Funeral Service

The principal service. Across the four traditions we serve, the name changes — funeral service, Mass of Christian Burial, halvayah, homegoing celebration — and the structure of the rite changes. What does not change is our role: we hold the chapel, the body, the schedule, and the family while the clergy and the community do the work of the service itself.

Use the pack switcher in the navigation to see how this page reads in another tradition. The structure of our offering is the same; the language is not.

What is included

Care of the deceased on premises

From the moment of our first call until the burial or cremation, the deceased is cared for in our chapel preparation rooms. Embalming is offered for traditions that include it; in Jewish practice, the chevra kadisha performs the taharah in our facility.

The casket or aron

We stock a range of caskets from a simple pine aron at $980 to traditional hardwood caskets in the $4,000–$7,000 range. We do not steer families toward more expensive caskets. We tell you what each is made of, where it is made, and what it costs.

The chapel or your place of service

The service may be held in our chapel here on Euclid, at your home church or synagogue, at a graveside, or anywhere else the family chooses. We staff the service the same way regardless of location.

Coordination with your clergy

Your pastor, priest, rabbi, or imam leads the service; we do not direct it. We coordinate the timing, the procession, the order of the service printed in the program, the music, and the sound system. We arrive at least ninety minutes before the service to set up.

The procession and the committal

From the place of service to the cemetery, we coordinate the procession with local police for major intersections. At the graveside, we hold the brief committal service with your clergy.

The order of service (printed program)

Designed, printed, and delivered the day before the service. Black-church homegoing booklets, which are longer and more elaborate, are designed in-house and included in the homegoing package.

Filing of all documents

Death certificate, burial-transit permit, cemetery paperwork, Social Security notification, Veterans Affairs notifications where applicable, and assistance with insurance claims if requested.

What is not included by default

Cemetery fees are paid directly to the cemetery and vary widely. Calvary Cemetery (Catholic), Mayfield Cemetery (Jewish), Lake View (interfaith), and the historic Black cemeteries like Highland Park each have their own fee structures. We can quote a typical range, but the cemetery itself sets the price.

Floral arrangements are arranged through florists the family chooses; we recommend three Cleveland florists who know the chapel well. For Jewish families, flowers are not part of the tradition; donations to charity in lieu are the convention.

The clergy honorarium is given by the family directly to the officiant. We can advise on typical amounts — usually $250–$500 for a presiding minister.

Pricing

A traditional Christian funeral service in this default pack typically runs $5,800 to $9,200 depending on casket selection and cemetery. The pricing changes by tradition; see the Services page for the typical ranges for the Catholic Mass, the Jewish halvayah, and the Black-church homegoing. We provide a written General Price List at our first conversation. It does not change after.

Coordinating with your church

We have served families from First Presbyterian of Cleveland Heights, Old Stone Church, Trinity Lutheran, Pilgrim Congregational, Federated Church of Chagrin Falls, Church of the Saviour, and dozens of independent and non-denominational congregations across Greater Cleveland. If your pastor has not worked with us before, we will introduce ourselves before the service.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the service last?

A traditional Christian service is typically 45 minutes to one hour. A Catholic Mass of Christian Burial runs 60 to 90 minutes. A Jewish halvayah is 30 to 45 minutes. A Black-church homegoing service can run two to three hours; we never rush it.

Can the service be held at our church?

Yes. Most of our services are held at the family’s home church or synagogue. We coordinate the procession from the funeral home to the place of service and from there to the cemetery.

Can a family member give a eulogy?

In Christian and homegoing services, almost always. In Catholic Masses, eulogies are typically offered at the Vigil rather than the Mass, in keeping with the rubrics. We talk this through with each family.

Are children welcome at the service?

Always. Children are part of every funeral tradition we serve. We have a small quiet room at the back of the chapel for nursing mothers or restless toddlers.

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