CONSUMER INFORMATION
Federal Trade Commission
"Funerals: A Consumer Guide"
"When a loved one dies, grieving family members and friends often are confronted with dozens of decisions about the funeral - all of which must be made quickly and often under great emotional duress. What kind of funeral should it be? What funeral provider should you use? Should you bury or cremate the body, or donate it to science? What are you legally required to buy? What other arrangements should you plan? And, as callous as it may sound, how much is it all going to cost?" Contains useful information regarding your rights as a consumer, the funeral provider's responsibilities, and what you should expect.
Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine/MSN Money
"Plan - and Pay For - Your Own Funeral"
"Few people want to think about their death, but it is inevitable, so why not make it easier for your loved ones by making the arrangements and paying upfront." Advice on why and how to plan and/or prepay your own funeral, including tips on what to look for and what to avoid.
FUNERAL LUNCHEONS
While our locations are not equipped to host luncheons, there are several options available nearby each chapel for those holding funerals there, including local VFWs and American Legions, as well as hosting at a family home. Here are some additional options near the Roseville Chapel.
The B-Dale Club
Located two doors south of the Roseville Chapel on Dale Street
Ideal Hall/TST Catering
Located one mile south of the Roseville Chapel on Dale Street
The Little Venetian
Located three miles northeast of the Roseville Chapel off of Rice Street and Little Canada Road
GRIEF RESOURCES
Children's Grief Connection of Minnesota
"Children's Grief Connection, formerly known as Camp Amanda-Minnesota, is a nonprofit organization providing grief programs for children and teens in partnership with Minnesota's funeral directors."
GriefNet
"GriefNet.org is an Internet community of persons dealing with grief, death, and major loss."
Missing Grace Foundation
"Missing GRACE Foundation's mission is to provide resources and support for families that have experienced: pregnancy loss, infant loss, infertility or adoption...Five core areas encompass the heart of the mission: Grieve, Restore, Arise, Commemorate and Educate."
HISTORICAL RECORDS
Minnesota Historical Society
Death Certificate Index
Contains a searchable database of death records from the State of Minnesota. Non-certified copies of death certificates may be ordered from the Historical Society.
HOTELS
Holiday Inn St. Paul Downtown
Located just under five miles from the Roseville Chapel, the Holiday Inn St. Paul Downtown offers a bereavement rate and a complimentary area shuttle.
Homewood Suites by Hilton
Located approximately eight miles from both the Roseville and Lino Lakes Chapels, the Homewood Suites by Hilton offers a bereavement rate and apartment-style rooms with full kitchens.
MISCELLANEOUS
Sgt. Bryan T. McDonough, age 22 of Maplewood, and a 2002 graduate of Roseville Area High School, died serving his country in Fallujah, Iraq on December 2, 2006. THE BRYAN McDONOUGH MILITARY HEROES FOUNDATION was established by his parents, Tom and Renee McDonough, in his honor to assist wounded soldiers and their families. For information about the foundation and how to contribute, please visit www.militaryheroesfoundation.org.
Bryan's Obituary (St. Paul Pioneer Press 12/10/2006)
PBS "Frontline": "The Undertaking"
"Thomas Lynch, 58, is a writer and a poet. He's also a funeral director in a small town in central Michigan where he and his family have cared for the dead -- and the living -- for three generations. For the first time, Lynch agreed to allow cameras inside Lynch & Sons, giving FRONTLINE producers Miri Navasky and Karen O'Connor rare, behind-the-scenes access -- from funeral arrangements to the embalming room -- to the Lynches' world for this film, The Undertaking." This episode of PBS' "FRONTLINE" series offers a fascinating, educational, and remarkably personal look inside the world of funeral directors.
VETERANS
Burial and Memorial Benefits
There are numerous benefits available to honorably discharges US veterans, including burial in a National Cemetery, marker/monument provisions for those buried in private cemeteries, a veteran's flag, and possibly even monetary benefits for retiress, those with service-connected disabilities, and occasionally under other circumstances. This section of the VA website offers extensive explanations of the many burial provisions available to veterans.
Separation Documents
DD Form 214/SF-180 Military Document Request
In order to be approved for burial at a National Cemetery (i.e. Fort Snelling), the veteran must meet the eligibility requirements and also must produce the separation document that proves eligibility. This document is a DD 214 for those discharged after 1950, and is known by various other names for those discharged before 1950 (see the above link). The "discharge certificate" that is presented at the time of separation WILL NOT suffice. You MUST be able to produce a DD 214 (or prior version) at the time of funeral arrangements in order for the veteran or their spouse to be buried at any National Cemetery. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this requirement. If you are unable to produse separation documents at the time of funeral arrangements, the Veterans Administration will initiate a records verification search, but this process can take several days, and burial cannot be arranged until it is completed. If you do not have a copy of your DD214, replacement documents can be ordered through the National Archives. You must do this in advance, as it takes some time to receive the replacement copy and it WILL delay burial if not done prior to the time of need.