frequent Questions (FAQS)

A funeral director offers comprehensive support to grieving families after the loss of a loved one. Beyond coordinating cremation, burial, and memorial services for the deceased, they provide essential bereavement and consolation to the living. Their multifaceted role encompasses funeral arranging, directing, attending, and embalming.

Key responsibilities of a funeral director include:

• Arranging for the deceased's removal and transfer from the place of death to the funeral home.
• Providing professional care for the deceased, such as embalming, casketing, and cosmetology.
• Meeting with the family to plan the funeral service.
• Completing necessary paperwork, including certificates and permits.
• Acquiring copies of the death certificate.
• Coordinating with cemeteries, crematories, or other final disposition locations.
• Writing and publishing the obituary.
• Organizing aspects of the service like clergy, music, flowers, transportation, pallbearers.
• Overseeing the funeral service and procession.
• Aiding the family with death-related claims and resources, such as Social Security, VA benefits, and grief support.

A funeral or memorial service offers a meaningful opportunity to honor the life of a loved one and pay tribute to the impact they had. It creates a space where family and friends can openly express their emotions, reflect on cherished memories, and find comfort in the support of others. Through shared remembrance, it allows us to grieve, connect, and begin the journey toward healing.

Yes, cremation or burial is merely the disposition of the body. Funeral services are to honor and remember your loved one, regardless of disposition.

Funerals usually involve the deceased's body and often lead to burial or cremation. In contrast, memorial services occur without the body and can be scheduled days, weeks, or months after the death.

No, services are not required by law. However, many families find comfort and closure through a ceremony that honors the life of their loved one.

If you would like to make funeral arrangements for someone who is expected to pass away soon, you should call Daleiden Mortuary at (630) 631-5500 to let us know and possibly schedule a time to come in. It may also be helpful to fill out our online Preplanning Form, so that we can gather necessary information about your loved one ahead of time. The Preplanning Form can be found under our 'Plan Ahead' tab.

Common options include burial (in-ground or above-ground), cremation, or donation to science. Each choice can be paired with a traditional or personalized service.

There are many ways you can make a funeral or memorial service special to help honor the life of your loved one. Whether it be live music, passing by the family home in procession, or unique decorations for the chapel, we will accommodate you to the best of our abilities!

The team at Daleiden Mortuary believes that understanding your options and making informed decisions is crucial to having a fulfilling, meaningful service. During every funeral arrangement, we make sure to thoroughly explain the differences in services, differences in pricing, and what has worked for others in the past so that you can make the best decision for your family.

While embalming is not legally required in Illinois, our funeral home requires embalming for any viewing of the body, regardless of it being public or private.

Though it is recommended for the preservation of the body, embalming is not required for bodies being transported to neighboring states (Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, and  Michigan) but is required for shipments two or more states away or out of the country.

Daleiden Mortuary's goal is to serve each individual's needs at a fair and reasonable price. Their prices are very competitive with the surrounding funeral homes, and they consistently work to offer high-quality care that remains lower than or on par with other local options.

Yes! Daleiden Mortuary is proud to serve families of all faiths and backgrounds. While we are a traditionally Catholic funeral home, we have served many religions throughout the years and are more than happy to accommodate cultural funeral traditions and custom services to honor your loved one's specific wishes.

Absolutely! Daleiden Mortuary is honored to serve the family of a loved one who spent their life serving our country. We are experienced in handling Veterans' funeral services and can help provide benefits ranging from military funeral honors to burial in a national cemetery. For more information and helpful links, you may visit the Veterans Services page on our website under the 'What We Offer' tab.

Yes! Daleiden Mortuary is proud to serve Spanish-speaking families, and has bilingual staff available to assist with making arrangements and the saying of prayers at the funeral home. Over the years, we have also frequently coordinated with Spanish-speaking priests to conduct services at the funeral home.

Yes! Daleiden Mortuary has had experience serving many of the towns surrounding Aurora and has a good relationship with churches and cemeteries across Illinois.

In most cases, no paperwork is needed to make funeral arrangements! We only need information crucial to filing a death certificate, such as the deceased's social security number, parents' names (including mother's maiden name), date of birth and death, etc.

Yes! Daleiden Mortuary offers both traditional (burial) and cremation packages to accommodate a wide range of needs and budgets. Many people call for pricing over the phone, but it is truly better to come in and discuss your options as you will have a fuller understanding of the services and possible budget accommodations.

Yes! While meeting in person is generally more efficient, we understand that this is not always possible. Daleiden Mortuary is happy to make arrangements through correspondence if you are in another state or are otherwise unable to meet in person. We are available over the phone, through email, or whatever communication channel works best for you.

Daleiden Mortuary offers a wide range of funeral services designed to meet the needs of each family. They offer burials, cremations, visitations, donations to science, or a tailored combination of services. They also offer pre-planning options that allow families to plan services ahead of time and lock in a price with the funeral home.

Daleiden Mortuary is staffed with experienced funeral directors licensed through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Additionally, all funeral director/embalmers at Daleiden Mortuary are members of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) and the Illinois Funeral Directors Association (IFDA) with some employees also being members of the International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association (ICCFA) and Cremation Association of North America (CANA).