Our Services

OUR SERVICES

The death of a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences of a person's lifetime. The sense of loss, disbelief and helplessness can be overwhelming. It involves decisions that you must live with the rest of your life.
For over 48 years we have offered various type of funerals needed to celebrate the homegoing of a loved one. From full traditional services, to graveside only, from cremations to cremations with memorial services, to receiving or forwarding of remains to another funeral home, we stand ready to serve our families. We offer a full line of caskets, cremation urns, vaults, and monuments. No matter what your economical situation is, our professional staff can help to personalize every detail needed to make your final tribute a lasting one.

WHAT TO DO WHEN A DEATH OCCURS

Call our office.
Realizing this may be your first experience with the death of a loved one, we are committed to:
Personally guiding and directing you through the funeral process with caring, professional service.
Educating you on the many options available to you in making this final tribute personal and meaningful.
Being available to you after the funeral to assist in any way we can.

WHAT DETERMINES THE COST OF A FUNERAL?

You and your family do. A funeral can be as extravagant or as simple as you desire.

Horizontal Divider 1

PRE-ARRANGEMENTS

Advance Funeral Planning

"Before the Need Arises"

It certainly make a lot easier on your family at the time of death. It also insures that your desires are considered and allows you to make difficult decisions unencumbered by the burdens of emotional stress that normally accompany a loss. It allows you time to talk, investigate, compare, and come to decisions that will meet your individual family needs.

There is no cost to meet with J. Fletcher Birchette, III., a licensed funeral director and licensed insurance agent to discuss pre-arrangement. It can be as thorough as planning every detail and pre-paying the entire amount or puchasing a pre-funded plan with Homesteaders Life Co, or just making your wishes known. You are in total control.

Give "Fletcher" a call today at (423) 926 6013 Cellular (423) 676 6013 or

e-mail him at fbirchette@yahoo.com

Five Advantages of Prearranging:

	Your Preferences. By taking care of all your arrangements yourself, you can tailor them to your preferences and ensure your personal wishes will be known. You determine where and how you want to customize your funeral to be remembered by family and friends.
	Your Family. By prearranging, you spare your loved ones the burden of making difficult decisions at an emotionally stressful time and eliminate unexpected expense and emotional overspending.
	Your Money. When you prearrange, you benefit from special offers with substantial savings. Numerous payment plans to fit any budget are available, including monthly payments with no finance charges.
	Our Experience. When you prearrange, you receive some good free advice. Our experienced staff will discuss the options and help you determine what works best for you. You will receive all the information you need to make sound choices, confidentially and with no cost or obligation.
	Peace of Mind. This is the most important advantage of all.

Horizontal Divider 1

We accept All Major Credit Cards for payments of services.

We accept Pre-Need Burial Plans from other Funeral Homes or Insurance Companies.

We can also arrange financing for you

Horizontal Divider 30

Fletcher Birchette Memorials

(A division of

Birchette Mortuary, Inc.)

New Items We Offer

Video Tributes on DVD

Personalized Casket Cap Panels

Memorials Plaques

Memorials Candles

Horizontal Divider 30

VIDEO TRIBUTE

We now offer a DVD Keepsake Video Tribute of the deceased and other family members that can be purchased in a package or individually during funeral arrangements. This beautiful production takes up to twenty family photos provided by the family and blends them with video and music to create an heirloom quality production. This tribute can then be shown during the family hours, or whenever desired by the family. The Video can now be placed on our website for 30 days.

Horizontal Divider 30

HELPFUL RESOURCES

SOCIAL SECURITY AND VETERANS BENEFITS INFORMATION

CLICK ABOVE TO ENTER VA WEBSITE

Veterans Benefits

Which burial expenses will be reimbursed by VA?

VA will pay a burial allowance up to $1,500 if the veteran's death is service connected. VA also will pay the cost of transporting the remains of a service-disabled veteran to the national cemetery nearest the home of a deceased that has available gravesites. In such cases, the person who bore the veteran's burial expenses may claim reimbursement from VA. VA will pay a $300 burial and funeral expense allowance for veterans who, at time of death, were entitled to receive pension or compensation or would have been entitled to compensation but for receipt of military retirement pay. Eligibility also is established when death occurs in a VA facility or a nursing home with which VA contracted. Additional costs of transportation of the remains may be reimbursed. There is no time limit for filing reimbursement claims of service-connected deaths. In other deaths, claims must be filed within two years after permanent burial or cremation.

VA will pay a $150 plot allowance when the veteran is not buried in a cemetery that is under U.S. Government jurisdiction if the veteran is discharged from active duty because of disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty, if the veteran was in receipt of compensation or pension or would have been in receipt of compensation but for receipt of military retired pay, or if the veteran died while hospitalized by VA. The plot allowance is not payable solely on wartime service.

If the veteran is buried without charge for the cost of a plot or interment in a state-owned cemetery reserved solely for veteran burials, the $150 plot allowance may be paid to the state. Burial expenses paid by the deceased's employer or a state agency will not be reimbursed.

CLICK ABOVE TO ENTER SS WEBSITE

Social Security Benefits

Who may receive monthly benefits?

A widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled), or at any age if caring for an entitled child who is under 16 or disabled.
A divorced widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled) if the marriage lasted 10 years, or if caring for an entitled child who is under 16 or disabled.
Unmarried children up to 18 (19 if they are attending a primary or secondary school full lime).
Children who were disabled before reaching 22, as long as they remained disabled.
Dependent parent or parents 62 or older.

What is the lump-sum death payment?

A one time payment of $255 is paid in addition to the monthly cash benefits described above. The lump-sum death payment (LSDP) is paid in the following priority order:

A surviving spouse who lived in the same household as the deceased person at the time of death.
A surviving spouse eligible for or entitled to benefits for the month of death.
A child or children eligible for or entitled to benefits for the month of death

How may I apply for benefits?

You must apply in order to receive benefits. You may apply at any Social Security office or, if you wish, you may apply by telephone. Just dial the toll-free number 1-800-772-1213 and the operator will schedule an appointment for you or arrange for the local Social Security office to take your claim by telephone.

AARP RESOURCES

FINAL DETAILS - CHECK LIST (Click here to view Check List)

FINAL DETAILS - NECESSARY PAPERS ( Click here to view Necessary Papers)