Business Details
About
Funeral HomeCremation Service
At Forastiere Family Funeral & Cremation, we do, indeed, try to offer you a home, a comforting and inviting place to gather in remembrance and celebration of lives lived well. Our experienced staff is committed to this vision and passionate about making your time with us as memorable and uplifting as possible. We bring together decades of experience caring for families of all cultural backgrounds and diverse walks of life. We pledge to treat you and your loved ones just like family, and we guarantee to offer services that meet all of your specifications while exceeding all of your expectations.
Location
Southwick Forastiere Funeral Home & Cremation
624 College Highway, Southwick, MA
01077, United States
Hours
Reviews
4.8
27 reviews
5 stars
25
4 stars
1
3 stars0
2 stars0
1 star
1
- SZsusan zembaAug 6, 20235.0Very personable, professional and above all patient. At the time you need their services you are very emotional and sometimes have trouble making decisions. Kate was remarkable.
- JMJordan MoltaApr 22, 20235.0Very loving and caring facility. Met all of our families needs during our time of grief. Very professional.
- CTCarl TagliaviniOct 3, 20225.0We had a very caring, responsive and competent experience. All of our interactions with Forastiere have been wonderful.
- LSLost and SpacedMay 22, 20211.0significantly more expensive than anyone in area
- AMAidita MDec 18, 20185.0Forastiere provides very professional funeral and cremation services. My family has had the experience of doing business with them twice. Both times the service has been excellent. They are very understanding given the difficult process, and most of all timely by meeting their promises. The prices are also very reasonable and competitive. I highly recommend them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Southwick Forastiere Funeral Home & Cremation
What does a Funeral Director do?
Pick up the deceased and transport the body to the funeral home (anytime day or night)
Notify proper authorities, family and/or relatives
Arrange and prepare death certificates
Provide certified copies of death certificates for insurance and benefit processing
Work with the insurance agent, Social Security or Veterans Administration to ensure that necessary paperwork is filed for receipt of benefits
Prepare and submit obituary to the newspapers of your choice
Bathe and embalm the deceased body, if necessary
Prepare the body for viewing including dressing and cosmetizing
Assist the family with funeral arrangements and purchase of casket, urn, burial vault and cemetery plot
Schedule the opening and closing of the grave with cemetery personnel, if a burial is to be performed
Coordinate with clergy if a funeral or memorial service is to be held
Arrange a police escort and transportation to the funeral and/or cemetery for the family
Order funeral sprays and other flower arrangements as the family wishes
Provide Aftercare, or grief assistance, to the bereaved
What do I do when a death occurs?
The funeral home will help coordinate arrangements with the cemetery.
Bring the following information to complete the State vital statistic requirements:
✓ Birthplace
✓ Father's Name
✓ Mother's Name
✓ Social Security Number
✓ Veteran's Discharge or Claim Number
✓ Education
✓ Marital Status
Contact your clergy. Decide on time and place of funeral or memorial service. This can be done at the funeral home.
The funeral home will assist you in determining the number of copies of the death certificates you will be needing and can order them for you.
Make a list of immediate family, close friends and employer or business colleagues. Notify each by phone.
Decide on appropriate memorial to which gifts may be made (church, hospice, library, charity or school).
Gather obituary information you want to include such as age, place of birth, cause of death, occupation, college degrees, memberships held, military service , outstanding work, list of survivors in immediate family. Include time and place of services. The funeral home will normally write article and submit to newspapers (newspaper will accept picture and they will be returned intact).
Arrange for members of family or close friends to take turns answering door or phone, keeping careful record of calls. If Social Security checks are automatic deposit, notify the bank of the death.
When I call, will someone come right away?
If you request immediate assistance, yes. If the family wishes to spend a short time with the deceased to say good-bye, that’s perfectly acceptable. Your funeral director will come when your time is right.
Should I choose Burial or Cremation?
Burial in a casket is the most common method of disposing of remains in the United States, although entombment also occurs. Cremation is increasingly selected because it can be less expensive and allows for the memorial service to be held at a more convenient time in the future when relatives and friends can come together.
A funeral service followed by cremation need not be any different from a funeral service followed by a burial. Usually, cremated remains are placed in urn before being committed to a final resting place. The urn may be buried, placed in an indoor or outdoor mausoleum or columbarium, or interred in a special urn garden that many cemeteries provide for cremated remains. The remains may also be scattered, according to state law.
What is the purpose of embalming?
Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body. Embalming makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them.
Does a dead body have to be embalmed, according to law?
The Federal Trade Commission says, "Except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law. Embalming may be necessary, however, if you select certain funeral arrangements, such as a funeral with viewing. If you do not want embalming, you usually have the right to choose an arrangement that does not require you to pay for it, such as direct cremation or immediate burial."
What services does Southwick Forastiere Funeral Home & Cremation offer?
They provide funeral home services, cremation options, grief assistance, embalming, and help with death certificates and obituary arrangements.
Is embalming required by law when using Southwick Forastiere Funeral Home & Cremation?
Embalming is generally not required by law except in certain cases, but may be necessary for certain funeral arrangements such as viewings.
What should I do immediately after a death occurs?
The funeral home will help coordinate arrangements with the cemetery. You should provide vital information for death certificates, contact clergy, decide on funeral details, notify family members, and prepare obituary information.
Are there financing options available for funeral services?
Yes, Southwick Forastiere Funeral Home & Cremation offers financing options for their funeral services.
What payment methods are accepted at Southwick Forastiere Funeral Home & Cremation?
They accept American Express, Cash, MasterCard, and Visa.
What are the operating hours of Southwick Forastiere Funeral Home & Cremation?
The funeral home is open 24 hours a day, every day, including Federal Holidays.
How can I contact Southwick Forastiere Funeral Home & Cremation?
You can call them at +1 413-569-5306 or email wecare@forastierefuneralhome.com.
What nearby dining options are available around Southwick Forastiere Funeral Home & Cremation?
Nearby dining options include Tucker's Restaurant, Gristmill Cafe, Pasticceria Italia Southwick, and New Main Moon, offering a variety of American, bakery, and Asian cuisines.
Are there any nearby health or wellness centers close to Southwick Forastiere Funeral Home & Cremation?
Yes, nearby health and wellness options include Rehab Resolutions (physical therapy), Dhira Yoga Center, Dr Justin Chiropractic, and Soulshine Sanctuary offering massage and holistic health services.
What floral and decoration options are near Southwick Forastiere Funeral Home & Cremation to help with funeral arrangements?
Nearby places for floral and decorative needs include Southwick Florist & Greenhouse and The Southwick Florist for flowers and gifts, as well as King Brothers Decorating Center for decorating supplies.