BURIAL SERVICE OPTIONS
FOR THE LEWISTON, SANBORN & NIAGARA FALLS, NY AREAS

Traditionally, a burial service involves a visitation, followed by a funeral service in a church, or other place of worship. The casket is typically present at both these events, and it is your decision on whether to have the casket open or not. You have the option of having the remains interred (earth burial), or it may be entombed in a crypt inside a mausoleum (above ground burial). Family or religious traditions are often a factor for choosing burial over direct cremation. Decisions need to be made on whether the body needs to be embalmed, what kind of burial casket to use, what cemetery to use and what to put on the gravestone. At Hardison Funeral Homes, Inc., we are here to help families across Ransomville, Lewiston, Sanborn, and Niagara Falls, NY through the burial process. Please feel free to give us a call to learn more about our selection of burial caskets, burial flowers, or if you'd like to begin the planning process.

LIVERY


Hearse:  Local within 15 miles.......................... $    500.00

        $3.50/mile thereafter

Service Van:  Local within 15 miles................. $    450.00

        $3.50/mile thereafter

Flower Vehicle: Local within 15 miles………. $    125.00

        $3.50/mile thereafter

Lead/Clergy Car:  Local within 15 miles......... $    125.00

        $3.50/mile thereafter

Limousine(s) Local within 15 miles……………$    500.00



MERCHANDISE


Caskets and Alternative Containers (a complete

        price list will be provided at the funeral home):

        Prices range from:......... $ 275.00      to     $ 7,900.00

Outer Interment Receptacles (a complete price list

        will be provided at the funeral home):

        Prices range from:......... $1350.00     to     $ 8,500.00

Burial Clothing:

        Prices range from:......... $115.00       to     $    175.00

Cremation Urns:

        Prices range from:......... $175.00       to     $ 1,350.00


ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND MERCHANDISE

The prices in the following section may include

a charge for our services in buying these items.


Guest book……………………………………….. $ 60.00

Memorial Cards (per 100) ……………………….$ 75.00

Thank You Cards…………………………………$ 60.00

Laminated Cards (Per 10)………………………..$ 30.00

Cross/Crucifix……………………………………..$ 30.00

Tukios Video (1 DVD)…………………………….$ 125.00


Hair Dressing………………………………………$ 70.00

V.A Plaque Mounting……………………………..$ 250.00

Marking Headstone……………………………….$ 250.00

Cemetery Equipment (If needed)………………..$ 275.00

Equipment setup (Church or Home……………..$ 700.00

Fillings Urns/Keepsakes not purchased from F.H $ 75.00

Storage of Cremains per month………………….$ 50.00



Basic Arrangements for

Anatomical Gift………………………….... $ 750.00








Limited Services



Forwarding remains to another funeral home:

This charge includes the transfer of the remains to the funeral home, staff services, securing necessary authorizations, local transportation to point of shipment.  The charge does not include shipping charges or additional intems of services, merchandise, facility use, and livery that the customer may wish to select................................................ $ 3,125.00



Transportation beyond local point of shipment will be billed either as livery or common carrier charges depending upon the forwarding location.  Local point of shipment is up to 30 miles.


RECEIVING REMAINS FROM ANOTHER FUNERAL HOME


This charge includes basic transportation of the remains to the funeral home and/or place of local disposition, staff services, and securing necessary authorizations.  The charge does not include additional items of service, merchandise, facility use, and livery that the customer may wish to select.

............................................................................ $2,930.00


Transportation beyond a local place of disposition will be billed as livery charges.  Local place of disposition is up to 15 miles.


CASH ADVANCES


Services and merchandise provided as cash advance items will be billed at the same amount paid by the funeral firm.


Cash Advance items to be paid PRIOR to the funeral include: (Credit card not accepted for Cash advances only)


Cemetery and/or Crematory    Death Certificate Transcripts

Clergy Honoraria                    Public Transportation

Newspaper Notices                 Telephone Charges

Gratuities                                 Organist/Soloist


Hardison Funeral Homes, Inc.

www.hardisonfuneralhomes.com

  3648 Ransomville Rd.           N. Fourth & Ridge Sts.

Ransomville, NY  14131            Lewiston, NY 14092

        (716) 791-3911                         (716) 754-7963


GENERAL PRICE LIST


These prices are effective as of 5/1/2022 and are subject to change without notice. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDH) both require that certain disclosures be made by funeral providers on the General Price List.  Although these disclosures are similar, they are not exactly the same.  This General Price List contains both sets of the required disclosures.  The disclosures required by the FTC, when different from those required by the NYSDH, are preceded by "FTC."


The goods and services shown below are those we can provide to our customers.  You may choose only the items that you desire.  However, any funeral arrangement that you select will include a charge for our services.  If legal or other requirements mean that you must buy items for which you did not specifically ask, we will explain the reason in writing in a statement we provide describing the funeral services and merchandise you selected.  This list may not include prices for certain items that you select, such as cemetery charges or crematory services, flowers, and newspaper notices.  The estimated or final prices for those items will be shown on the itemized statement describing the funeral services and merchandise that you selected.  We charge you for our services in buying certain items.


(FTC) "The goods and services shown below are those we can provide to our customers.  You may choose only those items you desire.  However, any funeral arrangements you select will include a charge for our services.  If legal or other requirements mean you must buy any items you did not specifically ask for, we will explain the reason in writing on the statement we provide describing the funeral goods and services you selected."


(FTC) "This list does not include prices for certain items that you may ask us to buy for you, such as cemetery or crematory services, flowers, and newspaper notices.  The prices for those items will be shown on your bill or the statement describing the funeral goods and services you selected."


ALTERNATIVE SERVICES


The following charges for direct burial and direct cremation do not include additional items or services, merchandise, facility use, and livery that the customer may wish to select.


DIRECT CREMATION

Prices range from:............................................. $ 2,975.00

which includes the local transfer of remains to the funeral home, staff services, securing of necessary authorizations, basic local transportation to the crematory, an alternative container for cremation, and return of the cremains to the funeral home, to                $2,700.00 which includes the services as described above but with no urn and a cremation container supplied by the customer. 


The above charges DO NOT INCLUDE the cremation fee.


(FTC) "If you want to arrange a direct cremation, you may use an unfinished wooden box or an alternative container.  Alternative containers can be made of heavy cardboard, pressed wood or composition materials (with or without an outside covering) or may be pouches of canvas or other materials."


DIRECT (IMMEDIATE) BURIALS

Prices range from.............................................. $ 3,670.00

which includes the local transfer of remains to the funeral home, staff services, securing of necessary authorization, basic local transportation to the cemetery, and an alternative container, to........... $ 3,120.00

which includes the services as described above but with the alternative container supplied by the customer.  NOTE:  Direct burial prices DO NOT INCLUDE cemetery charges or a vault if required.


TRADITIONAL SERVICES


TRANSFER OF REMAINS

The transfer of remains to the funeral establishment includes personnel, equipment, and vehicle.

Local: Within 15-mile radius........................... $    500.00

Charge per Mile: Beyond local range.............. $        3.50

Additional Personnel...........................................$     125.00

PREPARATION OF REMAINS

Embalming (including use of preparation room): $    950.00

Embalming of Autopsied Remains:................. $  1050.00


NOTE: In New York State, embalming is not required by law.  If you do not want embalming, you have the right to choose an arrangement which does not require you to pay for embalming such as a direct cremation or direct burial.  If you select certain funeral arrangements, such as viewing or an open casket funeral, embalming may be required by the funeral firm.


(FTC) "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 a viewing.  If you do not want embalming, you usually have the right to choose an arrangement which does not require you to pay for it, such as direct cremation or immediate burial."


OTHER PREPARATION (Excluding Embalming)

Preparation of the remains, unless selected, is not required for direct cremation or for direct burial.

Topical Disinfection (including use of preparation room)

        ..................................................................... $    250.00

Custodial Care (per day )................................... $    150.00

NOTE:  "Custodial Care" will not be charged on

the days when embalming or other preparation of

the remains occur, visitation is held, or a funeral

service is conducted.

Dressing/Casketing............................................ $    125.00

Cosmetology....................................................... $    125.00

Restoration (per hour)...................................... $    150.00

Pacemaker Removal for Cremation…………...$ 150.00


ARRANGEMENTS


The charge for our services will be added to the total cost of the funeral arrangements that you select.  However, this charge will not be added to the cost for direct cremation, direct burial, forwarding of remains, or receiving of remains because the prices for those services include this charge.


(FTC) "This fee for our services will be added to the total cost of the funeral arrangements you select.  (This fee is already included in our charges for direct cremations, immediate burials, and forwarding or receiving remains."


Basic Arrangements including funeral director, staff, equipment, and facilities to respond to initial request for services, the arrangement conference, securing of necessary authorizations, and coordination of service plans with parties involved in the final disposition of the deceased:

        ..................................................................... $ 1,675.00



SUPERVISION (Funeral Director and Staff) for:


Supervision for Visitation: (per visitation)...... $    400.00

Supervision for Funeral Service:……………..$    450.00

Supervision for Graveside Service: ................. $    450.00

Supervision for Memorial Service:……………$   450.00

Supervision for Disinterment:.......................... $    650.00

Supervision for private visitation prior to

Direct Cremation or Direct Burial (15 Mins) $   350.00




USE OF FACILITIES FOR:


Visitation:

        First day or part thereof…………………. $    625.00

        Second day or part thereof....................... $    625.00

        Third day or part thereof.......................... $    625.00

        Private Visitation………………………...$     350.00

Funeral/Memorial with PRIOR Visitation….. $    625.00

SAME DAY Funeral Service & Visitation……$    700.00

Memorial or Funeral Service ONLY .............. $    625.00



FTC:  Staff & Facilities Combination

    Use of facilities & staff for visitation/ 1day     $ 1025.00

    Use of facilities & staff for 2-day visitation     $ 2050.00

    Use of facilities & staff for funeral service      $ 1075.00

    Use of facilities & staff for memorial service $ 1045.00

      Or Same day visitation & funeral service

    Use of facilities & staff for private visitation

     Prior to Direct Cremation or Direct Burial     $ 975.00

  




Cemetery Types & Burial Services

Monumental cemetery: A monumental cemetery is the traditional style of cemetery where headstones or other monuments made of marble or granite rise vertically above the ground.  There are countless different types of designs for headstones, ranging from very simple to large and complex.

Lawn cemetery: A lawn cemetery is where each grave is marked with a small commemorative plaque that is placed horizontally at the head of the grave at ground-level.  Families can still be involved in the design and the information contained on the plaque, however in most cases the plaques are a standard design. 

Mausoleum: A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or people.  A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the mausoleum.  The most famous mausoleum is the Taj Mahal in India.

Columbarium: Columbarium walls are generally reserved for cremated remains.  While cremated remains can be kept at home by families or scattered somewhere significant to the deceased, a columbarium provides friends and family a place to come to mourn and visit.  Columbarium walls do not take up a lot of space and it is a cheaper alternative to a burial plot.

Natural cemeteries: Natural cemeteries, also known as eco-cemeteries or green cemeteries is a new style of cemetery set aside for natural burials.  Natural burials are motivated by the desire to be environmentally conscience, although natural burials can be performed at any type of cemetery, they are usually done in a natural woodland area.  Conventional markings such as headstones are generally replaced with a tree or a bush or a placement of a natural rock.

Burial FAQ

What is opening and closing and why is it so expensive?

Opening and closing fees can include up to and beyond 50 separate services provided by the cemetery.  Typically, the opening and closing fee include administration and permanent record keeping (determining ownership, obtaining permission and the completion of other documentation which may be required, entering the interment particulars in the interment register, maintaining all legal files); opening and closing the grave (locating the grave and laying out the boundaries, excavating and filling the interment space); installation and removal of the lowering device; placement and removal of artificial grass dressing and coco-matting at the grave site, leveling, tamping, re-grading and sodding the grave site and leveling and re-sodding the grave if the earth settles. 

Can we dig our own grave to avoid the charge for opening and closing?

The actual opening and closing of the grave is just one component of the opening and closing fee.  Due to safety issues which arise around the use of machinery on cemetery property and the protection of other gravesites, the actual opening and closing of the grave is conducted by cemetery grounds personnel only.

Why is having a place to visit so important?

To remember and to be remembered are natural human needs.  A permanent memorial in a cemetery provides a focal point for remembrance and memorializing the deceased.  Throughout human history, memorialization of the dead has been a key component of almost every culture.  Psychologists say that remembrance practices, from the funeral or memorial service to permanent memorialization, serve an important emotional function for survivors by helping them bring closure and allowing the healing process to begin.  Providing a permanent resting place for the deceased is a dignified treatment for a loved one’s mortal remains, which fulfills the natural human desire for memorialization.

What happens when a cemetery runs out of land?

When a cemetery runs out of land, it will continue to operate and serve the community.  Most cemeteries have crematoriums, and some historic cemeteries even offer guided tours.

In a hundred years will this cemetery still be there?

We think of cemetery lands as being in perpetuity.  There are cemeteries throughout the world that have been in existence for hundreds of years.

How soon after or how long after a death must an individual be buried?

There is no law that states a specific time from for burial.  Considerations that will affect timeline include the need to secure all permits and authorizations, notification of family and friends, preparation of cemetery site and religious considerations.  Public heath laws may have limitations on the maximum length of time allowed to pass prior to final disposition.  Contact your local funeral provider for more details.

Does a body have to be embalmed before it is buried?

No.  Embalming is a choice which depends on factors like if there is to be an open casket viewing of the body or if there is to be an extended time between death and internment.  Public health laws may require embalming if the body is going to be transported by air or rail.

What options are available besides ground burial?

Besides ground burial, some cemeteries offer interment in lawn crypts or entombment in mausoleums.  In addition, most cemeteries provide choices for those who have selected cremation.  These often include placement of cremated remains in a niche of a columbarium or interment in an urn space. 

What are burial vaults and grave liners?

These are the outside containers into which the casket is placed.  Burial vaults are designed to protect the casket and may be made of a variety or combination of materials including concrete, stainless steel, galvanized steel, copper, bronze, plastic or fiberglass.  A grave liner is a lightweight version of a vault which simply keeps the grave surface from sinking in.

Must I purchase a burial vault?

Most large, active cemeteries have regulations that require the use of a basic grave liner for maintenance and safety purposes.  Either a grave liner or a burial vault will satisfy these requirements.  Some smaller rural or churchyard cemeteries do not require use of a container to surround the casket in the grave.


If you have any additional questions regarding our burial service options, be sure to contact one of our knowledgeable representatives. Our funeral home loyally caters to clients throughout Lewiston, Niagara Falls, Sanborn, NY and the surrounding areas.