A licensed funeral directorLicensed Funeral Director and embalmerEmbalmer is available 24 hours a day, seven7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, 365 days a year. The foundation of all our services starts with our basic service to your family, which includes our staff’s, staff response to your initial request for service, consultation with family or a responsible party, preparation and filing of necessary certificates and permits, placement of obituary notices, planning of funeral arrangements, and coordination of services with the church or clergy, cemetery, crematory, vault companies, and others as needed.

Cremation has returned as a common form of final disposition, and is not a new concept. It was practiced in ancient times and has been gaining favor in today’s world. Choosing cremation for your loved one or yourself does not limit the funeral services—it actually increases the service options you have. You could have a wake with the urn and/or picture of the deceased displayed, or a traditional funeral with the body present, church service, committal prayers at the graveside/chapel with the casket before the cremation. Keep in mind that everything is a choice, and not a requirement or expectation. It’s what you and your family wants—nothing more, nothing less.

The remains of the cremation are referred to as cremains or ashes, there are many options available for keeping them:

• The ashes may be kept in a decorative urn, shared with other family members using smaller urns or jewelry, or combined with the ashes of another loved one.
• Burying the ashes in the cemetery
• Placing the ashes in a columbarium for people who prefer to be above ground over burial
• Commingle ashes with a spouse’s or another loved one’s ashes
• Placing the ashes in the casket of a loved one being buried, scattering the ashes, or burying them in a private yard. Please note: you will need to check with the local authorities regarding any local restrictions of scattering or burying on private land.

Cremation does have requirements, which include:

• The legal next of kin must grant permission.
• Forty-eight hours have to pass from the time of death for cremation to take place.
• The deceased has to be in a cardboard box or casket that is sturdy and combustible.
• The Medical Examiner must examine the deceased and grant permission.
• A final disposition permit has to be granted by the local authorities.

As always, our staff is here to discuss all of the options with you.

Graveside Service

A funeral service held at the graveside is coordinated, supervised, and attended by our staff.

Memorial Service

A funeral service held at the funeral home in memorial of the passing of your loved one with a picture or possibly with the cremains coordinated and supervised by our staff.

Use of Facilities and Staff for Visitation

A visitation service is also known as viewing hours, calling hours, a wake, or a reception, and may be held at our funeral home or at an off-site location. Our staff coordinates and supervises every aspect of preparing for the visitation of family and friends.

Other Preparation of Body

• Sanitary care, washing, and disinfection when no embalming is planned
• Special cosmetics when no embalming is planned
• Hair dressing
• Restorative work when necessary (we charge at a per-hour rate)
• An extra charge will apply for the preparation of an autopsied body

We offer a 1927 Velie Henney hearse as part of our fleet.