In Part Two of our Funeral Arrangements series, the Secure Aging team interviews Gene Brown of Brown & Sons Funeral Homes to discuss why pre-planned funeral arrangements are so important to navigating aging. See Part One here.
SA: Tell us a little about yourself and your business.
GB: My name is Gene Brown and my parents started Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory on November 1, 1975, so we’re about to celebrate 42 years in business. Within the funeral industry, we see an increasing number of corporations, but we are proud to remain family-owned. It’s how we can continue being so closely connected to our community. I came back from college and began taking on day-to-day operational responsibilities 28 years ago. Now I’m proud to say that my children are coming out of their mortuary internships, so soon the third generation will be at the helm of Brown & Sons.
SA: What do you and your staff do as funeral directors?
GB: Our business is to serve people and families on the worst days of their lives. We deal with tragedies every day. Our local community is currently battling one of the worst epidemics in history, where we are being impacted so greatly and tragically by the heroin/fentanyl crisis. We also handle situations where the passing of a loved one can be a blessing, in a sense, because that individual is no longer suffering or in pain.
We are responsible for the legal / logistical aspects of death, including procuring death certificates, dealing with Social Security, notifying local newspapers, and other paperwork, etc. Families are provided a checklist that they can easily follow to ensure nothing is forgotten and all immediate needs are met.
Also, we have tremendous experience in managing arrangements when family members are out of town. Sometimes the family will travel to Bradenton and we’ll arrange the memorial services. Other times we assist with ensuring the remains return safely to the deceased’s hometown. Modern technology makes it very simple for us to handle long distance funeral arrangements.
SA: Why is it so important to prepare and pre-plan funeral arrangements?
GB: Pre-planned funeral arrangements make a difficult time a little easier for grieving family members. We want to ensure that everyone feels comfortable throughout this process.
However - it’s crucial to communicate with your family first! That way, everyone can be on the same page about the arrangements, even if it’s a tough subject to discuss. None of us want to admit that our parents and loved ones will pass. Still, we need to know that we’re doing what they wanted, not what we THINK they wanted.
Family dynamics can be challenging, of course, but we find that families who prepare for end-of-life arrangements are able to face the inevitably difficult situation with a greater sense of ease and relief.
SA: Funerals have a reputation for being costly. How can our clients plan for the costs of a funeral?
GB: Funerary costs largely depend on your wishes. Burial is often more expensive than cremation, in large part due to the labor involved physically. Cost is also dependent on the number of associated services, for example, and there are options for caskets and urns at varying price points.
Cremation can be cost-efficient, but it’s important to note that Brown & Sons still handle all of the paperwork and logistics in these situations - allowing much-needed peace of mind. Today’s trend is toward cremation rather than burial, which was certainly more popular in the past. Neither option is right nor wrong, but entirely up to the individual’s wishes.
Payment plans are available through Brown & Sons with no interest or finance charges. This is a great way to ensure minimal burden on surviving family members, plus it freezes costs at today’s rates.
Pre-payment is also 100% refundable. Interestingly, we’ve noticed that it is now more common for husband and wives to choose different final arrangements. So there’s no need to feel “locked in” on any prepayment plan.
SA: It goes without saying that you’ve witnessed many unfortunate tragedies in your industry, but can you share with our readers a positive memory from your career?
GB: Recently we hosted a service for a large family, and one of the granddaughters wrote and presented a very special poem. It all rhymed and she was able to mention each of her many family members and their personalities in the poem. It was incredibly heartwarming, memorable, and a wonderful way to remember their loved one. When folks are still able to celebrate even in time of loss, we consider it a blessing.
Any time families come together for a celebrations of life is always a moving, positive experience. As a funeral home, we can’t change what’s happened, but we’re there to help families navigate through this period of life.
Secure Aging wants you to have peace of mind that your estate and wishes will be honored as time passes. We can help make life easier now by tracking monthly income and expenses, as well as fully advocating for our clients' well-being and safety. We are here to help make your life easier and keep your loved ones safe.
Special thanks to Gene Brown for his time and insight into this important and sensitive topic.
