Be an Informed Consumer 

Purchasing a funeral service is one of the most expensive investments we make in our lifetime. Like purchasing a home or a car, you wouldn’t call around and just go with the cheapest priced one you could find. Your purchase does need to fit your available funds, but what you get for those dollars can make a huge difference depending on where you go. Some things to consider: 

What will they do if you are not satisfied with your services? 

Howe-Peterson carries a 100% satisfaction guarantee with all of our services. To help us stay on track we monitor surveys to make sure that we are not slipping. We are committed to providing you with distinctive and unparalleled service. 

Have you toured the facility? 

You should always tour the facility before you commit to services there. Just because a relative had services there 10 years ago does not mean the business has been maintained at that same level. Howe-Peterson boasts state of the art facilities and well maintained equipment and vehicles. For your convenience we have two locations to serve you, the Dearborn Chapel on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn and the Taylor Chapel on Telegraph in Taylor. 

When you visit the funeral home are the doors unlocked? Do you need to call and set up an appointment so that someone can meet you there? 

The hours at Howe-Peterson are 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. We are available 365 days per year. Note: If we are not serving families on Christmas and New Years days our location hours may be limited. We are available via telephone 24 hours a day 7 days a week. You can always access our website www.howepeterson.com, which contains information on current funeral services, pricing, prearranging, and grief support. 

Who will provide support during the visitation and service? 

Will there be staff present or just a sign with an arrow pointing to the general direction of the chapel? Our staff is highly trained and dedicated to provide support and attention to every detail throughout the memorilization process. 

What if you want to preplan a funeral and finance it? Will you be talking to a licensed funeral director or an insurance sales person? 

Often you will be speaking with a lay person who is licensed by the state of Michigan to handle insurance sales. They do not have to be a licensed funeral director. Charles Gury is our Certified Advance Planning Professional and is also a licensed Funeral Director. He has been a part of our family for over 25 years. He is licensed in the state of Michigan to process insurance sales, and is certified for preplanning through Michigan Funeral Director’s Association. 

Many people benefit from grief support after the funeral. Does the funeral home have a program? 

Howe-Peterson has one of the most complete grief support programs in the state of Michigan. We have ongoing groups that meet weekly, a survivors of suicide group that meets twice per month, and a series that meets in the spring, fall and winter. We could not offer so many groups and individualized attention without the expertise of Elaine Lamparski, our Aftercare Coordinator and Certified Bereavement Facilitator. Our website is an excellent resource as well. It contains a library of articles by Dr. Alan Wolfelt PhD, an internationally noted author, educator and grief counselor; a video library by Sherry Williams, president and founder of New Leaf Resources, a nationally recognized provider of grief services and counseling; and is an excellent guide to other grief resources. 

Who does the care of the deceased? Is the embalming outsourced? Who does the make-up and hair? 

You will have peace of mind knowing that a professional licensed funeral director that is an employee of Howe-Peterson will do the embalming of your loved one. Our directors are there through every step of the care we provide including dressing, cosmetics, hairdressing (by a licensed hairdresser), and casketing the decedent for final presentation for visitation, services and/or ceremonies. 

If you choose direct/immediate burial or cremation what type of care will your loved one receive? 

Our Signature Care prepares your loved one for identification. This service includes bathing them, washing their hair, shaving them if desired, and dressing them in any clothing you provide. You are also allowed a brief period of private time. There is no charge for this. Be aware that this is not typical of all funeral homes. 

Cremation has unique concerns. Below are some important points to consider.

Where is the crematory located? How many funeral homes use it? 
Howe-Peterson uses a crematory exclusively contracted to Howe-Peterson. One of our staff will be with your loved one throughout the cremation process. This includes transferring to and from the crematory. 

Can you witness/participate in the actual cremation? 
There should not be any reason that you cannot witness the cremation. We retain complete control at the crematory. 

What type of container is used? 
Often times a minimum cardboard container is used. At Howe-Peterson there is a range of containers available. Our most basic is a sturdier shell construction than the regular cardboard, and includes a pil- low. There are other options ranging from wood composite to veneers and hardwood. 

What happens after the cremation? 
At Howe-Peterson you will be notified that your loved one is ready and we will set up a time for you to come in. At this time we will present the cremains with a small ceremony and give you a moment to reflect. 

There has been a great deal of focus on “going green” and eco-friendly products. Where does the funeral home stand in that regard? 

Much has been said about using embalming fluid and how it contains formaldehyde. Howe-Peterson has not used that type of fluid for years. We use glutaraldehyde. 

We have upgraded approximately 650 light bulbs. This may seem like a small thing, but the benefit is a reduction in electrical consumption of approximately 75% on exterior and interior building lighting; we offer printing on recyclable paper; as we replace vehicles we are replacing them with vehicles that can run on E85; Taylor Chapel recycles paper; we utilize programmable thermostats in all of our buildings; the new roof at the Taylor Chapel is eco-friendly; we offer veneer caskets (97% of a tree can be utilized in making veneer caskets, while only 36% can be utilized in making hardwood caskets); insulated garage doors were installed in our garages in Dearborn, and a new insulated main door to our business office. Every attempt is made to make eco-friendly decisions when we are faced with replacing or purchasing equipment.

Other Helpful Links

Funeral Service Packages for Burial or Cremation

Basic Burial Services

Basic Cremation Services

Cremation Packages

General Price List

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