering the costs of a funeral is to be prepared. If you have a close family and know that you would like for all of your family to be buried at a particular cemetery, you can purchase grave plots or lots ahead of time. By paying for your family’s plot ahead of time you can negotiate a better deal and don’t have to worry about making those types of decisions and transactions at a later, more stressful time. Paying ahead is similar to investing in that it saves you money in the long run as cemetery cost can increase just like it does in other industries.

2. Life Insurance With Death Benefits

There are two types of insurance that cover the cost of funeral expenses. Life Insurance with Death Benefits and Funeral Insurance. If you are able to afford buying either one of these insurance for your family, you will never have to worry about coming out pocket for such expenses unexpectedly. Funerals can be very expensive. The small cost of a monthly insurance plan can save you lots of money if you can add it to your monthly budget.

3. Crowdfunding

If you are the member of a church or religious organization, you can take up a collection or create a means of fundraising with the help of your friends. Doing a car wash, selling meals, or asking the head of your church to sponsor a collection are popular methods of raising money quickly. Another method that is also very popular is crowdfunding. Using sites like…

Giveforward.com
Gofundme.com
YouCaring.com
Fundly.com

Gives you a platform to ask for donations from people all over the world using the Internet. Friends, family, colleagues and other people who may not be located close to you are able to add donations to your account. If the circumstances of the person’s death were tragic in nature, the public at large will donate to the funeral once they are made aware. It is not uncommon for people to get more than they expected or needed through crowdfunding so don’t discount this method.

4. Federal & Local Government Funding

There are 5 government based options you can look into to get funding for funeral costs. They are: Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security Administration, Indigent Burial Programs and The Office of Veteran Affairs (VA).

To get help from Medicare and Medicaid, you simply have to call them. If the deceased person was on either one of those programs, they may qualify for money to go towards funeral and cemetery costs. The same goes for Social Security and the VA, you will have to call them to find out if your loved one qualifies for death benefits. Veterans in particular are normally covered in they had an honorable discharge. Special funeral arrangements can also be made through the VA if your loved one was a military veteran.

Indigent Burial Programs are for people who would have been considered as living below the poverty line. According to government standards, a single person under 65 with an annual income of $11,770 or less. If they were part of a family group of four, including two children, and made less than $24,250, they would qualify for an Indigent Burial Program. To get more information regarding this type of program, contact your County Office Clerk as they will be able to connect you to the right department. The program may run through the state and not the county, but starting at the county level is the best place to start.

5. Low Cost Alternatives

As mentioned above, the cost of a funeral can be very expensive. If you are limited in money and funding, you can look to save a lot of money by doing more of the tasks yourself. For instance, instead of using the funeral homes facilities for the service and viewing, you can choose to use your church or home for the service. Cremation is also another alternative. Cremations are much cheaper than burials and they can be done quickly through a direct cremation company as opposed a funeral home. To find direct cremation company’s simply do a search online. Different states have different requirements regarding how deaths are handled so do some research online to find out the details. Evergreen Cemetery offers free chapel services for the first 30 minutes if the person is being buried or cremated at our cemetery. Even if you choose to go the traditional route of using a funeral home and doing a burial, it’s always a good idea to get pricing information from a few places before making a final decision.

Conclusion

Whenever there is a death in the family it is stressful. No one looks forward to such occasions so having a plan and knowledge about what to do is beneficial. If you are able to plan ahead and do things like purchase insurance and burial plots, it is a wise decision. If you are not able to plan ahead and you have to take care of arrangements for your loved one, be sure to contact the appropriate departments and reach out to others for help. Using the Internet for funding and research can work to your advantage so be sure to keep an open mind and be optimistic.

Thank for reading our article regarding the 5 best ways to get help with funeral expenses. We hope that it is of benefit to you and as always we welcome you contacting us or calling us (908) 352-7940 if you have any questions or need help related to cemetery services.

5 Great Reasons To Have A Will

January 22, 2018 By Evergreen Cemetery

5 Great Reasons To Have A Will When it comes to your future, there are great reasons to have a will. In this article, we’ll discuss why having a will created for yourself is a good idea and why you should not put it off too long. Typically, when we think of wills, we tend to associate it with dying or death so it can be an uncomfortable task to address. Not many people enjoy thinking about death, but having a will in place can give you peace of mind about the future of your affairs, family and estate.

Here are 5 great reasons why having a will is a great idea and the advantages it gives you as opposed to not having one…

1. You Decide How Your Estate is Handled

When you pass on everything that you own (aka your estate) goes through a legal process called, “probate”. Having a will directs probate courts as to your legally binding wishes and takes a lot of the guesswork out your legal intentions. If you know you want certain people to inherit your assets and not other people, having a will avoids the possibility of people you don’t want gaining from your estate from doing so.

2. Guardianship of Minor Children

If you are the parent of young children do you know who you would and wouldn’t want to become guardians of your children should you pass away? One of the things that many parents often overlook is guardianship. When you are young and relatively healthy one can tend to overlook this kind of preparation. If you have persons in your family that you definitely would prefer over others to become guardians of your children, this should be clearly stated in a will. Without a will, the courts are then free to make that decision for you which may not include the best people for your children.

3. Disinheriting Individuals

If you have ever been divorced or have family members who you don’t want inheriting anything from your estate, this should be stated in your will. Without clearly stating who should and shouldn’t inheritance from you, the courts again through probate, will ultimately make this decision for you. There have been many scenarios where ex’s from past marriages and absentee parents have made claims on people’s estates after they have passed. Lawyers are hired and arguments began in court. If you know for a fact that certain people related to you or once married to you shouldn’t gain from your estate, you need a will in place to honor your intentions.

4. Philanthropy & Donations

Do you have a cause or a foundation that you would like to donate part of your estate to? Do you wish to have a donation made on your behalf after death? If so, this should be stated in your will. Your will being legally binding assures you that your money and estate are properly dispersed the people or organizations you choose. Gifting money or assets up to $13,000 is excluded from taxes so you can use that strategy to help your loved ones keep more of the money you gift them for themselves.

5. Avoid Legal Challenges Against Your Beneficiaries

As we have stated, having a will is a legally binding document. It assures you that your best intentions are carried out exactly the way you wish it to be. When you have a will in place it avoids arguments in probate court as to who should and shouldn’t benefit from your estate. You are doing your beneficiaries an injustice if you just make verbal promises that aren’t legally binding.

Conclusion

No one is promised tomorrow. You may be perfectly healthy today but, things can change quickly even when we least expect it. By not procrastinating and having a will drawn up for yourself, you are protecting your interest as well as the people you love the most. To have a will created, simply contact an estate planning lawyer to get started. They will help you draw up a basic estate plan that covers your most pressing desires. Remember, wills can be changed as many times as you want while you are living so don’t hesitate too long in having one created. There are many great reasons to have a will, but the best reason is peace of mind.

Thank you for reading our article on the importance of making a will. If you are ever in need of information regarding cemetery services, please feel free to call (908) 352-7940 or contact us. We are always more than happy to help.

The Benefits Of Buying A Burial Plot Ahead Of Time

December 20, 2017 By Evergreen Cemetery

The Benefits Of Buying A Burial Plot Ahead Of Time When it comes to buying a burial plot often times you are not in a position to plan ahead. When loved ones pass on the stress can be great. Having to make rushed funeral arrangements, find a funeral home, choose a cemetery location and then buy a gravesite only add to the stress. However, if you are in a position to plan ahead, it is often wise to buy a burial plot ahead of time.

By buying ahead of time, you can alleviate much of the stress involved with making last minute funeral decisions by being prepared. Burial plots can be purchased for individuals or for an entire family. If you know in advance which cemetery your family wants to be buried in, you can save yourself a lot of time and money by buying ahead.

This article will explore the different types of burial plots available to you and address some of the finer details associated with burying deceased persons.

3 Types of Burial Plots

Single Space – A single spaced burial plot accommodates the burial of one individual. This is the most common type of burial plot.

Side by Side – Often referred to as “companion plots,” these plots accomodate two separate spaces for two individuals to be buried side by side.

Double Depth – A single space for two individuals to be buried one on top of the other. This type of burial plot is similar to the Side by Side burial plot except that it takes up less horizontal space and is typically a little cheaper than a Side by Side.

2 Types of Burials: Caskets & Urns

When it comes to burial services, typically people only think about burying the deceased in a casket. However, these days many people are actually choosing to bury cremains in the ground as well.

Cremains are the remaining ashes that come from cremation services. Cremains can be placed into an urn and buried in a plot which then allows for a headstone or a grave marker. Cremains can also be entombed within a niche entombment within a mausoleum. There you can also have a grave marker added to remember your loved one.

Choosing A Location Ahead of Time

The nice thing about buying a burial plot ahead of time is that you have the luxury of choosing the location of the plot without all of the stress involved with rushing to complete funeral arrangements.

Do you want to buy a plot next to a tree, on a hilltop or near a grove? Do you want the plot to be near the cemetery roadways or further inland from the street? These are all things you can decide when you come to the cemetery and choose a burial plot ahead of time. If you and your family are interested in buying an entire area of the cemetery to have as a familial plot, it’s great idea to come in together and purchase the large plot together.

Mausoleums

Sometimes by tradition some people prefer to place there loved ones in mausoleums. Mausoleums require adequate land space to be built and it’s a wise to purchase your desired location ahead of time. Mausoleums are a significant investment so the sooner you find and choose the perfect location, the less stressful the purchasing process is.

Conclusion

Evergreen Cemetery in Hillside, NJ would love to be your family’s desired memorial location. We have a rich history and are proud members of the National Register of Historic Places and the New Jersey’s Register of Historic Places. Our cemetery is a historic Victorian style cemetery that features 115 acres of winding roads, trees, groves and peaceful nature. If you are interested in buying a burial plot ahead of time, please contact us or call us at (908) 352-7940. We’ll make arrangements to have our one of our staff show you around our cemetery and go over pricing with you. No appointment is necessary.

See our Price List for more details.

Thank you for reading.

4 Benefits Of Cremation You May Not Know

December 19, 2017 By Evergreen Cemetery

4 Benefits Of Cremation You May Not Know Are you interested in learning about the benefits of cremation? If so, you are not alone. More and more people across the country are looking into cremation services for themselves and their loved ones for many great reasons. Cremation which was once seen as taboo amongst many Americans is now getting a second look. In today’s article, we’ll explore the benefits of cremation and why you too may want to consider this memorial option.

Saves Money

Traditionally, in New Jersey and many states across the U.S. burial services range from $8,000 up to $20,000+ depending on the types of service add-ons you choose at the time of the funeral. The cost involved in performing a wake, church services, a casket, vault, etc. can make a traditional burial very expensive.

Cremations on the other hand can be done for less than $4,000 including some of the beneficial services traditionally assigned to burials. Often times if the cremation is done quickly after the state’s medical examiner’s office has completed their review, embalming the deceased is not necessary.

By avoiding the need for a casket, vault and traditional body dressings, you are able to save money that can then be put toward other services associated with funerals.

More Flexibility

Did you know that even if you choose to do a cremation over a burial, you can still have a traditional funeral service for your loved one? All funerals in New Jersey must be hosted and serviced by a licensed funeral director. The funeral director is the person that you need to speak with regarding your plans to bury or cremate your loved one. Based on your choice, they will make arrangements with the cemetery to either do the burial or cremation.

Funeral Homes have lots of options available when it comes to cremation services. You can choose to have a traditional wake, rent a casket and then have your loved one cremated without the casket. This type of option gives your family the option to honor the deceased person traditionally in a religious setting while still saving costs associated with all funerals.

Environmentally Friendly

Cremations are considered a more green, eco-friendly option as the cremains take up less space in the environment. Traditional burials require a large amount of space in the ground (or mausoleum) to be completed. As more and more people populate the earth, there becomes less and less space available in cemeteries for people to be buried.

For people who are committed to eco-friendliness, cremation is a great choice. Cremation urns can be buried in the ground or kept at home. Some people even choose the option of having the cremains scattered on land or in the ocean. Another option for cremains is to have them turned into cremation jewelry.

To learn more about cremation, be sure to speak with your chosen funeral director, as they are best equipped to guide you through all of the options available to you.

Becoming A More Popular Choice

Cremations as mentioned earlier are becoming a more and more popular choice amongst Americans. For centuries people in the east have performed cremations due to religious reasons, but it is now taking hold in the United States.

As more people become aware of the economic benefits and the eco-friendly nature of cremations, it has become a very popular option. Cremations can be performed within a few hours allowing families to receive their loved one’s cremains within just a couple of days.

Conclusion

If you are interested in learning more about cremations, the costs involved and the funeral service options available to you, please contact a licensed funeral home. Funeral directors within funeral homes have many options and contacts available that would love to help you through the process.

Evergreen Cemetery & Crematory in Hillside, NJ would love to be your choice for all cemetery needs. If you would like to speak with us or have questions about the benefits of cremation, please do not hesitate to contact us or call us at (908) 352-7940. We have a scattering garden dedicated to cremains usage as well as niche cremation entombments that allow you to keep your loved one’s cremains sealed in our beautiful mausoleum.

Thank you for reading.

How to Find a Grave in a Cemetery

October 24, 2017 By Evergreen Cemetery

Knowing how to find a grave in a cemetery can be a difficult task. Cemeteries are full of different roadways, twists and turns and it can be hard to find a specific gravesite even when you’ve been there before.

In this article we will explain what you need to know, what you should do and how to find a grave in just about any cemetery using the phone and the Internet. Sure there are some techniques that work quicker than others, but by the time you finish reading this you will be well equipped on where to start and finish your search.

Vital Information

To start your search for a specific gravesite you need to first know the full name, the birth date, the death date and the city in which the person was deceased. If you are sure that the person that you are looking for is buried at a specific cemetery, knowing the city the person passed in is not necessary.

Finding the death date can sometimes be difficult as well. To do so, start by searching the obituaries of local newspapers in area where the person lived. Most local libraries have databases that you can access and search for specific information that was listed in local newspapers. If you have a rough idea of when the person passed, you can narrow down your search to certain months and years.

By finding the obituary, you will be able to locate the cemetery that the person was laid to rest in. If the cemetery is not listed, many times family members and the funeral home will be listed which you can then use to find the cemetery location.

Funeral homes keep their own records of the deceased that pass through their venue. Contacting them by phone is a quick way to locate the cemetery of the deceased.

Census Records, State and City

If you are unable to find the person that you are looking for in local obituaries, you can also contact the county, state or city of the person to see if they have census records for residents in the area. Depending on the state you live in, these records can be found in one of these three levels of government. A great place to start is with the county records as they can normally point you in the right direction if they don’t have what you are looking for.

Contacting the county is rather simple. Do a quick search online, find their phone number and tell them what you are looking for. The purpose of the death certificate search is just to narrow down you search to a specific cemetery. Depending on the state that you are searching for the death certificate in, you may have to prove you are related to the family. Some states have an open public records policy while others do not.

Depending on the state, city and county you are contacting, there may be fees associated with accessing records.

Contacting Funeral Homes

As previously mentioned, contacting the funeral home of the deceased person you are looking for is a quick way to find the cemetery in question. If you know the area the person passed in, contact funeral homes in the immediate area and ask them if they worked on your persons funeral.

Start with the largest and most popular funeral homes and work your way down from there. Funeral homes keep records of their funerals and often times work closely with other local funeral homes. They may be able to point you to the right funeral home if they do not have the records you are looking for.

Do a search online for the term: “Funeral Home + (city, state)” and start from there. You can also comb through all of the funeral homes in a certain area by searching the online yellow pages (yellowpages.com) or searching through the actual yellow pages book as well.

FindAGrave.com

The most popular site online for finding specific grave information is FindAGrave.com

Find A Grave is a website that works like a virtual cemetery. You simply type in the person’s name, country and state and click search. Find A Grave will then attempt to link you to the cemetery of the person you are looking for. Essentially, it is a large database that administered to by thousands of people from around the world who enjoy the practice of updating the site with as much information as they can featuring their local cemeteries.

Evergreen Cemetery’s Find A Grave profile is up to date with photos, records and more historical information.

If you don’t know where to start your search, Find A Grave is a great and quick way to get your search started.

Once You’ve Found The Cemetery

Once you’ve found the cemetery of the person that you are looking for, the next step is to contact the cemetery directly.

The cemetery’s office keeps a record of every person laid to rest there and they will be able to physically direct you to the grave site you are looking for. Cemeteries depending on their size can be very confusing to navigate. You will most likely need them to show you exactly where the grave site you are looking for is located.

Using the record files and maps, they will be able to pinpoint the grave location even if there isn’t a grave stone or marker in place.

Calling the cemetery or contacting them through their website is the best way to reach them.

Often times when the cemetery is open for visitation, the administrative office may be closed. It is best to call and visit the administrative office during normal business hours if you would like someone to show you exactly where the grave you are looking for is located.

Knowing How to Find a Grave in a Cemetery is Just a Call Away

Here at Evergreen Cemetery in Hillside NJ, we are always happy to you find the grave of person’s buried here. When you visit us, we just need the full name, the birth date and the death date of the person you are looking for. We will then search our records and give you a map to the location on our grounds. If need be, we will even have someone escort you to the exact location in question.

We hope this article has been helpful, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.