When it comes to saying goodbye to a loved one, choosing the right disposition option can feel overwhelming. A common question that requires incredible consideration is whether to proceed with cremation or burial. While many believe cremation is significantly cheaper than burial, the reality is a bit more nuanced. Office Manager Kyle Newhard of Bartholomew Funeral Home in Valparaiso opts to provide an enriching overview and debunk some common misconceptions about cremation versus burial costs.
“Something I think a lot of people don’t realize is that there are subdivisions within both cremations and burials,” said Newhard. “We can custom-tailor our services to whatever you think is best for you financially, as well as what you think is best for you in regards to providing closure and allowing for your emotional and psychological peace.”
Cremation is often viewed as the more affordable option. After all, a simple, direct cremation can be significantly cheaper than a traditional burial with a full funeral service. Conversely, if someone opts for a cremation with a viewing or other additional services, the costs can be comparable to a more modest burial. Nonetheless, cost efficiency is dependent upon individual needs and preferences.
“When it comes to a burial with a full body present, it is broken out a bit more because it is either a traditional in-ground burial where the casket gets loaded into a six-foot deep hole, or the body is entombed in a crypt above or below ground,” said Newhard. “Those are your two main options, and the price can vary greatly based on what sort of merchandise you pick out.”
Merchandise can range from material of the casket (i.e. solid bronze versus a lightweight steel) to deciding on a crypt versus a traditional burial spot on the ground. In the same way, differentiations exist within the option of cremation.
“You could have a direct cremation, where we cremate the loved one and give them back to their family rather than pick them up from where they pass away,” said Newhard. “You could have a cremation with a viewing where we retrieve the deceased. With that, we do the embalming and put them in a rental casket that is used just for viewing. We then take them out of the casket, cremate them, and hand them back to their family. It is almost the whole funeral without burying a body in the ground.”
Newhard attests to another often missed burial alternative called a direct burial where one is picked up in a modest casket and placed in the ground at the cemetery. As far as general funeral home charges go, direct burial is only a few hundred dollars difference. In sum, factors such as a desired ceremony, final resting place, and budget all tie into the ultimate remembrance for your loved ones. Bartholomew Funeral Home encourages the community to consider these factors and explore the different options to make informed decisions that honor your loved one’s wishes while staying within your budget.
“It is our philosophy to try to provide a service to the community while trying to keep prices fair for people,” said Newhard. “We provide for every different person’swants and needs. As a family-owned funeral home, we can sympathize with you more than a big, corporate-owned funeral home where it is about dollars and cents. Our main priority is that we are here to help you.”
Bartholomew Funeral Home offers a variety of services to uphold the dignity of those lost—from traditional ground burial to entombment to cremations. Bartholomew Funeral Home offers shipping services to have bodies and remains transported to different places. In addition, services are available to help navigate filing death certificates and to understand the complexities of life insurance.
“For us, serving the Valparaiso community is a sense of pride,” said Newhard. “We take pride in the work we do and the ability for us to provide closure to families by allowing them to say their goodbyes and send them off with dignity. Whether you want to purchase a high-end casket with a big, elaborate service or have someone cremated with a more plain urn to have on the mantle at home, we have the ability to help you in your time of need. It makes us feel good that we are there to help and to provide services to you and our community.”
Bartholomew Funeral Home remains the oldest family–owned funeral home in Valparaiso. Since the late 1800s, generations of families have been assisted through the taboo topic of death. Newhard, whose father Michael Bartholomew took over the funeral home from C.R. Bartholomew in the late 1990s, ensured their passion for carrying on family tradition and keeping the legacy of service going.
“We encourage people to contact us with any questions, especially with the differences between burial and cremation,” said Newhard. “We have a Frequently Asked Questions page on Google, and a Contact Us section for all questions, or, if you are driving by and are not in a hurry, please stop by and let us assist you.”
For questions or more information about services provided by Bartholomew Funeral Home, visit: bartholomewnewhard.com.
