Our Services
It doesn’t matter how you honor them, just that you do.
At Dolan Funeral Home, we provide a full suite of services for taking care of, and recognizing, the life of your loved one. When planning a service, you have many options available to you and we will do all that we can to provide a beautiful and respectful ceremony. And above all, we will do our utmost to honor your loved one.
Funeral Services
At Dolan Funeral Home, a licensed funeral director and embalmer 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.
Food & Beverage Choices
With the help of our preferred caterers, food and beverages can be a part of a loved one’s visitation, funeral service, or a celebration of life ceremony. Why not make a traditional wake or calling hours into a wonderful reception? What other family event do you have without food? We can set up your family room as a traditional parlor or as celebratory reception hall with high and low tables.
Cremation Services
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.
Deceased Preparation Options
Embalming is not required by law, except in certain special cases. Embalming may be necessary if you choose to have a viewing as part of the funeral arrangements, but may not be necessary if you choose to have a direct cremation or an immediate burial as part of the funeral arrangements.
Additional Services and Facilities
There are a number of additional services we offer such as graveyard service, memorial services, visitation service, body preparation, hair and makeup and more. We’re here to help as much as possible through this difficult time, and have the knowledge and experience to guide you through the process.
Modern Hearse
We are required by Massachusetts law to use a vehicle registered as a hearse to carry your loved one from his/her place of passing to our funeral home, and to his/her final resting place. Several other vehicles are used on the day of the funeral, and limousines are available.
Antique Hearse
Dolan Funeral Home is fortunate to have use of a 1927 Velie Henney hearse as part of our fleet. The National Museum of Funeral History has many antique hearses in their collection, making it possible to see the history up close and personal. America continues to honor and remember our dead, and hearses have become integral to the funeral process.
Aftercare
Our service at Dolan Funeral Home continues well after the funeral. Through our first year of loss program, every family receives the same type of aftercare support regardless of the services that you have selected, because everyone’s loss is personal and unique.
Live Streaming
We now offer live video streaming for wakes and funerals that can be available to the public or by invitation only to create a virtual visitation or funeral service.
Other Services
Forwarding remains to another Funeral Home
This charge includes the transfer of the deceased, basic services of staff, embalming, necessary authorization, and local transportation to airport. This charge does not include the shipping container, visitation, rites, or ceremonies prior to forwarding of the deceased.
Receiving remains from another Funeral Home
This charge includes temporary shelter of deceased, basic service of staff, and transportation of the deceased to a cemetery or crematory. This charge does not include visitation, rites, or ceremonies.
Dying when you are away from home
We work in harmony with a number of funeral homes nationwide and worldwide to meet the needs of the family. We meet all of the transportation rules and regulations required by the state or by the country.
Immediate Burial
Families who choose not to have any funeral services choose an immediate burial for their loved one. The burial takes place as soon as the medical and state requirements are met.
Anatomical gift to a medical school
Your loved one may have made the decision to be donated for training or medical research. You may choose to have a wake or a memorial service, but in most cases, however, your loved will not be present. We will meet the institute’s specifications and will be there to assist you if a final resting place is needed.
Some universities and medical schools have established a two-part acceptance policy. The donor must complete the necessary application to be pre-approved. Upon the donor’s passing, the institute will review the pre-approved application to determine if the donor meets their present needs for acceptance. If accepted, the institute may pay a stipend toward the cost of the funeral home services and the final resting place.