Bartholomew Funeral Home works to serve and support families through the entire grief process. The process of planning and hosting a loved one’s funeral or memorial service can be daunting and confusing, and there are some aspects that an average person might not even be aware of. Bartholomew Funeral Home offers services to folks to help ease the stress of a loved one’s passing. With its capacity for hosting a military service, transporting families, grief counseling, pre-planning, banquets, and more, the staff at Bartholomew is ready to take care of this planning for you.
Bartholomew Funeral Home has worked with every branch of the military to coordinate the benefits that a person who was either honorably discharged or serving actively is entitled to receive. There is a small monetary benefit as well as a ceremony by active troops from the deceased’s branch to present the family with an American flag and a performance of “Taps.” The only thing that the family needs to present to the staff at Bartholomew is the deceased’s DD-214, which is their discharge paperwork.
“If you have a loved one who was in the service, there are a lot of benefits out there when they pass that people don’t even know about,” said Office Manager at Bartholomew Funeral Home, Kyle Newhard. “We will do anything we can to ensure you receive any benefits you’re entitled to because of what your loved one did for our country.”
Planning ahead for your own or a loved one’s funeral may seem abnormal, but there are perks to doing so. Bartholomew Funeral Home encourages people to come in and chat with their staff about anything from learning about one’s options to placing a down payment. Indiana is a guarantee state for pre-paying for one’s funeral, offering Hoosiers a monetary benefit by placing that money in a trust account to be used at a later time.
“As an example, if you came in and paid $5,000 today for a funeral, and in 60 years you pass away, the price of the funeral might have risen to $10,000, but you still only pay the $5,000,” Newhard said.
The funeral home doesn’t have a hall or room onsite for a banquet or luncheon, but the funeral home staff will work with any local church, hall, or restaurant to accommodate your group’s needs.
“Wherever you want to host a luncheon, we will take care of it. We’ll call and get it all set up and handled so that it is one less thing you have to worry about,” Newhard said. “It’s another little thing that people don’t think about, but we are happy to do it for you.”
Transportation of the family on the day of the service can also be provided by Bartholomew. Whether the family wants to ride together to or from the funeral home to a cemetery, or the cemetery to a luncheon, the funeral home can drive people in their larger cars or hire a limousine service. Nowadays, Newhard notes that most families enjoy driving themselves because of the flexibility, it is still an option that some people take part in. Additionally, the staff at the funeral home is prepared to arrange the transportation of remains, should a loved one pass while out of town, but they would like to have services locally.
The staff at Bartholomew Funeral Home does not include a therapist or grief counselor, but they have relationships with a number of mental health professionals that they can recommend. Additionally, the staff often welcomes people into their offices and simply listens to them.
“We aren’t licensed grief counselors, but we are listening ears, and we can tell you what has helped other people,” Newhard said. “If someone does want professional help, we are more than capable of helping you find that and making those phone calls.”
Picking a headstone can be an overwhelming process, so the staff at the funeral home can work to find something that fits a person’s personality and lifestyle. They provide in-house help with picking a company, granite, price point, and style for every person.
“Even if it isn’t something we are actually doing, we’re able to act as a liaison for you to make sure that you’re getting connected with whoever or whatever it is that you need,” Newhard said. “If you ever have any questions, please stop in and ask or give us a call, because you won’t know the answer until you ask. If there is something we can help you with, then let us know.”
For more information about Bartholomew Funeral Home, visit bartholomewnewhard.com.
