Services

All too often, families discount the value of ceremony after the death of a loved one. What they don't know is that a funeral or memorial service is an important part of the healing process. Our philosophy has been to provide personalized and meaningful services to meet the needs of each family we are privileged to serve. We understand each family's wishes are different, and that is why Hanenkrath-Clevenger-Schaffer Funeral Home offers a variety of options. Together, with the family, we can create a service of remembrance as unique as the individual. Our staff is well versed in the traditions of all faiths; and will gladly attend to every detail on your behalf.

The cost of a funeral depends greatly on the services and merchandise that are selected by the family. Services selected by the family would include an item called the Basic Services of Funeral Director and Staff. Other services could include Administrative Service Fees, Funeral Home Facilities, Embalming and Other Preparation of the Deceased, Transfer of Remains to Funeral Home, Use of Hearse. Our charges also may be comprised of funeral merchandise that may include Casket, Outside Burial Container, Urns, Memory/Prayer Cards, Acknowledgement Cards, and Register/Memorial Book. If cremation is desired method of disposition, crematory fees would also apply to those services.

In addition, there are fees from other providers. These charges may include flowers, cemetery opening and closing, honorarium to clergy, organist, hairdresser, luncheon, and others, certified death certificates, and newspaper obituary charges. The totaling of the various fees along with funeral home services and merchandise determines the cost of the funeral. We itemize all fees on a Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Purchased and present a copy to the family at the time of the arrangement conference, so that all may be understood.

If a death should occur away from "home", we highly encourage the family to contact us directly and allow our firm to handle the arrangements of returning your loved one back home for services. We work with a professional organization which specializes only in this aspect of funeral service. It is much easier for us, as well as a peace of mind for you, to know daily the status of the return of your loved one. As a reminder, the general rule is to just call us and we will make all necessary calls and arrangements for the return....do NOT call a funeral home in the city of death.

A full list of the services offered by Hanenkrath-Clevenger-Schaffer Funeral Home is included in our published "General Price List". For a current "General Price List", you may stop by any of our funeral homes during normal business hours and request a copy. Of course there is no charge for this information.

Some examples of service types offered:

Traditional Funeral Service with Visitation and Burial

The most common type of service offered with full services of the funeral home, a day of visitation, formal funeral service following day at funeral home or church, and graveside service at conclusion.

Traditional Funeral Service with Two Hours of Visitation Prior to Service and Burial

Includes everything as service above with the exception of only two hours of visitation prior to the formal service. In this service everything is done on same day.

Graveside Funeral Service

This service usually includes the full services of the funeral home, and may or may not include visitation, with the location of the funeral service being at the graveside instead of funeral home or church.

Cremation Choices

Cremation provides an alternative to traditional disposition of the remains, yet still allows the option of visitation and funeral services should they be selected. Options for the ashes from the human remains include burial on the family plot, placement in an urn to be kept at home, some ashes may be placed in memory jewelry for a permanent keepsake, or placed in a columbarium niche or other location. In the State of Ohio, it is mandatory that 24 hours have passed from time of death, and a Ohio Death Certificate must be signed by the attending physician and filed with the State before a cremation can be completed.

Cremation Funeral Service

This service is identical to any of the above services, and may include a day or two hours of visitation, with services being held at funeral home, church, or graveside. In instances of visitation we offer specially made cremation caskets, or have a casket rental for the visitation. In this service the cremation takes place after all services are completed.

Direct Cremation

This is the simplest form of disposition, and does not include any visitations with the body present. In this service the cremation takes place before any services are completed. Visitation may still be held for family and friends to gather, memorial services may still be held at the funeral home, church, or graveside.

How to Honor a Life

Bringing family and friends together at a time of loss is natural, and a socially-expected practice. Not only that, a funeral or memorial service, whether in a traditional or contemporary setting, is the first step in healing.

There are many ways to honor the life of your loved one. In fact, your choices are limited only by your imagination. That's where we come in - our experience, and our suggestions can help you create a memorable service. You can vary the place of celebration, and time of day it will be held. You can feature a selection of your loved one's favorite popular music from their past. Choose the perfect prayers and hymns.You can even arrange to release doves or balloons at the close of the service. The possibilities are endless.

You can have your service literally anywhere and any way you want. We can help you create the most suitable and memorable service to honor your loved one.

We're here to help you come to the decisions that will meet your needs now, and in the future. You'll need to live with these decisions for a long time; doing the right thing now can make all the difference in your peace-of-mind through the coming years. Contact us today to discuss your intentions.

You Can Never Go Back and Do it Over

We hope that you'll honor your loved one in a way that you can look back, years from now, and be thankful that you did the best you could to honor the life of someone you cared for. Creating a ceremony that calls together the hearts and minds of all who loved them is a gift to everyone involved. A gift of memories, a gift of healing...a gift of a lifetime.

Contact us today to speak with one of our directors.