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In 1980, the national cremation rate for the U.S. was just over 9%. 2015 is projected to be the first year that cremations overtake burials. And by 2030, the national cremation rate is projected to be over 70%.

Three major shifts have occurred in society:

The first is demographic.   People don’t remain in the town they grew up in. It makes sense to have a traditional burial in the family plot when Mom, Dad and all the kids grew up and live in the same town; Especially when everyone in that town is like an extended family. But what if all three kids live in three different states and Mom and Dad decide to relocate from Indiana to Florida to spend the rest of their days?! The old family plot has become an inconvenient and distant memory. Plus Mom always said her true love was the beach and to scatter her ashes in the ocean.

The second is cost.   According to the National Funeral Director’s Association, the national median cost of a funeral for calendar year 2012 was $7,045. If a vault is included, something that is typically required by a cemetery, the median cost is $8,343. The cost for a cremation is a fraction of a burial ranging $800-$3,500 depending on the types of services selected. When a death is unexpected, a couple thousand dollars is a much easier pill to swallow.

The third shift is religion.   More and more Americans decline to be involved in organized worship and now less than 20% of Americans regularly attend church. This puts less pressure on people to host a traditional funeral. In fact, before 1963 the Catholic Church didn’t allow cremation and required the body of the deceased be present for a Mass of Christian Burial. Around this time the Church became more open to allowing cremation and this method of disposition became more popular among Catholics. Prior to 1997, cremations had to take place after the funeral Mass so the body could be present during the rite. Since then, the Vatican has granted permission to allow funeral Masses with the presence of the ashes.

When someone is tasked with arranging the funeral of a loved one, they typically have little time or industry knowledge to make informed decisions. And even if they ask all the right questions, they may not know what could differentiate one funeral home from another.

We’ve put together our top list of questions to assist you or your family members in making informed decisions when it comes to selecting a funeral home or funeral director:

1. What is the background of your organization?

It’s always helpful to hear how someone got started in their industry, and why they chose the role of funeral director. You’ll gain a lot of insight into the values and work ethic of an organization by asking.

2. What types of services do you provide?

Every funeral home is different, and services may vary from place to place. While most funeral homes will provide basic burial and cremation services, some tend to provide more traditional services, while others cater to non-traditional life celebrations. Make sure that whoever you select is able to properly honor your loved one with the services available.

3. Are you locally or nationally owned?

Many funeral homes that were once owned and operated by generations of the same family are now owned by a national conglomerate, while still retaining the original name. While this is not always a red flag, corporate-owned organizations tend to have higher expenses, and often pass this on to their clients through increased fees.

4. Do you hire services from other providers?

Even if a funeral home handles all of your arrangements, from storing, transporting and burying or cremating the deceased, some of them contract with outside providers for these services. For example, a funeral home without an on-site crematory would have to contract with another funeral home to provide this service.

5. What are the costs associated with your services?

Final arrangements can be a significant expense, and you should never be embarrassed to ask for a price list. Funeral homes are also required to publish their pricing and what services are included.

6. Would you come to our home to discuss funeral arrangements?

The role of a funeral director is to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Make sure whoever you select will be able to accommodate your needs, at your convenience.

7. Can I customize a funeral?

Some funeral homes have very specific packages that can be purchased, and there’s very little room for customizing to memorialize the deceased. Make sure you ask about how much flexibility you’ll have with the service, and encourage suggestions from your funeral director.

8. What memberships and licenses do you and your staff maintain?

Practicing funeral homes should be licensed in the areas they practice, just like any professional organization. Standard licenses include a Funeral Establishment License, Funeral Director & Embalmer’s License, Cinerator Facility License (for cremations), Pre Need Branch License, and Life and Annuities Insurance License. You can also inquire if the funeral home is active in any local organizations or non-profits, such as a Chamber of Commerce or Hospice.

9. Can you still provide funeral services if a loved one is cremated?

Cremations are becoming a more common option for final arrangements, but many families still want to hold a formal ceremony to pay their respects. Talk to your funeral director about what options you’ll have if your loved one elects to be cremated.

10. How can I plan ahead?

Most funeral homes encourage what’s referred to as “pre-planning,” or “pre-arranging” your funeral. In addition to outlining your wishes for how you would like to be remembered, there are also pre-payment plans that allow you to lock in costs.

When you ask someone to tell you about their career path, you rarely hear a linear story. More often, you’re met with a meandering plot that ends in how one inexplicably “fell into” their current industry or title. That said, “rarely” does have its exceptions. I’ve found myself to be one of those exceptions.

1999 in Carrolton, Kentucky I made a decision that now marks chapter one of my professional story in the funeral and cremation industry. During a summer in college, I picked up a job that started it all. I began working for a funeral home – the same one my father had once served. Two years later, I obtained my professional license from the Mid-America College of Funeral Service.

When I returned to the area, I began working with Bevis Funeral Home as a licensed funeral director. At the time, I didn’t expect that the simple decision to accept the position would become such a big part of my story. I spent the next twelve years with the team. I learned a lot – and owe a lot – to the Bevis name. I met Sarah Bevis while working there, and we later married and started a family.

Fast forward to 2009, when Mr. Bevis and I started a new business in Quincy, Florida. AmeriCare Funeral & Cremation Services was founded with one simple goal: to provide affordable, professional and customer-focused funeral, burial and on-site cremation services to our fellow community members. It’s this same goal that has led us to our recent transition.

Over the last few years, Sarah and I began to notice a trend toward a new type of funeral service: one aimed at truly celebrating life and the loved one lost. We made the decision to renovate the AmeriCare facilities and expand upon our offered services to provide the support system needed to create these personal memorial experiences. In May, AmeriCare became Lifesong Funerals & Cremations.

The renovation of the Lifesong facilities means that my customers and neighbors will have more freedom to tailor services that provide positive healing experiences. I am very excited to now offer private-access viewing, live web casting and the ability to curate personalized playlists to be played during observances. In this newest chapter, my goal has expanded. Through Lifesong, I strive to provide a silver lining during difficult times.

In the near future, we will also expand into celebration of life services and memorials to continue to build on Lifesong’s mission. We’re here to celebrate lives well-lived and to help families deal with a difficult life event. The growth of this business is aimed at continuing our promise to the Big Bend community.