Burial Options

At Gaffney Funeral Home, we offer a range of burial and entombment services that can be customized to reflect each unique life. Generally, a burial is combined with a traditional funeral service, which includes a private or public viewing of the deceased. After the viewing, a funeral service is held in a church or at the funeral home. This is followed by the underground or above ground burial (entombment) of the casketed remains.

Casket Options

The choice of a casket is a personal one and the cost ranges from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, depending on the type of material used. To help you decide the best casket for your requirements and budget, we won’t ask you to walk into a ‘showroom’ like most other funeral homes. Instead, we’ll give you a catalog, including photos and a price list of all the caskets we have, that you can even take home and study. If you need us to help you make a decision, we can be on hand to guide you through the options.

Outer Burial Container Options

Many cemeteries require at least a grave liner to encase the casket for underground burial. These liners are made of concrete and designed to hold the weight of the earth above, preventing the ground from sinking. A sealed vault is an alternative. Vaults, which are constructed of concrete and given inner liners, are designed to not only protect the gravesite but also repel water and earth and increase the strength of the vault.

Funeral Celebrant

A funeral celebrant is trained and certified to officiate at a religious or secular ceremony. He or she works with the bereaved to design a funeral service that reflects the personality and lifestyle of your loved one. At Gaffney Funeral Home, we have a list of certified celebrants that we call on when needed. They create with you a service that is meaningful and memorable. The service can be spiritual, religious or secular in nature to respect the beliefs, convictions and attitudes of your family. You are also welcome to ask your own minister, priest, rabbi or other certified celebrant to conduct the ceremony.

Graveside Service

Many mourners, especially close family, find it important to witness the act of burial and to pay their final respects at the graveside. A graveside service typically follows the funeral service at the church or funeral home, but it can also precede a memorial or act as a stand-alone service. You may have certain ideas about the events that take place at the graveside, but know that the service can be as simple or elaborate as you wish. You can even decide who will lead the service. We are always happy to offer our assistance in designing the most appropriate service.

Embalming and Refrigeration Services

Embalming preserves a body and gives it a life-like appearance for a short time. Embalming is sometimes carried out if the casket is going to be open at the funeral, or if the body is going to be transported long distances or over national borders. Many funeral homes will tell you that your loved one must be embalmed for viewings, visitations and wakes, but this is not required by law, except in special cases.

At Gaffney Funeral Home, we abide by the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule, and we will not provide embalming services without your permission. If the funeral arrangements need to be delayed for any reason, refrigeration is an alternative to embalming. Unlike some funeral homes, we also have refrigeration capabilities.