BURIAL OPTIONS

Burial Service Options

A farewell service followed by traditional burial or entombment in a cemetery represents a chance - a one-time chance - to celebrate the life of the one that has been lost. Perhaps the most important thing to know is that there is no single proper funeral service – no “right way”. There is unlimited opportunity for personalization to make this time memorable and meaningful. It is a time for human sharing in its deepest sense. You and the ones you love are at the very center of the process, and the choices you make will determine its significance for you. As you participate in the planning of the funeral service, you help create a meaningful experience for everyone – and we hope to help you create something as unique as the loved one that has been lost.

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Traditional Services

The funeral in the most traditional sense would be a Complete Service that includes a family or public viewing of the deceased. Following this would be a service, typically in a church or here at the funeral home, in our chapel. This would be followed by the earth or above ground entombment (mausoleum) of the casketed remains. Caskets selected may cost from several hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars depending on the casket design and material. Most, nearly all, cemeteries require than an outer burial container be used to encase the casket when there is to be a ground burial. These are often constructed of concrete and are designed to hold the weight of the earth, maintaining the cemetery property. A lined or sealed vault may also be used. These vaults are constructed of concrete and are designed to not only protect the gravesite, but are manufactured with inner liners that not only restrict the entrance of graveside elements (water and earth) but increase the strength and durability of the vault.

Graveside or Mausoleum Committal Services

The Graveside Service can be another selection. This service entails a committal held at the graveside, usually under tents, or in a mausoleum, and many times might follow a time of visitation at the funeral home. The visitation can be for family only, or announced to the public. It can take place the night prior to the graveside service or on the day of the service. The casketed remains are buried or entombed after the family and friends have left the graveside or mausoleum. These services are often more brief in nature, due to being outdoors. The element of weather can pose a problem at times, and the high heat of a southern summer should be considered for graveside only services.


A word about personalizing services: at McCullough Funeral Home, we encourage families to create very unique and memorable events. It is important to acknowledge the life that has been lived and to offer to the community a way in which to celebrate that life. Each person is unique and one of a kind – and so their final farewell should be. Let us help you find special ways to make this service truly all about the one that is to be remembered. There’s nothing we can’t do for you, and we have seen that it makes all the difference in the world.

How The Funeral Director & Staff Can Serve You

When a death occurs, your primary responsibility is to yourself and the ones you love, however, there are a number of things that require attention simultaneously. Regardless of the day or hour, McCullough Funeral Home has an experienced group of licensed funeral directors and support staff and each one is always prepared to respond to your needs quickly and competently. Our main function is to guide you through a complex and emotional time.

Among the services our funeral directors and staff provide are:

  • Care and custody of the body
  • Securing necessary permits and death certificates
  • Embalming
  • Dressing, Aesthetic and Cosmetic preparation

Arranging funeral plans:

  • Coordinating all details with the clergy and speaker
  • Coordinating pallbearers
  • Arranging the music you have selected and musicians
  • Placing obituary and funeral notices in newspapers
  • Preparing orders of service, memorial folders, and other stationery items.
  • Assisting in arranging for burial or cremation
  • Assisting in arrangements for cemetery space, grave opening and closing and cemetery coordination.
  • Arranging transportation for you and the members of your family prior to, during, and after the funeral
  • Supervision of the funeral or memorial service
  • All necessary arrangements for transportation, funeral service, and burial if the deceased is to be sent to a distant location.
  • Help to file any and all benefit and insurance paperwork

For more information about our services and what must be done at the time of a death, contact us at 478-953-1478 and we’d be glad to help you understand the process.

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