Bartholomew Funeral Home is here to answer your questions about preparing for and planning a funeral

When dealing with the loss of a loved one, planning a funeral can be an emotional and overwhelming time. An individual may not know where to begin with this process and may have many unanswered questions, adding to the stress they’re already feeling. However, this doesn’t always have to be the case, and there are ways to prepare in advance and professionals to help with every step of the way.

Whether you need to plan a funeral or simply are looking for more information, Bartholomew Funeral Home in Valparaiso is prepared to answer any questions and help you through this difficult time. Keep in mind that every funeral home and director will be different, and rules, laws, and regulations may vary from state to state.

When figuring out where to begin in the funeral process after losing a loved one, a common question is who you should reach out to when someone passes. Depending on the circumstances, an individual may or may not need to call anyone at all.

“For example, if your loved one were to pass at home in their sleep and they were not under the immediate care of a doctor or hospice group, you would need to call 911,” said Kyle Newhard, office manager of Bartholomew Funeral Home. “Most of the time, either a coroner’s representative or a member of a medical staff will be the one who reaches out to us to inform us of a passing, and then we will reach out to the next of kin.”

Before planning a funeral, Bartholomew Funeral Home recommends understanding the many options that there are, while considering the wishes of the people you may be making arrangements for. There are two main options for disposition — burial, entombment or cremation.

Though families are more than welcome to purchase from a third-party for a casket or urn, Bartholomew Funeral Home offers these items as well, and they take pride in ensuring that their products are top quality.

“If merchandise is purchased from the funeral home, we take pride in making sure our products are of good quality and provide the standard of care that is expected from professionals by grieving families. The trust placed in us means everything,” Newhard said.

At Bartholomew Funeral Home, they are happy to accommodate either burial or cremation, as long as those involved are comfortable with that decision. With either option, families may consider if they want to have a formal service or if they are interested in a viewing service as well.

When deciding what services you may want, it’s important to note that the service is mainly for those still here, and not necessarily only for the deceased.

“For example, some people feel they need a more elaborate service taking place over multiple days, and some people feel comfortable having no services at all. Each service is different, just as each individual is different,” Newhard said. “There is no way for us to determine what types of services are best for you because everyone grieves in their own way. We ask questions and then listen. Listening is a large part of what we do.”

When it comes to the funeral service, personalization has grown more common within the last 10 years. At Bartholomew Funeral Home, they are happy to ensure that the deceased are well represented, and families often request specific music or bring photos and memorabilia from the deceased. Many families also bring food and refreshments for their visitation time. At Bartholomew Funeral Home, there is a limit of no alcohol or food that needs to be cooked or prepared at the funeral home.

“We recently even had a farming family bring dad’s tractor that he was very proud of and parked it right out in the parking lot to show off,” Newhard said. “It was a topic of conversation for most visitors.”

Bartholomew Funeral Home also works with various florists, caterers, cemeteries, and religions or fraternal organizations. They can always provide their recommendations for individuals, but are more than happy to work with almost anybody on arrangements.

Families may be going through one of the most difficult parts of their life, and Bartholomew Funeral Home will do what they can to accommodate people’s wants and needs. They also have information and contacts for grief support and therapy services, but ask that families make a request for more information.

All of their staff are highly experienced and are committed to making people’s experience go smoothly and comfortably. The staff at Bartholomew Funeral Home is there for you beyond hosting a service.

“Probably the biggest misconception we see with funeral services is that everything is formal and strict, that employees of a funeral home are stern and intimidating,” Newhard said. “About 99% of people I have met in this career path are easy going and do this job genuinely because they care and want to help.”

To learn more about Bartholomew Funeral Home or contact them, visit bartholomewnewhard.com.