INDUSTRY INSIGHT
FUNERAL SERVICE
Funeral Service with
Patrick T. Lanigan
Funeral Homes
W
e at Lanigan Funeral Homes have always felt that funeral
homes have three occasions when they can help make a
positive impact for a family. They are before death occurs, at
the time of death and funeral, and after the funeral.
Pre-planning: People do many things to prepare for the day when
they are no longer alive on this Earth. Wills are drawn. Cemetery space
is bought. Off-the-cuff wishes are made, such as “When I die just…”
Church is regularly attended and prayers are offered. Oftentimes then,
the only post-death item to be dealt with is the planning of a funeral.
Unfortunately, these folks didn’t have the “Talk of a Lifetime.” The Talk
of a Lifetime can be held at any time with anyone who is held dear,
perhaps a spouse or child, parent, aunt or uncle. The talk can be over
a meal, at home, on a walk or at a ballgame. The talk is about sharing
memories, life stories and even photographs. Having the talk can be
very helpful in ensuring appropriate memorialization after one dies.
Call us for a free brochure on having the Talk of a Lifetime. We promise
there won’t be any follow-up phone calls.
We have been preplanning funerals for people for years. Sometimes
the planning is just the recording of information and a few wishes for
funerals. Sometimes the planning is so complete that at the time of
death, only the date and time of service need to be decided. Preplans
can be paid in advance, or those expenses can be paid at the time of
death. Payment of preplans is not required. If payment is made, the
funds are held by a bank trust or an insurance company. No funds are
retained by the funeral home. For those preplanning at our funeral
home, we offer a “Putting Your House in Order” program. Essentially it
provides a free one-hour consultation with an attorney for end-of-life
issues such as wills, living wills and powers-of-attorney.
Only licensed funeral directors are legally permitted to make
preplanned funeral arrangements. Oftentimes, cemetery sales folks
can cross the line and are misinformed when discussing or selling
preplans, insurance plans or “pre-planning” funerals. To be sure
arrangements are done legally and securely, we abide by the law and
only our licensed funeral directors preplan funerals arrangements.
Funerals: They come in all styles and fashions. Religious and non-
religious. Cremation and burial. Longer viewing, shorter viewing and
no viewing at all. Flowers and the flower-less. With a body and without
a body. Green and natural. With food and without food. Simple and
complex.
There is no matter that we will shy away from handling for families.
From veterans benefits and Social Security to body preparation and
restoration. The forms and the functions are available to all at the
highest degree of concern and professional care. No matter is trivial to us.
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Our staff members are excellent funeral directors with vast
experience, like Stephanie Doriguzzi Despot, Paul Borgony and Pat
Lanigan. Resident intern Nick Ricci and Point Park student/assistant
Joe Strednak are eagerly learning and experiencing the satisfaction of
service to others.
After the funeral: It has been an ongoing effort of ours to be of
help after a funeral.
Books and brochures, pamphlets and portfolios have always been
available to folks, and still are at our grief library.
For almost 30 years, we have provided bereavement support to
families we have served for funerals, and even those we haven’t, with
a Bereavement Support Group. Dr. Barbara Coyne, acclaimed grief
counselor and author, has been the facilitator of our group from
the beginning. She has helped hundreds of folks understand grief
and guides them through the days when the worst thing that could
happen, happens. Two years ago, we began Grief Support Through
Yoga. A collaboration of Dr. Coyne and yoga instructor Connie Tinsley,
grievers can find peace through yoga twice a month at the Keystone
Health Club in Keystone Commons, East Pittsburgh. And we always
have an ear for lending whenever needed.
For more information regarding any of our programs, prices or staff,
just visit the website at laniganfuneralhome.com or call 412.824.8800.
Patrick T. Lanigan, Funeral Director/Owner. Pat is a 1972 graduate of Indiana University of PA and a 1973 graduate
of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. He became a licensed funeral director in 1975 and has owned and
operated the Lanigan Funeral Home since 1975. He has served as president of both the Allegheny County Funeral Directors
Association and the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association. He was a member of the Executive Board of the National
Funeral Directors Association from 2005 – 2007. Pat has also served as president of the Forest Hills Lions Club and the
Westinghouse Valley Chamber of Commerce. He is a member and volunteer of St. Maurice Church in Forest Hills, as well
as a member of the board of the Caring Foundation of Western Pennsylvania, which sponsors the Caring Place, a center
for grieving children.
Monroeville | Winter 2017 | icmags.com 7