Now - Fares J. Radel Funeral Homes and Crematory

CONTENTS
3
Introduction
4
Why pre-plan your funeral?
6
What is involved in pre-planning a funeral?
9
How to financially prepare for a funeral
12
Details to consider in pre-planning a funeral
15
How Fares J. Radel Funeral Homes and Crematory
can assist with funeral pre-planning and final
arrangements
INTRODUCTION
Much of our lives are planned ahead and not left to random chance. We plan
vacations, career trajectories, weddings and for our children’s educations. We
plan for life’s unexpected events by purchasing auto, health and life insurance
so we are prepared for any contingencies. We want to make sure that all bases
are covered.
Pre-planning your own funeral is a natural extension of this desire to be in
control of your destiny. It’s a thoughtful final gesture you can offer loved ones
during their time of grieving and also allows you peace of mind, knowing that
your wishes will be carried out completely when the time has come.
When you pre-plan your funeral, you can include traditional customs and
rituals that are reflective of your culture and lifestyle. At Fares J. Radel Funeral
Homes and Crematory, we understand the importance of tradition. For over a
150 years, our four generations have been honoring the lives and memories
of those in the Greater Cincinnati area who have passed on. We provide
comfort and compassion to their families by ensuring that their loved ones are
memorialized in ways that honor their unique footprint in the world.
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
By making your arrangements ahead of need, we can make sure that your
wishes are respected and that nothing is left undecided. Our dedicated staff
can discuss our array of options with you to find the best fit for your budget. In
addition to planning your final arrangements meticulously in accordance with
your preferences, you also have the option of pre-paying for all or part of your
final services in a number of ways.
Veterans of the armed forces have specific burial benefits available to them.
Our staff can include a copy of any service member’s discharge papers in their
file to readily establish eligibility at the time of need and work to integrate any
or all of these benefits into the funeral plan that is selected.
In this guide you will learn about the many options available to pre-plan
funerals that are unique celebrations of one’s life. The affordable options,
methods of financing pre-need and requirements of asset reallocation to
qualify for some programs will be addressed. You can discover the pros and
cons of establishing an irrevocable trust, which shelters all funeral funding
from Medicaid.
This guide can help you decide on the location of your final resting place and
assure that your obituary reflects your true self. You can select your own
casket and design your own headstone. The pre-planning worksheet allows
you to state the music you prefer during the visitation and funeral as well as
any biblical verses or spiritual words you’d like included. All ethnic and religious
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
traditions can be detailed and carried out according to your wishes. If you
choose cremation, you can pick out your favorite urn and specify a manner
and locale for burial of your ashes. You can note on the worksheet if you
prefer memorial contributions to a certain charity in lieu of flowers. The guide
eliminates the frustration of loved ones attempting to guess your preferences
and puts you in control of your final wishes.
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
WHY PRE-PLAN
YOUR FUNERAL?
No one likes to consider their own mortality, but death is inevitable and is
our final transition. When a loved one dies, family members are consumed
with grief and often not thinking clearly when it is time to make the final
arrangements. To make it easier for them, give your loved ones the gift of
planning ahead for your funeral.
Some say they want no funeral ceremony or memorial service, just a quick
burial or cremation. While those options are available, it’s important to
consider that funeral and memorial services are essentially for the survivors.
Rituals and ceremonial gatherings are time-honored traditions that allow for
loved ones to grieve openly amongst supportive friends, giving them closure
and time to reflect on their loved one’s life.
“Grief shared is grief diminished” - Rabbi Grollman
Banquet Center
at Fares J Radel’s
Cincinnati Location
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
You can decide on the service and details.
Just as we are all unique, pre-planned funeral services can express the distinct
qualities that your loved ones cherish in you that make you so special. Below
are some options to consider.
• Traditional funeral service with interment or cremation
• Funeral service with either a graveside or cremation services
immediately following
• Simple graveside or cremation services for immediate family
members
• Private viewings of loved ones in a funeral home setting
• Basic cremation without services
• Memorial service held after cremation or burial
• A traditional visitation before the funeral or cremation services
• A gathering or reception after the service or funeral
• Observation of traditional ethnic and religious practices
There are many other details to consider when you pre-plan your funeral
services. If you choose inturnment or burial, you will have to purchase either a
burial plot or secure space in a mausoleum and arrange for a marker. You can
decide about the type of service you prefer and whether you want flowers or
memorial donations. You can even write out your own obituary if you choose.
Learn more about details to consider in pre-planning a funeral in Section 4 of
this guide.
There are many
details to consider
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
Your loved ones are prepared.
An irrevocable trust can be set up so your beneficiary has funds to cover your
final expenses. Your financial planner can give you more information to make
sure that you have a good understanding of Medicaid guidelines, if applicable,
as pre-paid funeral and burial expenses are exempt from Medicaid spenddown requirements. Learn more
about preparing financially in Section
3 of this guide.
It can be difficult to discuss final
arrangements with your family.
Whether you are at the peak of
health or battling a terminal illness,
discussing death and funerals is
upsetting to many. But a pre-planned
funeral can give you the peace of
mind you need to face what is to
come.
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
WHAT IS INVOLVED IN
PRE-PLANNING A FUNERAL?
When deciding to pre-plan your funeral, you have a lot of options. You can plan
everything down to the last detail, selecting the biblical or inspirational verses
you wish to be read at your funeral or memorial service. You can even specify
which refreshments and libations will be served to your gathered friends and
family at the conclusion of your services or during the visitation. Or you may
choose a more basic approach, simply indicating where you would like your
final resting place to be.
Our staff can walk you through the process,
explaining options that will fit well within
your budget and making sure that you have
the final arrangements that you desire
and that best describes your unique life’s
journey. If you have religious, cultural, nondenominational or ethnic traditions that are
meaningful to you, we can assure you that
they will be honored and carried out with
utmost respect.
When you pre-plan your funeral, you have the peace of mind of knowing that
all of your preferences can be carried out exactly as you choose.
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
A Pre-Planning Check List
Identify personal touches you’d like at the service
If you would rather not fill out the detailed information, please give us a call
and we will go over all options byphone or in person at your residence or at
any of our facilities.
I would like my funeral or memorial service to be held at the following location:
The person I would like to officiate my funeral or memorial service is
I would like the following people to serve as pallbearers:
1.
4.
2.
5.
3.
6.
I would like the following people to deliver eulogies:
1.
2.
3.
I would like the following people to deliver prayers, poems, or other readings:
1.
2.
3.
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
The readings I would like them to deliver are:
Title Author/Source
1.
2.
3.
I would like the following songs, hymns, or pieces of music to be played:
1.
2.
3.
I would like people to honor my memory by making a donation to one of the
charity organizations that has meant a lot to me:
1.
2.
3.
I want to be sure that the following groups, organizations, and clubs will be
notified of and invited to my funeral or memorial service (such as veterans’
groups, alumni associations, sports or hobby clubs, etc.):
Name of Group/Primary Contact Info
1.
2.
3.
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
I want to be sure that the following people, whom my family may not know, will
be notified of and invited to my funeral or memorial service:
Name Contact Info
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
I would like to have a staff member contact me Yes
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
No
HOW TO FINANCIALLY
PREPARE FOR A FUNERAL
A major concern of many people is how to financially prepare for their funeral.
Below is some useful information when weighing your financial options.
Medicaid Spend Down Program
Understanding the requirements of Medicaid can be a complicated matter.
Because the Medicaid program is need-based, the income requirements are
strict. While this guide is no substitution for the advice of a qualified elder law
attorney or estate planning professional, there are some factors to consider
when pre-planning your funeral.
In order to qualify for the Medicaid program, all of your assets and resources
are inventoried and classified in three ways: Countable, Unavailable and
Exempt. Preserving your assets may require you to reposition some resources
that are considered to be countable into the categories of unavailable or
exempt.
In general, Medicaid eligibility
requirements exempt most pre-paid
funeral plans. However, for you or
your spouse to continue to be eligible
for Medicaid, the pre-paid funeral
arrangements must be paid in full and
not be part of an ongoing installment
plan when applying to the program.
The pre-paid funeral plan must also be
irrevocable. This means that once put
in place, family members or heirs are
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
not able to substitute less expensive options and receive a cash refund. Make
sure to check patient accounts. Patient accounts may be used to fund funeral
expenses.
Include all desired options
Your pre-paid funeral arrangements should
include all options and arrangements that you
have selected. We can go over the options with
you and help you select a plan that best meets
your needs and still qualifies under Medicaid
guidelines. Some purchases to include in the
allocation of funds may include the following:
• Obituary fees
• Certified death certificates
• Casket and vault
• Honorarium for clergy
• Choir or organist fees
• Floral arrangements
• Hearse
• Limousines for family members
• Police escorts
By making your pre-planned funeral all-inclusive to cover all contingencies, you
don’t have to worry. This ensures everything is taken care of.
Irrevocable Trusts
Another financial option available to you when pre-planning your funeral is
setting up an irrevocable funeral trust, which may also qualify you for certain
tax deductions during your lifetime. The term “irrevocable” means that this
trust, once established, is not able to be dissolved for any reason until its
grantor is deceased. You, your heirs, executors, family members or creditors
will not be able to access or confiscate these assets.
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
Advantages of Irrevocable Funeral Trusts
The value of the peace of mind in knowing that your final expenses are already
covered is incalculable. Additionally, these trusts are:
• Exempted from estate taxes and SSI/Medicaid spend down
regulations
• Cushioned against inflation
• Issued without medical examinations
We encourage you to discuss these financial options with your estate planner,
elder law attorney or investment broker to make sure that you choose the
option that best meets the needs of your financial situation and the needs of
your family.
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
DETAILS TO CONSIDER IN
PRE-PLANNING A FUNERAL
When you pre-plan your funeral, you are able to select the options that reflect
your own individuality and preferences, just as you did throughout your
lifetime. Below are some of the choices you may wish to make.
Funeral Service
Whether your religious persuasion dictates a formal ritual like a funeral Mass
or you prefer more non-denominational approach, pre-planning your funeral
service allows you to incorporate Bible verses, psalms or other spiritual
quotations that held special meaning for you into your funeral service. You can
select the music you want to be played and even set aside funds for food and
drink for those gathered in your remembrance. Pre-planning your own funeral
allows you to end your journey according to your wishes.
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
Flowers
Floral arrangements can be a beautiful and tasteful addition to a funeral or
memorial service. This can all be specified when you take the time to pre-plan
your funeral.
Obituaries and Death Notices
Fares J. Radel Funeral Homes and Crematory offers free online obituaries at
no charge to our families. We will work with you and your family to construct
an appropriate obituary to honor your life and spirit. All of the details can be
discussed at length with our funeral director, who can suggest options that you
find appealing.
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
FUNERAL
PRE-PLANNING FORM
First Name (required)
Phone Number (required)
Middle Name
Email
Last Name (required)
Sex
Male Female
Address
Date of Birth
City
Place of Birth (City)
State
Place of Birth (State)
Zip Code
Education (Years Completed / Degree
Completed)
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
Ancestry
Next of Kin
Race
Name
I am a U.S. Veteran
Phone Number
Yes No
Occupation (Present or Before
Address
Retirement)
Employer
Relationship
Marital Status
Married
Widowed
Significant Other
Never Married
Please include any additional
information you would like to be
Divorced
included in an obituary notice
such as names of family members,
Name of Spouse
organizations, activities, educational
(First Name)
background and employment history
Name of Spouse / Significant Other
(Last / Maiden Name)
Name of Father (First Name)
Name of Father (Last Name)
Name of Mother (First Name)
Name of Mother (Last Name)
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
HOW FARES J. RADEL CAN
ASSIST WITH FUNERAL
PRE-PLANNING AND FINAL
ARRANGEMENTS
At Fares J. Radel Funeral Homes and Crematory, we understand that preplanning your own funeral can include many difficult decisions, and we are
here to assist you. Our discreet staff can suggest options that we think may be
reflective of your lifestyle, culture and traditions. It is not necessary to pre-pay
your funeral in order to have the plans set in place ahead of need. By preplanning, funeal expenses are locked in and guaranteed at today’s prices.
Facilities
All of our locations were specifically designed as funeral homes,
not converted from existing homes. Fares J. Radel Funeral Homes and
Crematory has three facilities, two in Kentucky and one in Ohio. Our Newport,
Kentucky, home was established in 1928.
Our Cold Spring, Kentucky, location was built in 2008 and its 5,000 square feet
provides an elegant and modern setting for your final arrangements.
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
The Cincinnati, Ohio, location of Fares J. Radel Funeral Homes and Crematory
is a state-of-the-art facility built on more than two-and-a-half acres. Its 10,000
square feet includes an on-premises crematory with a private family viewing
room and a spacious room for visitation for larger funerals open to the
public. We also have a banquet facility that can seat up to 100 guests. If you
choose, we can cater the visitation or memorial service with hors d’oeuvres or
complete dinners at your request.
Crematory
Fares J. Radel Funeral Homes and Crematory has the only private crematory
in the Greater Cincinnati area. Many people are selecting this environmentally
friendly option in lieu of burial, but others don’t realize that cremation simply
takes the place of burial. The full array of our services are still available,
including viewing, visitation and traditional funeral services. Our crematory
provides an observation room with a living room setting and the finest Italian
granite features to provide a solemn setting for grieving family members to
privately mourn.
Urns, Jewelry & Keepsakes
Fares J. Radel Funeral Homes and Crematory offers a full selection of urns,
jewelry & keepsakes for the cremains. We have biodegradable selections in
our eco-friendly collection that also include natural scatter containers. You can
select from marble, metals, wood, porcelain and cloisonné. We offer specialty
urns and jewelry items, ranging from custom engraving to handmade pieces.
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
Services
We offer a full range of services at Fares
J. Radel Funeral Homes and Crematory. If
necessary, we can arrange domestic and
even global transportation and can assist
with planning memorial services that
closely mirror your lifestyle. We specialize in
honoring ethnic customs and cultural funeral
traditions. Our staff is also knowledgeable
about the options available for eligible service
members and can work with you to see that
your final wishes are met concerning any
military benefits you wish to include in your
final arrangements.
Family Support
Our caring staff realizes that family members can be helped through the
grieving process with assistance from organizations and professionals.
We can offer referrals to those in mourning to equip them with the tools
they need to work through their grief in a healthy manner. We can provide
recommendations for groups and services in the Greater Cincinnati area, as
well as links to national support groups tailored to their needs.
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A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
CLOSING
At Fares J. Radel Funeral Homes & Crematory, we understand the importance
of tradition. As a family-based business for over 150 years, we are experienced
in providing unique final arrangements and memorials that are rich in cultural
and religious heritage for our clientele and their families. We strive to make
each funeral service a celebration of life and to honor the memories of those
who have passed on.
Our three convenient locations in the Greater Cincinnati area have many
amenities to offer for both large gatherings and intimate settings. With the
only private crematory in the area, we can guarantee that the purity of
a loved one’s cremains will always be preserved. We offer many beautiful
options exclusively to you as Cincinnati’s premier funeral home and crematory.
Contact the caring professionals at Fares J. Radel Funeral Homes
& Crematory to discuss your pre-need options and concerns to
give you and your loved ones peace of mind, both now and in
the future.
Cincinnati
Cold Spring
Newport
5950 Kellogg Ave.
4016 Alexandria Pike
822 York Street
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cold Spring, Kentucky
Newport, Kentucky
45230
41076
41071
513-231-2000
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859-781-6300
A Guide to Planning Your Funeral
859-261-8560