In your greatest time of need, it helps to have someone you can trust to discuss matters that can be extremely stressful. One of those times may be during the loss of a loved one and making final arrangements to celebrate their life. By providing surviving family and friends with an atmosphere of care and support in which to share thoughts and feelings about death, funerals are the first step in the healing process.
“We try to put ourselves in the family’s shoes,” Office Manager of Bartholomew and Newhard Funeral Homes, Kyle Newhard said. “Unfortunately, everyone who works with us has lost a close family member or friend at some point in their life, so we can relate.”
Part of the responsibility of the funeral home staff is to strive to help people during the difficult time of loss, provide dignity and respect for the deceased, and to establish long lasting, close relationships with the families in the community. Bartholomew Funeral Home has been doing that as part of the Valparaiso (and later) the Westville communities since 1892 with C.W. Bartholomew as the original owner.
“Bartholomew Funeral Home has been in Valparaiso for a long time,” Newhard said. “Our Westville location is called Newhard Funeral Home, formerly Weaver Funeral Home, which has served that community for many years as well. By maintaining the tradition of being family-owned, we feel we can better relate to the local community and be a part of their extended family. We have many people come in and share stories about how their families have been using our services for years and years. That is a source of pride and always makes us smile just knowing that we are carrying on the traditions that have been set in place for generations.”
Today, both Bartholomew and Newhard Funeral Homes remain active in their Northwest Indiana communities, sponsoring local sports teams or events and organizations within Valparaiso and Westville.
“Hopefully, our neighbors will think about and turn to us in their time of need in case they should require our services,” Newhard said.
There are many questions that family members ask about funeral arrangements, according to Newhard. That is where the staff can help guide them through the process in a caring, compassionate, more efficient manner.
“There are so many choices.” Newhard said. “We try to narrow down what the family is looking for so we do not bombard anyone with too many choices or too much information. Then we attempt to present things as straightforward as possible so decisions can be made without additional stress under the circumstances.”
Arrangements also can be made in advance, and both Bartholomew and Newhard Funeral Homes offer pre-determined funeral plans.
“Pre-arranging your own services can help to ease the burden of your loved ones,” Newhard said. “It also helps to alleviate any questions or differences in opinions, which can occur among family members.”
In any case, the funeral home staff is there to offer guidance and expertise to make sure the family is able to celebrate the life of their loved one in the manner that is most meaningful to them and in the most affordable way.
“When we first speak with a family after a loved one has passed away, we generally ask if they have a specific direction they want to go in,” Newhard said. “The two main options are burial or cremation. If a family is unsure at the time how they want to proceed, we may ask if they think people will want to see the deceased before they are buried/cremated or perhaps what their other family members may have done previously. Sometimes families do not know what they want or need right away and that is okay, too. We just want to make sure they know they have options.”
Bartholomew and Newhard Funeral Home staff invite Northwest Indiana residents to call them any time of the day, any day of the week, for immediate assistance. Or, visit one of their funeral homes in person at their convenience. Bartholomew Funeral Home is located at 102 E. Monroe Street in Valparaiso. Newhard Funeral Home is located at 58 Walnut Street in Westville.
“We always welcome people to call or stop by if they have any questions about what it is we do and if we cannot answer their questions, we will point them in the right direction,” Newhard said.
For more information about Bartholomew and Newhard Funeral Homes, visit https://www.bartholomewnewhard.com/.
