Introduction to Planning a Funeral

The idea of planning a funeral is not a pleasant one, but if you find yourself in the position of having to plan a funeral, it’s helpful to know some general things to make it go as quickly and smoothly as possible.

The first part of planning a funeral is finding a funeral home. You don’t have to google “funeral homes near me” and pick the closest one; Bi-State Cremation and Funeral Service will drive up to 50 miles, farther for a minimal surcharge, to retrieve bodies and bring them to the funeral home. You could save hundreds or even thousands of dollars by comparing several funeral homes by not having to select the one closest to you.

Funeral homes are required by federal law to give out their pricing on request, and in today’s online age you should be able to easily find what funeral homes charge for their services. If you can’t quickly find out what a funeral home charges, chances are they are more expensive than the next funeral home you research. Our affordable funeral packages start at an $1,100 for an immediate burial and go up to a cherished funeral package for $3,195. If there are any additional elements you want to include we have some additional items on our general funeral price list. We are always happy to work with members of the community to accommodate specific needs.

The next items that are helpful to you in planning a funeral is knowing what elements of a funeral you want – do you want a visitation? A traditional burial? A cremation? You can combine several elements of a funeral to create the one that you think best reflects the deceased’s wishes. Transparency is key when you don’t want to spend time hunting around a funeral home’s website for prices. It’s also good to find out quickly what you can expect from the funeral services offered so you spend as little time as possible trying to guess at the offerings. We know you would rather spend time honoring the loved one who passed.

And, of course, being able to call a funeral home and talk to the director is crucial. You want to be able to ask any questions, confirm any details, and, if you’re ready to move forward with that funeral home, schedule the various elements of a funeral. Here at Bi-State Cremation and Funeral Service we answer the phone 24 hours a day. We strive to make everyone as comfortable as possible during the stressful time of saying goodbye to a loved one.