What does a traditional funeral cost?
The cost for traditional funeral services range from $4450 to over $12,000 depending on merchandise selected. For example, caskets range in price from $850 to $6500. Outer burial containers or burial vaults, which are designed to support the weight of the earth and to protect the casket, range in price from $850 to $3500. Taking everything into consideration, the average cost of a fully traditional funeral service, **including all cash advance items, is approximately $7500.

What is a traditional funeral service and what does it include?
A traditional funeral service consists of a one day visitation, a funeral service the following day at the funeral home or church (or both), followed by a procession to the cemetery for the committal service.

What are cash advance items?
Cash advance items are simply expenses associated with a funeral that we pay on your behalf. We do not mark up the price of these items; we simply front the money for you so you do not need to worry about bringing several different checks on the day of the service. These items include: cemetery expenses for opening the grave, flowers, obituary expense, monument engraving, clergy honorarium and certified copies of the death certificate. 

**We are the only area funeral home that fronts all monies for the families we serve.  Once we are contacted you worry about nothing and we coordinate every detail.  We handle every expense for you, even the funeral meal.

What will I need certified copies of the death certificate for?
You will need them for anything that requires legal proof of death. For example, vehicle or property title changes, bank accounts, checking accounts, insurance policies, mutual funds or any other type of investment commonly require certified copies.

How do I obtain death certificates and what do they cost?
We take care of all necessary paperwork surrounding the procurement and filing of the death certificate.  In Pennsylvania certified copies cost $6.00 each locally during the month the deceased died.  The following month they are sent to the state office in New Castle, the price only increases to $9.00 each, but certificates take 2-4 weeks to obtain.

Who handles Social Security, Insurance claims, and necessary paperwork?
No need to worry about the paperwork.  We file all insurance claims, notify social security of a death, handle all veteran’s benefits and provide guidance with any issue you may have.

Where do I get a monument or headstone?
We provide custom designed monuments, flat markers, and bronze markers to the families we serve at a discounted rate.  From the custom design process to the setting of the stone we handle the complete process from start to finish.

I need a grave space or mausoleum crypt. What should I do?
Before trying to coordinate purchasing cemetery lots or mausoleum crypts call us.  There are many options to consider when selecting a final resting place that you are probably unaware of.  We will help you make an educated decision and be certain that all options are presented to you before purchasing anything.  Once cemetery property is purchased you are basically stuck with it.  Keep in mind that most cemeteries pay their staff by commission and your best interests do not always come first.  We do not make a dime for coordinating cemetery logistics, but this is just another service we provide.

What is a Keepsake Video Tribute?
When moments are difficult to express with words, we offer you a way to display them on film.  Your loved one’s smile, the way he or she told a story-sometimes words can’t do these moments justice.  For that reason, one of the ways we serve you is by offering you a DVD tribute that says more than words could ever express.  All tributes are professionally done and formatted for high definition and wide screen formats. 

We do not attend church.  Can you provide a minister or priest for a funeral service?
Whether you have a church affiliation or not we can provide clergy for any type of funeral service requested.  Our staff is understanding, non judgmental, and realizes there are various reasons that we may have to provide clergy.  Bottom line it is not a problem for us to handle this detail for you.

What happens if we die out of town, state, or country? 
First and foremost call us first!  We will handle and coordinate every detail for you but it is imperative that you contact us first and before you talk to any funeral provider out of the area.  We will be able to find the best out of town firm available, look after and protect your interests while alleviating additional financial burden.  Simply stated, out of town funeral homes will perform services at a discounted or trade rate for us, but charge you full price if you contact them directly.   

We want to prearrange, prepay, or simply discuss options but are home bound or out of the area.  Will you come to us?
We pride ourselves in customer service, the willingness to go the extra mile, and strive to exceed your reasonable expectations of us.  You have the flexibility of scheduling appointments to suit your needs, and we are more than willing to meet you in the comfort of your own home at no additional charge to you.

We work 9-5 Monday-Friday; are evening or weekend appointments available?
Absolutely!  We realize in today’s busy society, that we have to be flexible to accommodate our customer’s needs.  Our highly trained professional staff is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to handle any emergency that could arise, field any questions of concern, provide sound advice, and meet you at a time that will suit your schedule.  Evening and weekend appointments are not a problem or inconvenience to us in any way.  With a few days notice we can accommodate any schedule

We live out of the area. Can your staff conduct the viewing and funeral at our church?
Most of the families we serve in neighboring counties and communities take advantage of this option.  We understand that you want the unparalleled service and peace of mind only we can provide, but do not want to inconvenience friends or family with travel to our location.  This is why from the initial arrangement conference and throughout the entire process, we are more than willing to do the traveling and meet you in your home when necessary, and conduct all services at a local site of your choosing.  We will do everything in our power to ease your burden and make this most difficult time more bearable for you.

Who writes the obituary, and places it in the newspaper?
We will handle every detail of this matter for you.  We compose and submit the obituary notice to whatever newspaper or newspapers in which you would like it placed.  We do not charge for doing this, but most newspapers charge a flat fee or by the line for an obituary notice.  What they charge us, is what we charge you.  This is a cash advanced item that we pay in advance for you, but we do not mark up the cost at all.

What is a short certificate?
A short certificate (not to be confused with a death certificate) can only be obtained at the courthouse of the county that the deceased lived.  A short certificate is designed to facilitate giving the next of kin the authority to handle small affairs that need handled upon death.  Examples would be selling a vehicle, closing bank accounts or investments, or the selling or transfer of property.